阅读说明：本技术 具有关闭件的气溶胶产生装置 (Aerosol generating device with a closure member ) 是由 L.S.布丘伊吉尔 J.梅森 M.普雷夫尼克 N.莱尔 于 2020-04-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种气溶胶产生装置(100)具有本体(102)和关闭件(106)。该本体(102)具有孔口(104),气溶胶基质(148)可穿过该孔口被接纳到该气溶胶产生装置(100)中。该关闭件(106)可相对于该孔口(104)在关闭位置与打开位置之间移动,在该关闭位置时,该关闭件(106)覆盖该孔口(104),在该打开位置时,该孔口(104)基本上未被该关闭件(106)阻挡；该关闭件(106)在该关闭位置和该打开位置中的每个位置时是稳定的。该关闭件(106)可从该打开位置进一步移动至激活位置。在该激活位置时,该气溶胶产生装置(100)可操作来启动激活信号。(An aerosol-generating device (100) has a body (102) and a closure member (106). The body (102) has an aperture (104) through which an aerosol substrate (148) can be received into the aerosol-generating device (100). The closure (106) is movable relative to the aperture (104) between a closed position in which the closure (106) covers the aperture (104) and an open position in which the aperture (104) is substantially unobstructed by the closure (106); the closure (106) is stable in each of the closed position and the open position. The closure member (106) is further movable from the open position to an activated position. In the activated position, the aerosol generating device (100) is operable to initiate an activation signal.)

1. An aerosol-generating device (100) comprising:

a body (102) having an aperture (104) through which an aerosol substrate (148) can be received into the aerosol-generating device (100); and

a closure member (106) movable relative to the aperture (104) between a closed position in which the closure member (106) covers the aperture (104) and an open position in which the aperture (104) is substantially unobstructed by the closure member (106), the closure member (106) being stable in each of the closed and open positions,

wherein the closure member (106) is further movable from the open position to an activated position in which the device (100) is operable to initiate an activation signal.

2. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1, wherein the closure member (106) being movable between the closed position and the open position, and/or between the open position and the activated position comprises: the closure member (106) is slidable relative to the body (102).

3. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a direction (a) of movement of the closure (106) from the closed position to the open position is tangential to the body (102).

4. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a direction (C) of further movement of the closure member (106) from the open position to the activated position is towards a body (102) of the aerosol-generating device (100).

5. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a direction (C) of further movement of the closure member (106) from the open position to the activated position is the same as a direction (a) of movement of the closure member (106) from the closed position to the open position, wherein the activated position exceeds the open position relative to the closed position.

6. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a direction (C) of further movement of the closure member (106) from the open position to the activated position is transverse to a direction (A) of movement of the closure member (106) between the closed position and the open position.

7. The aerosol generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member (106) is biased towards the closed position from a first range of positions between the closed position and the open position and biased towards the open position from a second range of positions between the closed position and the open position, the first range of positions being closer to the closed position than the second range of positions and the second range of positions being closer to the open position than the first range of positions.

8. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 7, wherein the first range of positions is substantially adjacent to the second range of positions.

9. The aerosol generating device (100) of any of claims 7 or 8, wherein there is a constant bias throughout the first range of positions and/or the second range of positions.

10. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member (106) is biased away from the activated position towards the open position.

11. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising a resilient element (114) coupled between the body (102) and the closure (106) such that at least a portion of the movement of the closure (106) between the closed position and the open position and/or between the open position and the activated position is resisted by the resilient element (114).

12. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 11, wherein the resilient element (114) is arranged to resist movement of the closure member (106) away from the closed position.

13. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 11, wherein the resilient element (114) is arranged to resist movement of the closure member (106) away from the open position.

14. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the resilient element (114) is arranged to resist further movement of the closure member (106) towards the activated position.

15. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the resilient element (114) is arranged to deform as the closure member (106) moves between the open position and the closed position, and also as the closure member (106) moves further from the open position to the activated position.

16. The aerosol as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the resilient element (114) is at least one of: springs, torsion springs, and helical torsion springs.

17. An aerosol-generating device (100) according to any preceding claim comprising:

a first guide (120) along which the movement of the shutter (106) between the closed position and the open position is carried out; and

a second guide (144) along which further movement of the closure member (106) from the open position to the activated position is performed,

wherein the first guide (120) and the second guide (144) each extend from a junction at which they succeed each other, the junction being associated with the open position.

18. The aerosol-generating device of claim 17, wherein the first guide (120) is arranged such that the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), and/or a component interacting with the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), is movable along the first guide (120).

19. The aerosol-generating device of claim 18, wherein the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), and/or a component interacting with the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), is tangential to the body (102) along a direction of movement of the first guide (120).

20. The aerosol-generating device of any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the second guide (144) is arranged such that the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), and/or a component interacting with the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), is movable along the second guide (144).

21. The aerosol-generating device of claim 20, wherein the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), and/or a component interacting with the first end (116) of the resilient element (114), is tangential to the body (102) along a direction of movement of the second guide (144).

22. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 17 to 21, wherein the first guide (120) and/or the second guide (144) form an arcuate guide path or a linear guide path.

23. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 17 to 22, wherein the orifice (104) and the first guide (120) are separate from each other.

24. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising an activation detector (146) arranged to detect a position of the closure member (106) and/or to detect movement of the closure member (106) to and/or from the activation position to initiate the activation signal.

25. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 24, wherein the activation detector (146) is arranged to detect that the closure member (106) has been in the activated position for a period of time to initiate the activation signal.

26. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the activation detector (146) comprises at least one of: push buttons, indexing teeth, electrical contacts, hall sensors, optical sensors, switches, deflection sensors, inductive sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

27. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising an opening detector (170) arranged to detect movement of the closure member (106) between the open position and the closed position.

28. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 27, wherein the opening detector (170) is arranged for activating a status signal when the closure member (106) reaches the open position from the closed position.

29. An aerosol-generating device (100) according to claim 28, further comprising a state controller arranged to receive the state signal and to generate a state control signal in dependence on the state signal.

30. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 29, wherein the status control signal is arranged to operate components of the aerosol generating device (100).

31. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 30, wherein the status control signal is arranged to operate at least one of: a heater, a status indicator, a battery indicator, and a display.

32. The aerosol generating device (100) of any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the opening detector (170) comprises at least one of: push buttons, indexing teeth, electrical contacts, hall sensors, optical sensors, switches, deflection sensors, inductive sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

33. The aerosol generating device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member (106) is further movable to at least one further activation position in which the device (100) is operable to initiate a second activation signal.

34. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 33, wherein the closure member (106) is slidable to the further activated position.

35. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the direction of further movement of the closure member (106) to the further activated position is towards the body (102) of the aerosol-generating device (100).

36. The aerosol generating device (100) of any of claims 33 to 35, wherein a direction of further movement of the closure member (106) to the further activated position is the same as a direction of movement of the closure member (106) from the closed position to the open position.

37. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 33 to 36, wherein a direction of further movement of the closure member (106) to the further activated position is transverse to a direction of movement of the closure member (106) from the closed position to the open position.

38. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 33 to 37, wherein the aerosol-generating device (100) is arranged to initiate a different activation signal for each of the activation position and the further activation position.

39. The aerosol-generating device (100) of any of claims 33 to 38, wherein the closure member (106) is biased away from the further activation position.

40. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 39, wherein the resilient element (114) is arranged to bias the closure member (106) away from the further activation position.

41. The aerosol generating device of claim 39 or claim 40, wherein there is a different biasing force for each of the activation position and the further activation position.

42. An aerosol-generating device (100) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller arranged to receive the activation signal and to generate a control signal in dependence on the activation signal.

43. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 42, wherein the control signal is arranged to operate components of the aerosol generating device (100).

44. The aerosol generating device (100) of claim 43, wherein the control signal is arranged to operate at least one of: a heater, a status indicator, a battery indicator, and a display.

45. A method of operating an aerosol-generating device (100) having a body (102) with an aperture (104) through which an aerosol substrate (148) may be received into the aerosol-generating device and a closure member (106), the method comprising:

moving the closure (106) relative to the aperture (104) from a closed position, in which the closure (106) covers the aperture (104), to an open position, in which the aperture (104) is substantially unobstructed by the closure (106), the closure (106) being stable in each of the closed and open positions, and

moving the closure member (106) from the open position to an activated position in which the device (100) is operable to initiate an activation signal.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device having a closure member. The closure member may be arranged to be movable between a closed position and an open position. The present disclosure is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a portable aerosol generating device which may be self-contained and cryogenic. Such devices may heat, rather than burn, tobacco or other suitable material by conduction, convection, and/or radiation to produce an aerosol for inhalation.

Background

Over the past few years, the popularity and use of risk-reducing or risk-modifying devices (also known as vaporizers) has increased rapidly, helping habitual smokers who want to quit smoking to quit traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and cigarettes. Rather than burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products, various devices and systems are available that heat or fire the aerosol substrate to produce an aerosol and/or vapor for inhalation.

