EP4602947A1

EP4602947A1 - Aerosol generating apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4602947A1
Application number: EP24157765.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain
Current assignee: Imperial Tobacco Group Ltd
Priority date: 2024-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-15
Publication date: 2025-08-20
Also published as: WO2025172406A1

Abstract

The invention provides an aerosol generating apparatus (100) comprising a body (110) and an aerosol generating unit (120) slidably received in the body, such that the aerosol generating unit is slidable along a movement axis defined by the body between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The aerosol generating unit comprises a heating element (130) and a frame (140) for locating a consumable in contact with the heating element. The apparatus further comprises a push-push mechanism (150) connected to the frame and the body, wherein the push-push mechanism is configured to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is cleaning the internal components of the aerosol generating apparatus. In particular, the internal components of an aerosol generating apparatus are often difficult to access, particularly when using a cleaning tool to clean components of the aerosol generating apparatus.
In spite of the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses/systems further improvements are desirable.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus that comprises a body and aerosol generating unit. The aerosol generating unit comprises a heating element and a frame for locating a consumable in contact with the heating element.
In some examples, the heating slidably received in the body, such that the aerosol generating unit is slidable along a movement axis defined by the body between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.
In some examples, the aerosol generating unit is cycled between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration via a push-push mechanism.
In other words, in some examples, the present disclosure may provide an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus that can be cycled between two different configurations by way of a push-push mechanism.
A push-push mechanism may be any suitable mechanism that can be activated by applying a force, e.g., a push, in the same, or substantially the same, direction when moving the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration. The retracted configuration and/or the extended configuration may be bistable positions of the aerosol generating unit.
By providing a push-push mechanism for moving the aerosol generating unit of the aerosol generating apparatus between the retracted and extended positions, the act of moving the aerosol generating unit may be simplified for a user of the aerosol generating apparatus as they are only required to provide a single type of input, i.e., a push, regardless of whether the aerosol generating unit is being moved from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration or from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.
In some examples, the frame comprises a window exposing the heating element, and wherein the window is covered by the body when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration, and wherein the window is exposed when the aerosol generating unit is in the extended configuration. In this way, the heating element may be accessed with greater ease by the user for cleaning. Further, the heating element may be covered when the aerosol generating unit is in the first, operable, position when the heating element is active. Further, the heating element may be exposed when the aerosol generating unit is in the second, non-operable, position when the heating element is not active and may be safe to clean.
In some examples, the push-push mechanism further comprises a biasing element adapted to apply a biasing force to the aerosol generating unit to bias the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration towards the extended configuration. In this way, the aerosol generating unit may perform at least part of the movement between the first and extended configurations without requiring further input from the user. In this way, the act of moving the aerosol generating unit may be simplified for a user of the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration, the user may in a first action push the aerosol generating unit in a direction along the movement axis from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration and then release the aerosol generating unit. The biasing element may then bias, or force or cause to move, the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration towards the extended configuration.
The biasing element may bias the aerosol generating unit so as to fully move the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, or only partially move the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, in which case the user may complete the movement of the aerosol generating unit to the extended configuration manually.
In order to return the aerosol generating unit to the retracted configuration from the extended configuration, the user may repeat the first action of pushing the aerosol generating unit towards the retracted configuration from the extended configuration.
In some examples, the biasing element comprises one or more springs, and wherein the biasing element comprises a spring rod provided within each of the one or more springs. In this way, the biasing element may automatically bias the aerosol generating unit towards the extended configuration without requiring any further intervention from the user in order to actuate the biasing element. The one or more springs may be helical springs and may function as compression springs or tension springs. Further, by providing spring rods within the one or more springs, the biasing element may prevent deformation of the spring away from its central axis, thereby increasing the amount of biasing force that may be applied to the aerosol generating unit by the biasing element.