One type of device where the risk is reduced or corrected is a heated substrate aerosol generating device or a heated non-burning device. This type of device generates an aerosol and/or vapour by heating a solid aerosol substrate (typically moist tobacco leaf) to a temperature typically in the range of 150 ℃ to 300 ℃. Heating, but not burning or burning, the aerosol substrate releases an aerosol and/or vapor containing the components sought by the user, but not the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of burning and burning. In addition, aerosols and vapors produced by heating aerosol substrates, such as tobacco, typically do not contain a scorched or bitter taste resulting from burning and burning that may be unpleasant for the user. This means that the aerosol substrate does not require sugar or other additives that are typically added to the tobacco of conventional tobacco products to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable to the user.

Existing aerosol generating devices can be complex and difficult to use, and the required functionality can be cumbersome. For example, it may be useful to ensure that the device is heated only when needed and that the user can control such heating. It is also helpful to provide a cover member that can protect the area of the device where the aerosol substrate is provided for use. It is further useful that the user is able to know the status of the device, such as remaining battery power or current temperature. At the same time, aerosol-generating devices are very personal items, frequently manipulated by the user during use and are close to the user's face and mouth. Thus, the presence of a large number of components and controls that lack user-friendliness is undesirable.

EP 3003073B 1 describes a container for an elongate electronic nicotine delivery system or other flavoured vapour delivery system. The container has a lid pivotally attached to the body such that it covers the first opening and the auxiliary opening in the insert when in the closed position. The lid is only movable between two positions and is only used to cover the open end of the container.

CN 206687163U describes a low temperature smoking article comprising a lid body movably mounted on a housing and configured to be movable between a first position and a second position. A trigger switch is provided to activate or conduct the power circuit. When the cover is in the second position, the cover opens the opening and simultaneously touches the trigger switch to activate or turn on the power circuit. The cover switch is only movable between two positions.

Disclosure of Invention

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

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

a body having an aperture through which aerosol substrate may be received into the aerosol-generating device; and

a closure member movable relative to the aperture between a closed position in which the closure member covers the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the closure member, the closure member being stable in each of the closed and open positions,

wherein the closure member is further movable from the open position to an active position in which the device is operable to initiate an activation signal.

The use of the closure member to move between the closed and open positions and between the open and active positions may allow the closure member to be used as a control surface to initiate the activation signal. Thus, the closure may provide a very user-friendly and accessible control surface. This may avoid the need for additional control surfaces elsewhere on the aerosol generating device. Furthermore, by providing both a closed position and an activated position, a user may have a greater degree of control without having to change his grip on the aerosol-generating device.

The closed position may be a first position, the open position may be a second position, and the activated position may be a third position. The activated position is typically different from and/or different from the closed position. For example, the activated and closed positions may be spaced apart from one another. In one particular example, the open position is between the closed position and the activated position.

Optionally, the shutter being movable between the closed position and the open position, and/or between the open position and the activated position comprises: the closure member is movable or slidable relative to the body.

Optionally, the direction of movement of the closure member from the closed position to the open position is tangential to the body.

Optionally, the direction of movement of the closure member from the closed position to the open position is in a direction, for example, towards or away from the body.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the activated position is towards the body of the aerosol-generating device.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the activated position is the same as the direction of movement of the closure member from the closed position to the open position, wherein the activated position is beyond the open position relative to the closed position.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the activated position is different, e.g. transverse, to the direction of movement of the closure member between the closed position and the open position.

Optionally, the closure member is biased towards the closed position from a first range of positions between the closed position and the open position and biased towards the open position from a second range of positions between the closed position and the open position, the first range of positions being closer to the closed position than the second range of positions and the second range of positions being closer to the open position than the first range of positions.

Optionally, the first range of positions is substantially adjacent to the second range of positions.

Optionally, there is a constant bias throughout the first range of positions and/or the second range of positions.

Optionally, the closure member is biased away from the activated position towards the open position.

Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises a resilient element coupled between the body and the closure such that at least a portion of the movement of the closure between the closed position and the open position and/or between the open position and the activated position is resisted by the resilient element.

Optionally, the resilient element is arranged to resist movement away from the closed position; optionally, the resilient element is arranged to resist movement away from the closed position when the closure member is in the first range of positions.

Optionally, the resilient element is arranged to resist movement away from the open position; optionally, the resilient element is arranged to resist movement away from the open position when the closure member is in the second range of positions.

Optionally, the closure member is arranged to resist movement towards the activated position.

Optionally, the resilient element is arranged such that (a subset of) movement of the closure between the open and closed positions and further movement of the closure from the open position to the activated position is resisted by the resilient element.

Optionally, the resilient element is arranged to deform as the closure moves between the open and closed positions, also as the closure moves further from the open position to the activated position.

Optionally, the resilient element is a spring; preferably, the elastic element is a torsion spring and/or a helical torsion spring.

The closure member typically moves, e.g., translates and/or rotates, along a path between the closed position, the open position, and the activated position. Optionally, the aerosol generating device comprises:

a first guide along which the movement of the shutter between the closed position and the open position is carried out; and/or

A second guide along which further movement of the closure member from the open position to the activated position is performed,

wherein the first guide and the second guide each extend from a junction at which they succeed each other, the junction being associated with the open position.

Optionally, the first guide and/or the second guide are arranged such that the first end of the resilient element, and/or a component interacting with the first end of the resilient element, can be moved along the guide.

Optionally, the first guide and/or the second guide form an arcuate guide path or a linear guide path. Preferably, the first end of the elastic element is tangent to the body along the direction of movement of the guide.

Optionally, the aperture and the first guide are separate.

Optionally, the aerosol generating device is operable to initiate a status signal when the closure member reaches the open position from the closed position.

Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises an activation detector arranged to detect the position of the closure member, and/or to detect movement of the closure member to and/or from the activation position to initiate the activation signal.

Optionally, the activation detector is arranged to detect that the closure member has been in the activated position for a period of time to initiate the activation signal.

Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises an opening detector arranged to detect movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions.

Optionally, the opening detector is arranged for activating a status signal when the closure member reaches the open position from the closed position.

Optionally, at least one of the activation detector and the opening detector is: push buttons, indexing teeth, electrical contacts, hall sensors, optical sensors, switches, deflection sensors, inductive sensors, or ultrasonic sensors.

Optionally, the aerosol generating device further comprises a controller arranged to receive the activation signal and to generate a control signal in dependence on the activation signal.

Optionally, the aerosol generating device further comprises a controller arranged to receive the status signal and to generate a control signal in dependence on the status signal.

Optionally, the control signal is arranged to operate a component of the aerosol-generating device, preferably at least one of: a heater, a status indicator, a battery indicator, and a display.

Optionally, the closure member is further movable to a second activated position in which the device is operable to initiate a second activation signal. The closure member can be moved from the open position to the second activated position, from the closed position to the second activated position, or from the activated position to the second activated position. Optionally, the second activation position is a different position than the activation position.

Optionally, the closure member is movable from the open position, the closed position, and/or the activated position to a plurality of different activated positions. The closure member may be movable between the open position and open activation positions, between the closed position and closed activation positions, and/or between the activation position and further activation positions.

Optionally, the closure member is slidable to the second activation position and/or each of the plurality of activation positions.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the second activated position is towards the body of the aerosol-generating device.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the second activated position is the same as the direction of movement of the closure member from the closed position to the open position.

Optionally, the direction of further movement of the closure member from the open position to the second activated position is transverse to the direction of movement of the closure member between the closed position and the open position.

Optionally, the apparatus is arranged to initiate a different activation signal for each of the plurality of activation positions.

Optionally, the closure member is biased away from the second activated position. Optionally, the resilient element is arranged to bias the closure member away from the second activated position. Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises a second resilient element arranged to bias the closure member away from the second activated position.

Optionally, the resilient element is arranged such that there is a different biasing force for the activation position, the second activation position, and/or two or more of the plurality of activation positions.

The second activation position is typically exclusive or different from the first activation position. In practice, all the activation positions may be mutually exclusive or different, for example at mutually different positions. They may also be exclusive or different from the open position and the closed position.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of operating an aerosol-generating device having a body with an aperture through which an aerosol substrate may be received into the aerosol-generating device and a closure, the method comprising:

moving the closure member relative to the aperture from a closed position, in which the closure member covers the aperture, to an open position, in which the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the closure member, the closure member being stable in each of the closed and open positions, and

moving the closure member from the open position to an activated position in which the device is operable to initiate an activation signal.

Each of these aspects may include any one or more of the features mentioned in the other aspects above.

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

The use of the words "device," "apparatus," "processor," "module," and the like is intended to be generic, rather than specific. Although the features of the present disclosure may be implemented using a stand-alone component, such as a computer or Central Processing Unit (CPU), other suitable components or combinations of components may be used to implement equally well. For example, they may be implemented using one or more hardwired circuits, such as integrated circuits, and using embedded software.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" as used in this document means "consisting at least in part of … …". Thus, when interpreting statements in this document which include the word "comprising", features other than that or those following the word may also be present. Related terms such as "include" and "include" are to be interpreted in the same manner. As used herein, "preceding" a noun refers to the plural and/or singular form of the noun.

As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall refer to a system of particles dispersed in air or gas (such as a mist, fog, or fog). Thus, the term "aerosolization (aerosolise or aerosize)" refers to making an aerosol and/or dispersing into an aerosol. It should be noted that the meaning of aerosol/aerosolization is consistent with each of the volatilization, atomization, and vaporization defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to describe consistently a mist or droplet comprising atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles. Aerosols also include mists or droplets containing any combination of atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles.

Preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an aerosol-generating device.

Figure 2 is a view of the construction of a closure member for an aerosol generating device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a first embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

Figure 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of the first embodiment of the closure, with the closure in the open position.

Figure 3(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of the first embodiment of the closure, with the closure in the activated position.

Figure 3(d) is another schematic cross-sectional view from the side of the first embodiment of the closure, with the closure in the activated position.

Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the first embodiment of the aerosol generating device during use.

Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the elastic element which forms part of the first embodiment of the closure.

Figure 6 is a view of the construction of a closure member for an aerosol generating device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 7(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a second embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

Figure 7(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a second embodiment of the closure, with the closure in the open position.

Figure 7(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a second embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the activated position.

Figure 7(d) is another schematic cross-sectional view from the side of the second embodiment of the closure with the closure in the activated position.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a third embodiment of the closure.

Figure 9 is a view of the construction of a closure member for an aerosol generating device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 10(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fourth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

Figure 10(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fourth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the open position.

Figure 10(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fourth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the activated position.

Figure 10(d) is another schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fourth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the activated position.

Figure 11 is a view of the construction of a closure member for an aerosol generating device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 12(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fifth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

Figure 12(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fifth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the open position.

Figure 12(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fifth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the activated position.

Figure 12(d) is another schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a fifth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the activated position.

Figure 13 is a view of the construction of a closure member for an aerosol generating device according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 14(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a sixth embodiment of the closure, wherein the closure is in the closed position.

Figure 14(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a sixth embodiment of the closure with the closure in the open position.

Figure 14(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a sixth embodiment of the closure with the closure in the activated position.

Figure 14(d) is another schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a sixth embodiment of the closure with the closure in the activated position.

Figure 15(a) is a view of a closure attachment mechanism for a closure.

Figure 15(b) is a view of another closure attachment mechanism for the closure.

FIG. 16 is a view of a sensor used in various embodiments of the closure.

Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of a seventh embodiment of an aerosol-generating device.

Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of an eighth embodiment of an aerosol-generating device.

Detailed Description

First embodiment

Referring to fig. 1, an aerosol-generating device 100, according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a body 102 that houses a plurality of different components of the aerosol-generating device 100. The body 102 may be any shape as long as it is sized to match the components described in the aerosol-generating device 100. The body 102 may be formed from any suitable material or even layer of material.

For convenience, the first end of the aerosol-generating device 100 (which is the end proximate to the closure member 106, shown toward the top of fig. 1) is described as the top or upper end of the aerosol-generating device 100. For convenience, the second end of the aerosol generating device 100 (which is the end further from the closure member 106, shown towards the bottom of fig. 1) is described as the bottom, base or lower end of the aerosol generating device 100. For convenience, movement from the top of the aerosol generating device 100 to the bottom of the aerosol generating device 100 is described as downward, while for convenience, movement from the bottom of the aerosol generating device 100 to the top of the aerosol generating device 100 is described as upward. In use, a user typically orients the aerosol-generating device 100 with the first end facing downward and/or in a distal position relative to the user's mouth and the second end facing upward and/or in a proximal position relative to the user's mouth.

The aerosol-generating device 100 comprises a heating chamber 108 located towards a first end of the aerosol-generating device 100. At one end of the heating chamber 108, an aperture 104 is provided through the body 102, the aperture 104 providing access to the heating chamber 108 from outside the body 102, such that aerosol substrate may be placed into the heating chamber 108 via the aperture 104.

At the orifice 104, where the heating chamber 108 is proximate to the body 102, one or more spacing elements, such as gaskets, are provided to mount the heating chamber 108 in place. These spacing elements reduce heat conduction from the heating chamber 108 to the body. Typically, there are air gaps elsewhere around the heating chamber 108, thus also reducing heat transfer from the heating chamber 108 to the body 102 other than via the spacing elements.

To further improve the insulation of the heating chamber 108, the heating chamber 108 is also surrounded by insulation (not shown). In some embodiments, the insulation is a fibrous or foam material, such as a fleece material. In some embodiments, the insulation comprises a pair of nested tubes or cups, the cavity between which is enclosed. The cavity may be filled with an insulating material, such as a fiber, foam, gel, or gas (e.g., at low pressure), and/or the cavity may include a vacuum. Advantageously, the vacuum requires a very small thickness to achieve high thermal isolation.

The orifice 104 is typically a circular orifice centered on the axis a-a. It will be appreciated that any shape of aperture may be used, for example a square or triangular aperture may be used, with the axis a-a passing through the centre of the aperture 104. The axis a-a may be considered to be an axis perpendicular to a plane formed by the orifice 104, such as a plane in which the orifice 104 lies. Rather, the periphery of the aperture 104 may form a 2D shape, typically circular, as seen when looking at the aperture 104. The plane in which this 2D shape lies is the plane defined by the aperture 104.

The heating chamber 108 is typically formed by deep drawing. This is an efficient way of forming the heating chamber 108 and may be used to provide thin sidewalls. The deep drawing process involves pressing a metal slab with a punch to force it into a forming die. By using a series of progressively smaller die cutters and dies, a tubular structure is formed having a base at one end and a tube with a depth that is greater than the distance across the tube (which means that the length of the tube is relatively greater than its width, which leads to the term "deep drawing"). The base formed in this way is the same thickness as the initial metal slab. Flanges may be formed at the ends of the tubes by leaving an outwardly extending rim of the original metal slab at the end of the tubular wall opposite the base (i.e., starting with more material in the slab than is required to form the tube and base). Alternatively, the flange may then be formed by a separate step involving one or more of cutting, bending, rolling, swaging, etc. The heating chamber 108 formed by deep drawing has an orifice 104 formed during the deep drawing process.

The aerosol generating device 100 comprises a closure member 106 arranged to be movable between at least a closed position in which the closure member blocks the aperture 104 from material entering the heating chamber 108, and an open position in which the aperture 104 is uncovered to allow access to the heating chamber 108. The closure member 106 can include an outer cover 112, the outer cover 112 being disposed outside the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 and thus being available for interaction with a user. In some, but not all embodiments, the aerosol-generating device 100 comprises a resilient element 114 arranged to deform as the closure member 106 moves; and comprises a guide 120 along which the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to move.

The closure member 106 is typically arranged to be movable between a closed position and an open position by sliding relative to the body 102; typically, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the guide 120 as the closure member 106 slides between the closed and open positions. In some embodiments, the closure member 106 is arranged to rotate between a closed position and an open position; in these embodiments, the rotation may be in any plane, for example the rotation may be in the plane formed by the aperture 104, or may be perpendicular or transverse to the plane formed by the aperture 104.

Typically, the resilient element 114 is a spring, such as a coil spring or a torsion spring. When the spring is deformed away from the relaxed position, the spring applies a compressive or extension force along an axis defined by the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 and the second end 118 of the resilient element 114. The force exerted by the spring is dependent on the deformation, with the amount of force exerted increasing with the amount of deformation from the relaxed position.

The first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to interact with the closure member 106 to move between the first and second positions as the closure member 106 moves between the open and closed positions. Typically, the resilient element is arranged to move along the guide 120 between a first position and a second position. The second end 118 of the resilient element 114 is attached to the body 102 such that the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves, e.g., rotates, relative to the second end 118 as the closure member 106 moves from the closed position to the open position. The guide 120 is typically arranged such that as the first end 116 moves along the guide 120, the distance between the first end 116 and the second end 118 of the resilient element 114 changes, and as a result, the resilient element 114 deforms, causing the resilient element 114 to exert a force on the first end 116. Typically, this involves the resilient element 114 compressing as the closure member 106 moves away from the closed position, such that the resilient element 114 resists displacement of the closure member 106 away from the closed position.

Second end 118 is typically attached to a component of closure member 106 that is mounted to body 102. The force applied by mounting second end 118 balances the force applied by resilient member 114 such that as closure member 106 is moved from the closed position to the open position, second end 118 is fixed in position relative to body 102 while first end 116 moves relative to body 102.

The resilient element 114 is arranged such that both the open position and the closed position are "stable" positions, e.g. the net force acting on the closing member 106 is zero when the closing member 106 is in the open position or the closed position. In some embodiments, in each of the closed position and the open position, the elastic element 114 is in a substantially relaxed position such that the elastic element 114 applies no or only a negligible force to the first end 116 or the second end 118 of the elastic element 114. Typically, the elastic element 114 is arranged to be in the deformed position when the shutter is in the closed position or in the open position; here, when the closure is in the closed position or in the open position, the elastic element 114 exerts a force; the force exerted by the resilient member 114 is balanced by the force exerted by the walls of the guide 120. In other words, the open position and the closed position are stable equilibrium positions. In these embodiments, a threshold force is required to displace the closure member 106 from either of the closed and open positions. The resilient element 114 is typically arranged such that the threshold force is sufficient to prevent the closure member 106 from moving away from either position due to accidental contact (e.g., deflection in a user's pocket), but not so high as to be difficult to move between positions. Typical values of the threshold force required to move the closure member away from either stable position are in the range 0.1N to 10N, for example 3N.