In some examples, the frame comprises one or more spring cavities for receiving one of the one or more springs, wherein the spring cavity comprises a projection for cooperating with an end of a received spring of the one or more springs, and wherein the spring rod comprises a shoulder for cooperating with another end of the received spring.
In this way, the spring rose may form part of the tensioning of the biasing element, thereby further improving the stability of the frame when being moved by the biasing force.
In some examples, the spring rod comprises an elongate portion and the spring cavity comprises a bore for receiving the elongate portion, and wherein the elongate portion and the bore are dimensioned such that the elongate portion is slidably received in the bore.
In this way, the stability of the aerosol generating unit within the body may be improved.
In some examples, the elongate portion is slidably received in the bore when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration.
In this way, the stability of the aerosol generating unit within the body may be improved even when fully extended.
In some examples, the biasing element comprises two springs arranged on opposite sides of the body, for example on opposite sides of a plane defined by the movement axis and an axis orthogonal to the movement axis.
In some examples, the push-push mechanism comprises a moveable locking element provided in the aerosol generating unit and a recess provided in the body, and wherein the recess is adapted to receive the movable locking element to retain the aerosol generating unit in the retracted configuration between cycles of the push-push mechanism. In this way, the aerosol generating unit may be held in an operational position, i.e., the retracted configuration, until the user decides that the aerosol generating unit should be moved from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration. Put another way, the cooperating moveable locking element and recess may reduce, or eliminate, unwanted movement of the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.
In some examples, the moveable locking element comprises a slidable projection slidably received in a slot in the frame, wherein the slot is elongate along a sliding axis, and wherein the sliding axis is orthogonal to the movement axis.
In this way, the moveable locking element may move side to side with respect to the movement axis of the body, meaning that the moveable locking element may have two degrees of translational movement as the aerosol generating unit moves between configurations.
In some examples, the body comprises a track for receiving a polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element, wherein the track comprises a plurality of angled surfaces adapted to contact the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element and translate movement of the frame along the movement axis to a sliding force against the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element such that the movable locking element slides in the slot along the sliding axis.
In this way, the moveable locking element may slide within the slot in order to navigate the track provided on the body as the aerosol generating unit cycles between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration.
In some examples, the frame comprises a flexible arm, wherein the slot is provided on the flexible arm, and wherein the flexible arm is adapted to elastically deform in a direction having a component normal to a plane defined by the movement axis and the sliding axis.
In this way, an additional degree of freedom may be added to the potential translational movement of the moveable locking element as the aerosol generating unit moves from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.
In some examples, the track further comprises a plurality of ramps adapted to contact the polyhedral projection of the movable locking element and translate movement of the frame along the movement axis to a deforming force against the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element such that the flexible arm elastically deforms.
In this way, the deformation of the flexible arm, and the returning of the flexible arm to a rest state following a ramp, may prevent the movable locking element from unintentionally backtracking along the track.
In some examples, the body defines an extended stopping surface for limiting the movement of the aerosol generating unit along the movement axis from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and a retracted stopping surface for limiting movement of the aerosol generating unit along the movement axis from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration. In this way, the aerosol generating unit may be prevented from being fully removed from the aerosol generating apparatus unintentionally or from being over inserted into the body.
In some examples, the push-push mechanism is adapted to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration in response to an actuation force greater than a force required to engage a consumable with the heating element. For example, the push-push mechanism may cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration in response to an actuation force greater than an actuation force threshold, wherein the actuation force threshold is greater than a force required to engage a consumable with the heating element. In this way, the user may be prevented from unintentionally actuating the push-push mechanism when inserting a consumable into the apparatus.
The present disclosure further provides a method for cycling an aerosol generating unit slidably received within a body of an aerosol generating apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extracted configuration, the aerosol generating unit comprising a heating element and a frame for locating a consumable in contact with the heating element. The method comprises actuating a push-push mechanism connected to the frame and the body, wherein the push-push mechanism is configured to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration. The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.

Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus at a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus at a retracted configuration, an extended configuration and intermediate positions.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of an aerosol generating apparatus.
Figs. 7 to 13 are schematic diagrams showing a push-push mechanism of the aerosol generating apparatus in various states according to the position of the aerosol generating unit.
Figs. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams showing a movable locking element of the push-push mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein could be embodied differently and/or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.
Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.
Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.
The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably:
As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry/components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and/or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus). As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.
An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor. As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.
As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user. As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, a "heating system" may referto an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.
In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and an aerosol generating unit 52. The aerosol generating unit 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3).
The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the aerosol generating unit 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the aerosol generating unit 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user. Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2.
As depicted in Fig. 3, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the aerosol generating unit 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 3, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user. The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described aerosol generating unit 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
Referring to Fig. 4 an aerosol generating system, 100 which may be implemented in any of the preceding examples, comprises a body 110 and aerosol generating unit 120 slidably received in the body, the aerosol generating unit comprising a heating element 130 and a frame 140 for locating a consumable to the heating element.
In particular, Fig. 4 shows the aerosol generating unit 120 in a retracted configuration 150, where it is retained by a push-push mechanism 170, and an extended configuration 160. The aerosol generating unit 120 moves between the retracted configuration 150 and the extended configuration along a movement axis of the apparatus.
The aerosol generating apparatus further comprises a battery connected to the heating element 130 by way of a pogo pin. The pogo pin is adapted to connect the battery to the heating element when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration and disconnect the battery from the heating element when the aerosol generating unit is in the extended configuration. In other words, the heating element is operably connected to the battery when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration, which may be the operational position, and disconnected from the battery when the heating assembly is in the extended configuration, which may be the cleaning position. In this way, the safety of the userwhen cleaning the aerosol generating unit, and in particular when cleaning the heating element, is improved by preventing current from flowing through the heating element when the heating assembly is in the extracted configuration. The heating element may remain activated, or have the potential to be activated, when the aerosol generating unit is within a predetermined range of the retracted configuration. The use of a pogo pin allows the battery to be connected and disconnected to the heating element seamlessly with the movement of the aerosol generating unit between the retracted and expanded configurations without requiring the user to uncouple and recouple the electric coupling separately.
Referring to Fig. 5, a sequence of movements of the aerosol generating unit 120 from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and back to the retracted configuration is illustrated.
At stage (i), the aerosol generating unit 120 is in the retracted configuration with respect to the body 110. In stage (ii). the user pushes the aerosol generating unit 120 into the body 110 to activate the push-push mechanism and release the aerosol generating unit 120 from the retracted configuration.
In stage (iii), the aerosol generating unit is biased towards the extended configuration by a biasing element. Fig. 6 shows an example of a biasing element in the form of a pair of springs 200 with spring rods 210 provided therein. The spring rods project into bores 220 provided in the body.
Returning to Figure 5, in stage (iv) the aerosol generating unit 120 is in the extended configuration. The aerosol generating unit is prevented from moving past the extended configuration by way of extended stopping surfaces 180. In stage (v) the user pushes the aerosol generating unit 120 into the body 110 and past the retracted configuration to reengage the push-push mechanism. The aerosol generating unit is prevented from moving too far past the retracted configuration by way of retracted stopping surfaces 185.
In stage (vi) the aerosol generating unit 120 returns to the retracted configuration once the push-push mechanism is engaged under the biasing force of the biasing element.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, the frame of the aerosol generating unit 120 comprises a window 190. When the aerosol generating unit 120 is in the retracted configuration as shown in stage (i), the window 190 is covered by the body 110. When the aerosol generating unit 120 is in the extended configuration as shown in stage (iv), the window 190, and so the heating element 130, is exposed. The heating element 130 may therefore be selectively exposed for cleaning by the user.