When the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is in a position on the guide 120 that is neither the first nor the second position, a net force is exerted on the first end 116 such that the first end 116 is biased toward one of the first and second positions and, correspondingly, the closure member 106 is biased toward one of the closed and open positions. The direction in which first end 116 is biased depends on the relative positions of first end 116 and second end 118, such that when first end 116 is "left" of second end 118, resilient element 114 applies a force that acts to move the first end to the left; when first end 116 is "to the right" of second end 118, resilient member 114 applies a force that acts to move first end 116 to the right. The resilient element 114 is arranged such that as the closure member 106 moves from the closed position to the open position, the first end 116 moves relative to the second end 118 and the direction of the force exerted by the resilient element 114 changes. More specifically, the resilient element is arranged such that the force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to bias the closure member 106 toward the closed position from a first range of positions between the closed position and the open position, and to bias the closure member 106 toward the open position from a second range of positions between the closed position and the open position. The first range of positions is closer to the closed position than the second range of positions. Similarly, the second range of positions is closer to the open position than the first range of positions.

Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged such that the first range of positions is substantially adjacent to the second range of positions. Thus, the closure member 106 is biased toward the closed position or the open position when the closure member is in each position (or substantially each position) between the closed position and the open position. More specifically, there may be an unstable equilibrium position (or region) midway between the first and second ranges of positions (e.g., midway between the open and closed positions) in the sense that the resilient member 114 does not exert a net force on the closure member 106. This typically occurs during the portion of the travel of the resilient member 114 that changes between biasing the closure member 106 toward the open position and biasing the closure member 106 toward the closed position. Unstable equilibrium regions refer to the following regions: wherein a small displacement in any direction drives the closure member away from the unstable equilibrium area. Typically, the elastic element 114 is arranged such that such unstable equilibrium area is as small as possible.

The resilient element 114 is arranged such that a component of the deformation of the resilient element 114 and a component of the force exerted by the resilient element 114 are in the direction of movement of the closure member 106 when the closure member 106 is in substantially each position between the closed position and the open position. The resilient element 114 is arranged such that this force component resists movement away from the closed position or the open position, respectively, when the closure 106 is in the closed position or the open position. The resilient element 114 is further arranged such that a component of the deformation of the resilient element 114 and a component of the force exerted by the resilient element 114 is transverse to the direction of movement of the closure member 106, this force component acting to force the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 against one side of the guide 120. Typically, the component of the deformation of the resilient element 114 and the component of the force exerted by the resilient element 114 are in a direction relative to the closure member 106 towards and/or away from the body 102, e.g. towards the top or bottom of the aerosol-generating device 100. This force acts to keep the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 pressed against one side, typically the top side, of the guide 120 as the closure member 106 moves from the closed position to the open position. This results in a smooth sliding movement of the closing member 106, which is pleasant for the user.

It should be appreciated that the aerosol-generating device 100 may be held in any orientation. In general, the components of deformation and/or force described as "upward" or "downward" with reference to fig. 1 may be considered to be the components of deformation and/or force in the following cases: in a material receiving direction through the aperture 104, along an axis of the aperture 104, perpendicular or transverse to a plane defined by the aperture 104, perpendicular or transverse to a direction of movement of the closure member 106, toward/away from the body 102 relative to the closure member 106, and/or along a major axis of the aerosol-generating device 100.

The first range of positions and the second range of positions are typically of comparable size, for example in some embodiments the first range of positions is: the first end 116 of the elastic element 114 is between the first position and the center point of the guide 120, and the second position range is: the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is between the center point of the guide 120 and the second position. In some embodiments, the first range of positions and the second range of positions are different in size, e.g., the resilient element 114 may be arranged such that the second end 118 of the resilient element 114 is closer to one end of the guide 120, e.g., closer to the first position than the second position (e.g., almost below and slightly "to the right" of the first end of the guide 120), in which case the second range of positions is greater than the first range of positions, and only a small movement away from the closed position is required before the resilient element 114 acts to bias the closure member 106 toward the open position.

In some embodiments, the resilient element 114 is arranged such that the biasing force is different when the first end 116 is in the first position than when the first end 116 is in the second position. Thus, the force required to move the closure member 106 away from the closed position toward the open position is different than the force required to move the closure member 106 away from the open position toward the closed position. This may be accomplished, for example, by positioning the second end 118 of the resilient element closer to one end of the guide 120 than the other end of the guide 120.

In some embodiments, the guide 120 is linear. Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged to be more compressed as the first end 116 moves through the first range of positions, and thus, in the case of a linear guide, the amount of force exerted by the resilient element increases as the first end 116 moves through the first range of positions. In the first embodiment, the guide 120 is arcuate such that as the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the guide 120 through the first range of positions, the rate of increase of the deformation of the resilient element 114 decreases (and thus, the rate of increase of the amount of force applied decreases). Thus, the applied force generated by the arcuate guide of the first embodiment increases slightly (but less than in the case of the linear guide) during movement of the closure member 106 away from the closed position through the first range of positions.

In some embodiments, the guide 120 is an arc arranged such that a constant amount of force is applied to the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 as the first end moves through the first range of positions and/or the second range of positions. More specifically, in some embodiments, the guide 120 is arranged such that the distance between the first end 116 and the second end 118 of the resilient element 114 remains constant throughout the movement of the first end 116 along the guide; in these embodiments, the deformation of the elastic element 114 still changes as the first end 116 of the elastic element 114 moves, as the direction of deformation of the elastic element 114 changes. Thus, the direction of the force applied to the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 changes (and the direction of the bias changes).

In some embodiments, the guide 120 is arranged such that a decreasing force is applied to the first end 116 of the resilient element as it moves through the first range of positions and/or the second range of positions. This may be accomplished, for example, by arranging the resilient element 114 and the guide 120 such that the resilient element 114 is compressed when the closure 106 is in the closed position and the amount of compression of the resilient element 114 decreases as the first end 116 moves through the first range of positions.

As the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the guide 120, the direction of the force applied by the resilient element 114 changes; at the equilibrium point, there is no component of force in either the direction of the closed position or the direction of the open position, e.g., the force is in the "up" direction and there is no component to its "left" or "right". Before the equilibrium point (to its closing side), the biasing force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the closure member 106 towards the closed position. After the equilibrium point (to its open side), the biasing force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the closure member to the open position. It should be appreciated that the balance point is a single point on the guide 120; in practice, it is difficult to place the first end at the equilibrium point, and thus the first range of positions and the second range of positions are substantially adjacent. Further, in practice, the inertia of the closure member 106 as it moves between the open and closed positions causes the first end 116 of the resilient element to exceed an equilibrium point, and thus the closure member 106 is typically less likely to rest stably between the closed and open positions.

The closing member 106 is typically arranged to be further movable from the open position to the activated position. In various embodiments, the movement from the open position to the activated position comprises the following movements: moving in a direction of movement from the closed position to the open position, moving transverse to the direction of movement from the closed position to the open position, and/or moving toward the body 102 relative to the closure member 106.

Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged to deform when the closure member 106 is moved from the open position to the activated position. Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged to bias the closure member 106 away from the activated position towards the open position.

Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged such that the movement from the open position to the activated position occurs at least partially in a different direction than the movement from the closed position to the open position. In this manner, the force required to move the first end 116 from the first position to the second position may be different than the force required to move the first end from the second position to a third position, which is the position of the first end 116 when the closure member 106 is in the activated position. This typically includes that the movement from the first position to the second position is mainly transverse to the direction of deformation of the spring, e.g. from "left" to "right", and that the movement from the second position to the third position has a significant component in the direction of deformation of the spring, e.g. from "up" to "down". Thus, movement from the first position to the second position requires a force acting against a relatively small component of the force applied by the resilient element 114, such as the force provided by a user of the aerosol-generating device 100, a majority of the force applied by the resilient element being resisted by one side of the guide 120, whereas movement from the second position to the third position typically requires a force acting against a proportionally larger component of the force applied by the resilient element 114. In some embodiments, as the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves from the first position to the second position, the resilient element 114 primarily rotates; as the first end 116 moves from the second position to the third position, the resilient element 114 primarily compresses.

In some embodiments, a second resilient element (not shown) is arranged for biasing the closure member from the activated position towards the open position. The second resilient element may have a different stiffness or require a different deformation force than the resilient element 114.

Typically, the activated position is a temporary position in which a continuous force, such as a force provided by a user of the aerosol-generating device 100, is required to maintain the closure member 106 in the activated position. If this force is removed, the biasing force of the resilient element 114, or second resilient element, acts to return the closure member 106 to the open position.

In some embodiments, the activated position is also a stable position, e.g., the closure member 106 is not biased away from the activated position. In these embodiments, the resilient element 114 acts to bias the closure member 106 from a third range of positions between the open position and the activated position toward the open position, and to bias the closure member 106 from a fourth range of positions between the open position and the activated position toward the activated position. The third range of positions is closer to the open position than the fourth range of positions, and the fourth range of positions is closer to the active position than the third range of positions. Typically, the fourth range of positions is significantly smaller than the third range of positions, e.g. the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 may be arranged to fit in the recess in the activated position and be biased towards the open position from any position not in the recess, e.g. the first end 116 may "click in" and "click out" of the activated position.

The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a battery 110 which powers a heater which heats the heating chamber 108.

Referring to FIG. 2, a constitutional view of a first embodiment of the closure member 106 is shown.

The outer cap 112 of the closure member 106 is arranged on top of the shield 122, the shield 122 together with the outer cap 112 being arranged for covering the aperture 104 when the closure member 106 is in the closed position. The outer cap 112 can include tactile elements, such as buttons or a pliable material, for improving the user's experience of interacting with the closure member 106.

Both the outer cap 106 and the guard 122 are arranged to be located outside the body 102 when the aerosol-generating device 100 is assembled; the shield 122 contains means of attachment to one or more internally positioned components of the closure 106 such that a user can interact with the internal components of the closure 106 through interaction with the outer cap 112. In this embodiment, the shield 122 includes a shield aperture 124 on the shield 122 to enable the shield 122 to connect to the internal components of the closure 106.

An orifice cover 126 is arranged to fit within the orifice 104, wherein the axis of the cover orifice 128 coincides with the axis a-a of the orifice 104. The aperture cover 126 is arranged to place the closure member on the body 102 such that in the closed position, the closure member 106 covers the cover aperture 128 and the aperture 104.

The aperture cover 126 includes a channel 130 through which components of the closure member 106 that are inside the body 102 can be connected to components of the closure member 106 that are outside the body 102.

The guide 120 is located in a guide member 132 that is secured to the body 102. The fastening means may comprise a snap fit, adhesive, screw, pin or other fastening means. Guide member 132 further includes a mounting point 134 to which second end 118 of resilient member 114 may be attached, thereby securing second end 118 in place relative to body 102. Mounting point 134 is arranged to hold second end 118 in place relative to body 102. Typically, mounting point 134 is a protrusion about which second end 118 is placed. The axis of the protrusion is perpendicular to the direction of deformation of the resilient element 114, so that during use the second end 118 does not move away from the protrusion, but the second end 118 is easily removed from the protrusion for disassembly or cleaning.

The guide 120 typically includes two guide sections extending along each side of the guide member 132, the top and bottom of which are encapsulated by the material. Between these two guide sections, there is typically a cut-out. Thus, the moving pin 136 may be placed through each guide section, and the moving pin 136 may also extend to one or more sides of the guide member 132.

The first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged for interacting with the moving pin 136. Typically, the first end 116 of the elastic element 114 is attached to the moving pin 136, or to a component that moves with the moving pin 136; in some embodiments, the first end 116 is arranged to be pushed or pulled by the moving pin 136. Since the moving pin 136 is arranged for interacting with the first end 116 of the resilient element 116, it is subsequently mentioned that a movement of the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 along the guide 120 also indicates a movement of the moving pin 136 along the guide 120, and vice versa.

The moving pin 136 is arranged to be movable between a first end of the guide member 120 and a second end of the guide member 120. The moving pin 136 is further arranged to abut the guide element 132 at the "top" and "bottom" of the guide 120, such that movement of the moving pin 136 through the channel 130 is resisted, thereby ensuring that the moving pin 136 is always in the guide 120.

The closure further includes a linkage 138 arranged to connect outer components of the closure 106, such as the shield 22 and the outer cap 112, to inner components of the closure 106, such as the travel pin 136 and the guide section 132. The link 138 includes a guard attachment 142 arranged to connect the link 138 to the guard 122. In this embodiment, the guard attachment 142 includes an aperture and a pin, wherein the pin may be inserted through the aperture of the guard attachment 142 and the guard aperture 124 to connect the guard 122 to the link 138. In some embodiments, guard attachment 142 includes screws, adhesives, or other attachment means.

The link 138 further comprises a guide attachment 140 arranged to interact with the first end 116 of the resilient element 114. The guide attachment 140 of the first embodiment includes a hole arranged to match the moving pin 136. The moving pin 136 may be inserted through the guide 120 and the guide attachment 140 such that movement of the guard 122 causes the link 138 to move and thereby causes the moving pin 136 to move along the guide 120.

More generally, the force applied by the user to the outer cap 112 causes a force to be applied to the guard 122 and, thus, to the moving pin 136 and to the first end 116 of the resilient element 114.

The linkage 138 is sized such that at least a portion of the body of the linkage 138 can pass through the channel 130 of the aperture cover 126.

To assemble closure member 106, a guard attachment 142 is used to connect linkage 138 to guard 122. Next, the link 138 is passed through the channel 130 of the orifice cover element 126 such that the position of the guide attachment 140 coincides with the position of the guide 120 of the guide member 132. Next, the moving pin 136 is inserted through the first guide section, through the guide attachment 140, and through the second guide section. The travel pin 136 abuts one side of the guide 120 to prevent the link 138 from being removed through the channel 130 of the orifice cover 126. First end 116 of resilient member 114 is attached, directly or indirectly, to a moving pin 136, and second end 118 of resilient member 114 is attached to mounting point 134. The guard 122 is connected to the moving pin 136, and thus to the first end 116 of the resilient element, via a link 138. Thus, a user can move the first end 116 of the resilient member by moving the outer cover of the closure member 106. Next, the closure member 106 is placed in the body 102 of the aperture and secured in place, for example by a snap fit.

Referring to fig. 3, the components of the closure member 106 are shown with the closure member 106 in each position.

Referring to FIG. 3a, the closure member 106 is shown in the closed position. In this position, the closure member 106 covers the aperture 104 of the aerosol generating device 100. The resilient element 114 is arranged such that when the closure member 106 is in the closed position, the resilient element 114 resists movement of the closure member 106 away from the closed position. In the first embodiment, the elastic member 114 includes a torsion spring; as the first end 116 of the resilient element moves along the guide 120 away from the first position, the resilient element 114 applies a compressive force that acts in line with the axis joining the first and second ends 116, 118 of the resilient element. A component of the compressive force acts to move the closure member 106 to the closed position.

Referring to fig. 3b, the resilient element 114 is arranged to resist movement of the closure member 106 away from the open position when the closure member 106 is in the open position, in the same manner as described with reference to the resistance to movement away from the closed position.

The direction of the force exerted on the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 when the closure 106 is between the closed position and the open position depends on the position of the first end 116. Initially, the resilient member 114 acts to bias the closure member 106 toward the closed position as the closure member 106 moves away from the closed position. As the closure member 106 moves further away from the closed position toward the open position, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves away from the first position toward the second position; once the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves past the equilibrium point, the direction of the force exerted on the first end 116 changes, and the resilient element 114 acts to bias the closure member 106 toward the open position.

Referring to FIG. 3c, the closure member 106 is shown in the activated position. Typically, the closure member 106 is further movable from the open position to reach the activated position; in the first embodiment, the closure member 106 is arranged to be movable towards the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 to reach the activated position, preferably by moving the first end 114 of the resilient element 114 along a dedicated activation guide positioned transversely to the guide. As closure member 106 is moved toward body 102, moving pin 136 is arranged to move toward activation detector 146 located on closure member 106 or the body. More precisely, the moving pin 136 is arranged to move along a sensor guide 144 defined by an activation detector 146, which in this embodiment is a push button. As the moving pin 136 moves along the sensor guide 144, the push button is depressed. Depressing the push button will initiate an activation signal that may be used, for example, to initiate operation of the heater.

Referring to FIG. 3d, an additional view of closure member 106 is shown in the activated position, wherein depression of activation detector 146 is more clearly shown.

Referring to fig. 3-5, the operation of the closure member 106 is described. Fig. 5 illustrates the force exerted on the closure member 106 by the resilient element 114 in an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device 100, which uses a linear compression spring pivoted about its second end 118. It will be appreciated that in this example the resilient member 114 exerts a force on the closure member 106 similar to that which they exert in the first embodiment, in which the resilient member 114 is a torsion spring. Thus, fig. 5 shows an overview of the concept associated with the elastic element 114.

Typically, the aerosol generating device 100 is activated in the closed position to prevent unwanted material from entering the heating chamber 134. When a user desires to use the aerosol-generating device 100, the user applies a force to the outer lid 112 that acts to move the closure member 106 toward the open position.

More specifically, the user applies an opening force (e.g., to the right in fig. 5 a-5 c) to the outer cover 112 of the closure member 106 that acts to move the closure member 106 from the closed position in an opening direction (a) in a direction toward the open position. As shown in fig. 5a, this opening force is initially resisted by the resilient element 114 such that if the user releases the closure member 106 before it moves beyond the first range of positions, the closure member 106 returns to the closed position.

As the user applies an opening force to the outer cover 112 of the closure member 106, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves from the closed position in the first direction (D) towards the open position and eventually the first end 116 reaches a point of equilibrium, as shown in fig. 5 b. As shown in fig. 5c, once the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 passes the equilibrium point, the force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the closure member 106 toward the open position.

As the first end 116 of the elastic element 114 moves in the first direction (D), the elastic element 114 deforms in the second direction (E). The component of the second direction and/or the second direction (E) is preferably transverse to the first direction (D) such that, for example, the elastic element 114 is vertically deformed as the closure member 106 is moved horizontally from the closed position to the open position.

It will be appreciated that the second direction (E) may not be completely transverse to the first direction (D), for example the second direction (D) may be transverse to and aligned with a component of the first direction (D).

Typically, the first direction (D) (i.e., the direction of movement of the first end 116 of the resilient element 114) is the same as the opening direction (a) (i.e., the direction of movement of the closure member 106) as the closure member 106 moves between the closed position and the open position. Once the closure member 106 has reached the open position, the closure member 106 encounters an end of the guide 120, which prevents further movement of the closure member 106.