Referring to Figs. 7 to 13, the push-push mechanism 300 of the apparatus is illustrated in further detail at various stages of the movement of the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and back. In particular, Figs. 7 to 13 show a ramp assembly 310, which may form part of, or be connected to, the body of the apparatus and a movable locking element 400, which may be connected to the aerosol generating unit. The ramp assembly 310 and the movable locking element 400 form the push-push mechanism 300. Figs. 14A and 14B show perspective views of the movable locking element 400, illustrating the planar surfaces of a polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element that interact with the ramp arrangements of the ramp assembly 310 as described in further detail below.
Fig. 7 shows the push-push mechanism 300 when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration. The moveable locking element 400 is received in a recess 320 to hold the aerosol generating unit in the retracted configuration. The recess is formed of two angled surfaces that are complementary to the geometry of the movable locking element 400. The surfaces of the recess 320 act against the biasing force of the biasing element 200 in order to retain the moveable locking element in the recess 320 when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration. These surfaces are subject to long-term loading from the biasing element. Surface 401 of the movable locking element, shown in Fig. 14A, is in contact with surface 321 of the ramp assembly 310, which is visible in Fig. 8. Referring to Fig. 8, surfaces 322, 323 and 324 define a first ramp arrangement of the ramping assembly 310. These surfaces interact with the movable looking element 400 to move the movable locking element 400 from a lock position, as depicted in Figure 7, to an unlock position, as depicted in Figure 8, when the aerosol generating unit is pushed into the body from the retracted configuration.
When moving the from the locked position to the unlocked position, the movable locking element 400 has two surfaces that interact with the surfaces of the first ramp arrangement. As the aerosol generating unit is pushed into the body, the moveable locking element 400 is pushed downwards and surface 402 contacts surface 322 making the movable locking element slide laterally as it moves longitudinally downwards. The movable locking element 400 comprises a projection 410 that may be slidably received by the aerosol generating unit to allow the movable locking element to slide laterally, whilst restraining the relative movement of the movable locking element relative to the aerosol generating unit longitudinally.
As moveable locking element 400 is pushed downwards and surface 402 contacts surface 322, surface 403 contacts ramped surface 323. Once the movable locking element 400 has travelled over this ramped surface 323, it clicks back into contact with the body. The purpose of ramped surface 323 is to create stopping surface 324, which will prevent the movable locking element from being able to trace the route backwards, i.e., to move from the unlocked position directly back to the locked position.
In the states shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the user is applying force to the aerosol generating unit to overcome the biasing element. The movable locking element is moved to its furthest lateral extent by the surface 322 to ensure that it is on the correct side of surface 324.The surfaces 402 and 405 of the movable locking element 400 are thereby engaged with surfaces 322 and 325, respectively when the movable locking element 400 is in the unlocked position.
Referring to Fig. 10, when the movable locking element 400 is in the unlocked position, the user releases the aerosol generating unit and the biasing element pushes the movable locking element towards the extended configuration. In this biased movement, surface 406 of the movable locking element 400 rides up ramped surface 326 and clicks into contact with the body again, in a similar interaction to the one with surface 323. The purpose of surface 326 is to provide surface 327, which prevents backwards travel of the movable locking element if the aerosol generating unit is pressed in this state. The biasing force of the biasing element is sufficient to drive the movable locking element up ramp surface 326.
In this position, the user can pull the aerosol generating unit to the extended configuration with the movable locking element within this region as shown in Fig. 11. This movement is unopposed by the biasing element. The movable locking element is biased into the body by the spacing between the aerosol generating unit and the body, and the elastic nature of the flexible arm in which the slot for slidable receiving the movable locking element is provided, but this produces minimal drag.
Referring to Fig. 12, surfaces 326 and 327 define a second ramp arrangement adapted to move the movable locking element 400 from the unlock position to a return position when the aerosol generating unit is pushed from the extended configuration to towards the retracted configuration.
When the user presses on the aerosol generating unit from the extended configuration, surface 407 of the movable locking element is pushed against surface 327. Continued pressure from the user causes the moveable locking element to slide along surface 327 laterally until surface 408 of the movable locking assembly contacts ramped surface 328. At this stage, the user must press the aerosol generating unit to overcome the biasing force of the biasing element, and the friction force of the movable locking element 400 sliding up surface 328. Again, the reason for ramped surface 328 is to provide surface 329, which prevents reverse motion of the movable locking element 400 through contact with surface 409.
When the movable locking element 400 moves past surface 328, surface 401 of the movable locking element contacts surface 330. Surface 330 must be inboard of surface 321 (to provide thickness for surface 322), and outboard of the crest of surface 328 (to provide thickness for surface 329)
When the user releases the aerosol generating unit, the biasing element pushes surface 409 of the movable locking element 400 into surface 329. This causes the movable locking element to slide laterally and fall off surface 330 onto surface 321. The movable locking element is then in the locked position as shown in Fig. 7 and the process may be repeated.
Surfaces 328 and 329 define a third ramp arrangement adapted to move the movable locking element 400 from the return position to the lock position when the aerosol generating unit is pushed from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration past a predetermined distance.

Claims

An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:
a body;

an aerosol generating unit slidably received in the body, such that the aerosol generating unit is slidable along a movement axis defined by the body between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, the aerosol generating unit comprising:
a heating element; and

a frame for locating a consumable in contact with the heating element; and

a push-push mechanism connected to the frame and the body, wherein the push-push mechanism is configured to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a window exposing the heating element, and wherein the window is covered by the body when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration, and wherein the window is exposed when the aerosol generating unit is in the extended configuration.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the push-push mechanism comprises a biasing element adapted to apply a biasing force to the aerosol generating unit to bias the aerosol generating unit from the retracted configuration towards the extended configuration.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the biasing element comprises one or more springs, and wherein the biasing element comprises a spring rod provided within each of the one or more springs.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frame comprises one or more spring cavities for receiving one of the one or more springs, wherein the spring cavity comprises a projection for cooperating with an end of a received spring of the one or more springs, and wherein the spring rod comprises a shoulder for cooperating with another end of the received spring.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spring rod comprises an elongate portion and the spring cavity comprises a bore for receiving the elongate portion, and wherein the elongate portion and the bore are dimensioned such that the elongate portion is slidably received in the bore.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the elongate portion is slidably received in the bore when the aerosol generating unit is in the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the push-push mechanism comprises a moveable locking element provided in the aerosol generating unit and a recess provided in the body, and wherein the recess is adapted to receive the movable locking element to retain the aerosol generating unit in the retracted configuration between cycles of the push-push mechanism.
The aerosol generating apparatus claim 8, wherein the moveable locking element comprises a slidable projection slidably received in a slot in the frame, wherein the slot is elongate along a sliding axis, and wherein the sliding axis is orthogonal to the movement axis.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body comprises a track for receiving a polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element, wherein the track comprises a plurality of angled surfaces adapted to contact the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element and translate movement of the frame along the movement axis to a sliding force against the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element such that the movable locking element slides in the slot along the sliding axis.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 9 to 10, wherein the frame comprises a flexible arm, wherein the slot is provided on the flexible arm, and wherein the flexible arm is adapted to elastically deform in a direction having a component normal to a plane defined by the movement axis and the sliding axis.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 11, when dependent on claim 9, wherein the track further comprises a plurality of ramps adapted to contact the polyhedral projection of the movable locking element and translate movement of the frame along the movement axis to a deforming force against the polyhedral projection of the moveable locking element such that the flexible arm elastically deforms.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the body defines an extended stopping surface for limiting movement of the aerosol generating unit along the movement axis from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and a retracted stopping surface for limiting movement of the aerosol generating unit along the movement axis from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the push-push mechanism is adapted to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration in response to an actuation force greater than a force required to engage a consumable with the heating element.
A method for cycling an aerosol generating unit slidably received within a body of an aerosol generating apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extracted configuration, the aerosol generating unit comprising a heating element and a frame for locating a consumable in contact with the heating element, the method comprising actuating a push-push mechanism connected to the frame and the body, wherein the push-push mechanism is configured to cycle the aerosol generating unit between the retracted configuration and the extracted configuration.