With the closure member 106 in the open position, the user inserts the aerosol substrate 148 into the heating chamber 108 via the aperture 104. More specifically, a first end of the aerosol substrate 148 is inserted into the heating chamber 108 in the insertion direction (B), while a second end of the aerosol substrate 148 is held outside the aerosol generating device 100 and is thus accessible to the user.

With the aerosol substrate 148 in the heating chamber 108, the user moves the closure member 106 in the activation direction (C) towards the activated position. In this embodiment, the user moves the closure member 106 towards the body 102 of the aerosol generating device 100. As the closure member 106 moves toward the body 102, the moving pin 136 moves along the sensor guide 144 and depresses the push button that activates the detector 146. Depressing the push button operates an activation signal that (directly or indirectly) causes the heater to operate. The heater heats the heating chamber 108 and thereby the aerosol substrate 148. Heating the aerosol substrate 148 will generate a vapor that the user can then inhale through the exposed end of the aerosol substrate 148.

The resilient member 114 acts to bias the first travel pin 136 away from the activated position toward the open position, requiring the user to maintain pressure against the outer cap 112 to hold the closure member 106 in the activated position.

Once the aerosol substrate 148 has been sufficiently heated, the user can remove pressure from the closure member 106. Once the pressure is removed, the force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the moving pin along the sensor guide 144 away from the activation detector 146 and the push button is raised. This may send a deactivation signal or discontinue sending an activation signal to stop operation of the heater.

Upon inhalation of the vapor, the user can repeatedly depress and release the outer cover 112 to move the closure member 106 between the open position and the activated position to turn the heater on and off.

In some instances, the user may not need to hold the closure member 106 in the third position to activate the device 100 for the entire heating cycle. Alternatively, the apparatus 100 may be configured to detect that the closure member 106 has just entered the third position (or has remained in the third position for a period of time less than the full heating cycle time), and upon detecting this, the full heating cycle will begin. This arrangement frees the user's hands from fine control and reduces the chance of an inexperienced user turning the heater on too long and overheating the aerosol substrate 148.

When the user uses up the aerosol substrate 148, the user removes the aerosol substrate 148 from the heating chamber 108 and discards the aerosol substrate 148. The user then applies a closing force to the outer lid 112 of the closure member 106 in the direction from the open position towards the closed position (e.g. to the left in fig. 5a to 5 c). As shown in fig. 5c, this closing force is initially resisted by the resilient element 114 such that if the user releases the closure member 106 before it moves significantly, the closure member 106 returns to the open position.

As the user continues to apply a closing force to the outer lid 112 of the closure member 106, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 eventually reaches an equilibrium point, as shown in fig. 5 b. As shown in fig. 5a, once the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 passes the equilibrium point, the force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the closure member 106 toward the closed position. This process is generally the reverse of the movement described above with respect to the movement of the closure member 106 from the closed position to the open position.

When the closure 106 is in the closed position, the aerosol generating device 100 may be housed, for example in a bag or pocket, and the closure 106 prevents material from entering the heating chamber 108. The resilient member 114 biases the closure member 106 toward the closed position to prevent the closure member 106 from moving due to accidental contact with other objects.

Second embodiment

Referring to fig. 6, the aerosol generating device 100 according to the second embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol generating device 100 of the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5, except that the linkage 138 of the second embodiment is different from the linkage of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the link 138 includes a main body section, a tip 162 extending from one side of the body of the link 138, and a guard attachment 142 extending from the other side of the body of the link 138. The linkage 138 is sized such that the body of the linkage 138 and the tip 162 of the linkage 138 can pass through the channel 130 of the orifice cover 126.

The link 138 further includes: a first pin 150, a second pin 154, and a third pin 158; and a first pin hole 152, a second pin hole 156, and a third pin hole 160. The first pin 150 is arranged to fit in the first pin hole 152, the second pin 154 is arranged to fit in the second pin hole 156, and the third pin 158 is arranged to fit in the third pin hole 160. The first and second pin holes 152, 156 are disposed on the main body of the connecting rod 138, and the third pin hole 160 is disposed on the tip 162 of the connecting rod 138.

The guard attachment 142 is arranged for attaching the guard 122 to the link 138. Another difference from the first embodiment is that in this embodiment, the guard attachment 142 comprises an elastically deformable snap-fit element that is pushed into the guard 122. Thus, in this embodiment, there is no guard aperture. In some embodiments, guard attachment 142 includes screws, adhesives, or other attachment means.

The first pin 150 and the second pin 154 are sized to pass through the guide 120. Typically, the first pin 150 and the second pin 154 are arranged to fit snugly within the guide, which avoids undesirable rattling of the closure member 106 when the link 138 is secured within the guide member 132.

The link 138 is arranged to be insertable into the guide member 132 with the tip 162 inside the body 102 and pointing away from the outer cover 112. With the connecting rod 138 inserted into the guide member 132, the body of the connecting rod 138 is between the two guide members so that the first pin 150 can be inserted through the first guide section, through the first pin hole 152, and then through the second guide section. Similarly, the second pin 154 may be inserted through the first guide section, through the second pin aperture 156, and then through the second guide section. Thereby, the link 138 is secured within the guide member 120 and movement of the outer cap 112 via the guard 122 causes the first and second pins 150, 154 to move along the guide member 120. This movement is resisted (or assisted) by the force exerted by the resilient element 114, as has been described previously.

To assemble the closure member 106 of the second embodiment, the guide member 132 is placed within the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100. Link 138 is connected to guard 122 using guard attachment 142. Next, the connecting rod 138 is passed through the channel 130 of the orifice cover member 126 such that the first and second pin holes 152, 156 coincide with the guide 120 of the guide member 132 of the second embodiment. Next, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged such that it coincides with the third pin hole 160. First pin 150, second pin 154, and third pin 158 are placed in first pin hole 152, second pin hole 156, and third pin hole 160, respectively. The pins 150, 154, 158 extend from the guide 120 such that they overlap the edges of the guide 120 and prevent the link 138 from being removed through the channel 130 of the aperture cover 126. The guard 122 is connected to the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 via a third pin 158 of the link 138. Thus, a user can move the first end 116 of the resilient member 114 by moving the outer cover 112 of the closure member 106.

Referring to fig. 7, the closure member 106 of the second embodiment is shown in a closed position (fig. 7a), an open position (fig. 7b) and an activated position (fig. 7c and 7 d). In the second embodiment, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 interacts with the closing member 106 via a third pin 158.

Specifically, as the closure member 106 moves from the closed position to the open position, the first and second pins 150, 154 move along the guide 120. As the first pin 150 and the second pin 154 move along the guides, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves between the first position and the second position.

The cusp 162 of the linkage 138 is disposed adjacent to the activation detector 146 when the closure 106 is in the open position. As the closure member 132 is depressed to the activated position, the prong 162 is arranged to depress the activation detector 146 to operate the activation signal.

Third embodiment

Referring to figure 8, the aerosol generating device 100 according to the third embodiment of the closure member 106 is the same as the aerosol generating device 100 of the second embodiment described with reference to figures 6 to 7 except that the linkage 138 comprises a shield attachment 142 arranged to be attached via the passage 130 near the end of the shield 122 furthest from the aperture 104. Typically, the guard attachment 142 of the third embodiment also extends along a significant portion of the guard 122 to ensure a secure connection.

The guard attachment 122 is arranged to pass through the passage 130 so that it can be attached to a guard 122 that is external to the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100. With the guard attachment 122 arranged to attach to the end of the guard 122 furthest from the aperture 104, when the closure 106 is in the closed position, the guard attachment 142 is offset from the aperture 104 while the outer cap 112 extends across the aperture 104.

This offset enables the aerosol-generating device 100 to include a partition 164; a partition 164 physically separates the orifice 104 from the channel 130. The partition 164 prevents material from entering the heating chamber 108 via the passage 130.

The partition 164 is typically an integral part of the body 102 and/or the heating chamber 108. Typically, the formation of the heating chamber 108 includes deep drawing, wherein the orifice 104 is formed by deforming an initially flat sheet with a drawing die; the partition 164 is thus part of the original sheet and is therefore integral with the heating chamber 108.

Fourth embodiment

Referring to fig. 9, an aerosol-generating device 100 according to a fourth embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 100 of the second embodiment described with reference to fig. 6 to 7, except that the cusp 162 of the linkage 138 of the fourth embodiment is not perpendicular to the body 161 of the linkage. The cusps 162 are instead angled toward the aperture 104. This enables the arrangement using the partitioning member as shown in the third embodiment without changing the mounting position of the second end 118 of the elastic member 114 or extending the guide member 120. In contrast to the second embodiment, the position of the intersection between the cusp 162 and the main body of the linkage 138 (the "proximal" end of the cusp 162) varies, but the position of the "distal" end of the cusp 162 does not vary in each position.

Another difference with the fourth embodiment is that the orifice cover 126 further includes a cover attachment mechanism 166.

Another difference of the fourth embodiment is that the guide member 130 further comprises an extension 168 extending from the body of the guide member 130, the extension being arranged to interact with the cover attachment mechanism 166 of the orifice cover 126 to hold each member in position relative to each other. Typically, the cover attachment mechanism 166 and the extension 168 comprise a protrusion and a void, respectively, wherein the protrusion of the cover attachment mechanism 166 is arranged to fit in the void of the extension 168.

Referring to fig. 10a to 10d, the fourth embodiment further comprises an opening detector 170 arranged to operate as the closure member 106 is moved from the closed position to the open position. In this embodiment, the opening detector 170 is a tactile switch that is depressed by the closure member 106 when the closure member 106 is in the closed position. In operation, as the closure member 106 is moved to the open position, the closure member 106 moves away from the opening detector 170 such that when the closure member 106 reaches the open position, the tactile switch is exposed and raised. The opening detector 170 is arranged to activate the status signal after it has been exposed and/or once it has detected a movement of the closure member 106, for example when the closure member 106 is moved from the closed position to the open position. It will be appreciated that the opening detector may be another type of sensor, such as any of the sensors described in fig. 16a to 16 d.

Fifth embodiment

Referring to fig. 11, an aerosol-generating device 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 100 of the second embodiment described with reference to fig. 6 to 7, except that the orifice cover 126 of the fifth embodiment comprises a relatively wide channel 130.

Another difference of the fifth embodiment is that the guard attachment 142 of the link 138 includes an elongated spike arranged to pass along the channel 130 of the guard 122 and connect to the base of the guard 122 via a snap-fit mechanism. In the closed position, the guard attachment 142 covers the aperture 104, and in the open position, the guard attachment 142 is deflected to expose the aperture 104.

Another difference of the fifth embodiment is that the link 138 of the fifth embodiment includes a first pin 172 and a second pin 176 arranged to fit in a first aperture 174 and a second aperture 178 of the link 138.

Another difference of the fifth embodiment is that the guide member 132 further includes a second guide 180 and a third guide 182. The third guide 182 is connected to the second guide 180 such that a component inserted into the second guide 180 can move from a first end of the second guide 180 to a second end of the second guide 180 (where the second end of the second guide 180 coincides with the first end of the third guide 182), and then from the first end of the third guide 182 to the second end of the third guide 182. The third guide 182 may be considered an activation guide, wherein the closure member 106 is in the activated position when the third end is at the second end of the third guide 182.

The first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to be attachable to a second pin 176 arranged to align with a second guide 180 when the link 138 is inserted into the guide part 120. The second pin 176 is arranged to be insertable through a guide member of the guide 120 and a second hole 178. In this way, the second pin 176 is arranged to be movable along the second guide member 180 and the third guide member 182.

Referring to fig. 12a, in the fifth embodiment, in the closed position, the resilient element 114 biases the closure member 106 towards the closed position. The first end 116 of the resilient element 114 (attached to the second pin 176) is held by the resilient element 114 at a first end of the second guide 180.

Referring to fig. 12b, in the open position, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 (attached to the second pin 176) is held by the resilient element 114 at a second end of the second guide 180, which coincides with the first end of the third guide 182.

Referring to fig. 12c and 12d, in the activated position, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 (attached to the second pin 176) is located at the second end of the third guide 182. In this position, the resilient element 114 is arranged to bias the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 away from the second end of the third guide 182 towards the first end of the third guide 182. In this way, the resilient element 114 is arranged for biasing the closure member 106 away from the activated position and towards the open position.

In the active position, the activation detector 146 is depressed by the guard attachment 142, which is itself depressed by the user depressing the outer cap 112, and the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is located at the second end of the third guide 182.

Sixth embodiment

Referring to fig. 13, an aerosol-generating device 100 according to a sixth embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 100 of the fifth embodiment described with reference to fig. 11 to 12, except that the guard attachment 142 of the link 138 of the sixth embodiment comprises a screw arranged to fit through an aperture 184 located on an elongate cusp of the link 138. The guard mechanism includes corresponding threads in which the screw is received.

A further difference is that the sixth embodiment further comprises an intermediate member 186 arranged to fit within the link 138. The intermediate member 186 contains an opening detector 170, typically in the form of a magnet, which interacts with a corresponding hall sensor located in the guide element 132. The intermediate member 186 includes a first aperture 188 and a second aperture 190 that are arranged such that when the intermediate member 186 is inserted into the linkage 138, the first aperture 188 of the intermediate member 186 is aligned with the first aperture 174 of the linkage 138 and the second aperture 190 of the intermediate member 186 is aligned with the second aperture 178 of the linkage 138. The use of the intermediate member 186 to house the activation detector 146 enables relatively simple removal and maintenance of the activation detector 146, as well as simplifying the manufacture of similar closures using different sensors (e.g., for different product models).

Referring to fig. 14a, in the sixth embodiment, in the open position, the intermediate member 186 is positioned such that the open detector 170 is in a position to activate the status signal. This typically includes magnets located in the intermediate member 186 being positioned proximate to the corresponding hall sensors.

Referring to fig. 14d, in the activated position, the intermediate member 186 is arranged for interaction with the activation detector 146. Typically, this includes a portion of the intermediate member 186 depressing the tactile switch.

Referring to fig. 15, in each of the embodiments described above, the outer element of the closure member 106, e.g., outer cover 112, is attached to the inner element of the closure member 106, e.g., resilient element 114, via a linkage 138 that passes through the passage 130 of the aperture cover 126.

Referring to fig. 15a, in some embodiments, the link 138 includes a snap fit, wherein the base 192 of the link 138 is disposed to abut the base of the channel 130 of the aperture cover 126 to prevent the base from being removed through the channel 130 of the aperture cover 126. To enable the base 192 of the linkage 138 to be inserted through the channel 130 into the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100, the base 192 is typically tapered, and the base 192 and/or the orifice cover 126 are typically elastically deformable. With the snap-fit arrangement, the link 138 is able to move along the channel 130 when movement through the channel 130 is resisted.

Referring to fig. 15b, in some embodiments, linkage 138 comprises a pinned arrangement in which linkage 138 is pinned to an internal component of closure member 106. The pin plug typically includes an interference fit in which the base of the connecting rod 138 is pushed into a hole of comparable and typically slightly smaller diameter. Link 138 is movable along channel 130 of aperture cover 126 by a pin-and-socket arrangement, along with the internal component to which link 138 is pinned, which internal component of closure member 106 can be, for example, first pin 150 and/or second pin 154 of the second embodiment of closure member 106.

Additional mating arrangements may be used in addition to or instead of the snap-fit arrangement or the pin-and-socket arrangement. By way of example, it has been described with reference to the second embodiment that a pin is used to secure the link 138 in the channel 130, wherein the pin abuts a side of the guide 120 to prevent removal of the link from the body 102. In some embodiments, magnetic and/or adhesive connections are used.

Similar mechanisms may also be used as part of guard attachment 142 and/or to fit any pin in any hole and/or guide (e.g., fit first pin 150 in guide 120).

Referring to fig. 16 a-16 d, a number of different sensors are shown that may be used as part of the activation detector 146 and/or the turn-on detector 170. The sensor preferably operates by contact and/or movement of the sensor. In particular, the sensor may be selected as one or more of: tactile switches, rotary encoders, direct electrical contact sensors and/or by non-contact (i.e. remote sensing), in particular sensors selected from any one or more of the following: a photodetector (e.g., a photodiode, a photoresistor sensor, a phototransistor, a daylight sensor, a photovoltaic cell, and/or a bolometer), an infrared sensor, an accelerometer, an inductive sensor, or a magnet sensor (e.g., a hall effect sensor). The activation detector 146 and the opening detector 170 may be separate sensors or may be the same sensor, wherein, for example, the movable switch may have three positions in relation to the closed position, the open position and the activated position.

In some embodiments, the activation detector 146 and/or the opening detector 170 can determine the position of the closure member 106, and/or the period of time that the closure member 106 is in a certain position. Typically, this includes determining how long the closure member 106 has been in the activated position. After a certain period of time (at any location), a different signal than the signal sent upon arrival may be initiated. As an example, the activation detector 146 may be arranged for detecting the arrival of the closing member 106 and initiating the first heating signal upon arrival. The activation detector 146 may further be arranged for detecting when the closing member 106 is in the activated position for a period of several seconds, e.g. 1.5 seconds, and initiating a second heating signal related to the reduction of heat. Alternatively, the activation detector 146 may be adapted to initiate the activation signal only after the closure member 106 has been in the activated position for a certain period of time; this may be used as a safety feature, for example to avoid accidental or unintentional operation of the heater.

Considering the sensor subset shown in fig. 16, the following are shown in order:

a rotary encoder; the movement of the closure member 106 rotates the gear, and the angular position of the gear can thus be used to determine the position of the closure member 106. In the case of a rotary encoder, the activation position typically exceeds the open position in the direction of movement from the closed position to the open position. This enables a single rotary encoder to be used to detect each position.

A direct contact; the direct electrical contacts are arranged at one or more of these locations. The detection of current at the contacts indicates that the closure member is in this position.

A tactile switch; the tactile switch is depressed when the closure is in one or more of these positions. By using, for example, a rocker switch, a single tactile switch can be used to determine the open, closed, and activated positions of the closure member 106.

Magnet/hall effect sensor; magnets and corresponding hall effect sensors are disposed on the closure member 106 and at one or more of these locations.

LDR (light dependent resistor); LDRs are arranged at one or more locations. The change in LDR resistance can be used to determine whether it is covered by the closure member 106 and thus the position of the closure member 106. The LDR may be arranged such that it is uncovered in the open position, partially covered in the closed position, and fully covered in the activated position; this enables the position of the closure member 106 to be determined using a single LDR. It will be appreciated that this arrangement may be changed (e.g., such that the LDR is not covered in the activated position and is completely covered in the closed position).

An accelerometer; determining movement of the closure member 106 using an accelerometer; whether the movement is due to the closure member 106 opening, closing, or moving to the activated position can be determined by a characteristic of the acceleration, e.g., the bias causes the lid to accelerate toward the open or closed position but not toward the activated position.

An IR motion sensor; the amount of infrared light reflected by the closure member 106 depends on the position of the closure member.

An inductive sensor; the position of the closure member 106 is determined by measuring the current induced in the closure member 106 and/or a component of the body 102.

The aerosol generating device 100 typically further comprises a controller (not shown) that operates by activating the detector 146 or turning on a signal sent by the detector 170. In particular, the controller typically operates the components of the aerosol generating device 100 in accordance with a received signal indicative of the position of the closure member 106. Typical components that are operated upon include: a heater, a status indicator, a battery indicator, and a display.

Seventh embodiment

Referring to fig. 17, an aerosol-generating device 100 according to a seventh embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 100 of the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5, except that the closure member 106 is arranged to be movable from a closed position to a second activated position.

In particular, the seventh embodiment comprises a closing activation guide 194 along which the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to move when the closing member 106 moves between the closed position and the second activation position. Typically, the resilient element 114 is arranged to resist movement of the closure member 106 from the closed position to the second activated position, such that the second activated position is a temporary position. A continuous force is required to hold the closure member 106 in place in the second activated position, wherein removal of this force causes the resilient element 114 to act to move the closure member 106 from the second activated position to the closed position. In some examples, a separate resilient member (not shown) may be provided to move the closure member 106 from the second activated position to the closed position, for example to vary the force required to force the closure member 106 into the second activated position.

In some embodiments, the second activation position is a stable position. In these embodiments, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 may be arranged to fit in the recess, e.g. the first end 116 may "click in" and "click out" of the second activation position.

The aerosol generating device 100 is operable to initiate a second activation signal upon detection of movement of the closure member 106 to the second activation position, and/or the presence of the closure member 106 at the second activation position. The detection typically uses a second activation detector (not shown) which may be one of the sensor types described with reference to the activation detector 146 or with reference to fig. 16. In some embodiments, the second activation sensor is the same sensor as the activation detector 146 and/or the turn-on detector 170.

The second activation signal is different from the activation signal. The activation signal is initiated when the orifice 104 is uncovered and may, for example, operate a heater; the second activation signal is initiated when the orifice is covered and may, for example, give an indication of the battery or may use a heater to preheat the chamber at reduced power.

In use, to initiate the second activation signal, the user applies a force to the closure member 106 to move the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 along the closure activation guide 194 away from the first position to a fourth position associated with the closure member 106 being in the closed activation position. This movement deforms the resilient member 114 and is resisted by the resilient member 114. Once the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 reaches the fourth position, e.g., the end of the deactivation guide 194, the deactivation detector is operated and the second activation signal is activated. This may for example make the battery charge visible to the user.

Once the user removes the force from the closure member 106, the force exerted by the resilient element 114 acts to move the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 along the closure activation guide 194 away from the fourth position to the first position, and correspondingly, the closure member 106 moves from the closure activated position to the closed position.

Eighth embodiment

Referring to fig. 18, an aerosol-generating device 100 according to an eighth embodiment of the closure member 106 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 100 of the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 5, except that the closure member 106 is arranged to be movable from an open position to a first open active position and a second open active position.

Specifically, the eighth embodiment includes: a first open-activation guide 196 along which the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to move when the closure 106 is moved between the open position and the first open-activation position; and a second opening activation guide 198 along which the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 is arranged to move when the shutter 106 moves between the open position and the second opening activation position. As the closure member moves away from the open position toward the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 and toward the closed position, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the first opening activation guide 196. As the closure member moves away from the open position toward the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 and away from the closed position, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the second opening activation guide 196.

The aerosol generating device 100 is operable to initiate the first or second activation signal upon detection of movement of the closure member 106 to the first or second open activation position, and/or the presence of the closure member 106 at the first or second open activation position. The detection typically uses one or more turn-on activation sensors (not shown), which may be one of the types of sensors described with reference to the activation detector 146 or with reference to fig. 16.

The first opening activation signal is different from the second opening activation signal. As an example, the first and second opening activation signals may each operate the heater at different powers such that each opening activation signal may be suitable for a different type of aerosol substrate. The first and second turn-on activation signals may each initiate other operations, such as checking battery power, checking heater temperature, or monitoring usage time.

In use, a user applies a force to the closure member 106 to move the closure member toward the body and toward or away from the closed position. Depending on the direction of the force applied by the user, the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the first opening activation guide 196 or the second opening activation guide 198 away from the second position. This movement deforms the elastic element 114 and is resisted by the elastic element 114 to a different degree depending on the guide along which the elastic element 114 moves. Once the first end 116 of the resilient member 118 reaches the end of either of the opening activation guides 196, 198, the activation sensor is operated and an activation signal is initiated. The activation signal initiated depends on which opening activation guide 196, 198 the first end has moved along.

Once the user removes the force from the closure member 106, the force exerted by the resilient member 114 acts to move the first end 116 of the resilient member 114 away from the end of the selected opening activation guide to the second position, and correspondingly, the closure member 106 is moved from the selected opening activation position to the open position.

More generally, it should be appreciated that any number of activation positions may be provided in any combination, optionally each having a movement regulated by the resilient element 114 and/or a respective resilient element. As another example, there may be any of a plurality of different activation positions accessible from the open position, wherein a first of the plurality of activation positions is reached by moving the closure member 106 away from the open position, transverse to the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100, and a second of the plurality of activation positions is reached by moving the closure member away from the open position towards the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100. Similarly, multiple closed active positions may be provided. Moving to any of the activated positions may involve deforming the resilient member 114, wherein the amount and direction of deformation of the resilient member 114 depends on the direction of movement of the closure member 106; different forces may be required to move to each activation position. This may be useful, for example, to provide greater resistance to more powerful operations (e.g., entering an active position to operate the heater may require more force than entering an active position to check battery charge).

In some embodiments, the closure member 106 is movable from an activated position to one or more additional activated positions, as an example, the aerosol-generating device 100 can include first and second activated positions, wherein the closure member is movable from an open position to the first activated position and from the first activated position to the second activated position. The direction of movement between the open position and the first and second activated positions may be different such that the closure member 106 may be moved, for example, toward the body 102 to reach the first activated position and then moved transverse to the body 102 to reach the second activated position.

Definitions and alternative embodiments

As can be appreciated from the above description, many features of these different embodiments are interchangeable with one another. The present disclosure extends to additional embodiments that incorporate features from different embodiments that are not specifically mentioned in combination.

Although the specific embodiment primarily contemplates the use of a resilient member 114 that is compressed as the first end 116 of the resilient member 114 moves along the guide 120; it should be appreciated that the resilient element 114 may also be arranged to extend as the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moves along the guide 120. In these embodiments, the extension force is similarly arranged to return the first end 116 from the first range of positions toward the closed position and from the second range of positions toward the open position such that the closure member 106 remains stable in either the closed position or the open position. Using an extended arrangement, as opposed to a compressed arrangement, typically causes the first end of the resilient element 114 to be forced towards the side of the guide 120 closer to the body 102. While the closure member 106 is typically forced against the user's hand moving the closure member 106 in the case of the compression arrangement, the closure member 106 is typically forced away from the user's hand moving the closure member 106 in the case of the extension arrangement.

Although the specific embodiment primarily contemplates the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 moving along the guide 120, it should be appreciated that the first end 116 may also be attached to or may interact with another element moving along the guide 120, and this is the case in a subset of the contemplated embodiments. For example, consider the second embodiment where the first end 116 of the resilient element 114 does not move along the guide 120, but rather is attached to a linkage 138 that includes pins 150, 154 that move along the guide 120. In this way, even if the first end 116 of the elastic element 114 does not move along the guide 120, it moves along the a-guide by its attachment to the component that moves along the guide 120. In addition, although the first end 116 may not be in direct contact with the side of the guide 120, the pins 150 and 154 are in contact with the side of the guide 120, and thus the force of the elastic member 114 is indirectly transmitted to the side of the guide 120.

As used herein, the term "vapor (vapor or vapor)" refers to: (i) the liquid is naturally converted into a form under the action of sufficient heat; or (ii) liquid/moisture particles suspended in the atmosphere and visible in the form of a vapour/smoke cloud; or (iii) a fluid that fills the space like a gas but liquefies below its critical temperature by pressure alone.

Consistent with this definition, the term "vaporization" refers to: (i) changing or changing to steam; and (ii) the case where the particles change physical state (i.e., change from a liquid or solid state to a gas state).

As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall refer to a system of particles dispersed in air or gas (such as a mist, fog, or fog). Thus, the term "aerosolization (aerosolise or aerosize)" refers to making an aerosol and/or dispersing into an aerosol. It should be noted that the meaning of aerosol/aerosolization is consistent with each of the volatilization, atomization, and vaporization defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to describe consistently a mist or droplet comprising atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles. Aerosols also include mists or droplets containing any combination of atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles.