EP4616732A1

EP4616732A1 - Flavor inhaler and flavor inhalation system

Info

Publication number: EP4616732A1
Application number: EP22965106.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masafumi Tarora; Keisuke Morita
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2022-11-09
Filing date: 2022-11-09
Publication date: 2025-09-17
Also published as: WO2024100781A1; CN120152630A; KR20250078564A; JPWO2024100781A1

Abstract

This flavor inhaler comprises: an accommodation part in which a flavor-generating substance is accommodated, the accommodation part being provided with a first opening into which the flavor-generating substance is inserted; a first member that extends from the accommodation part; and a second member that presses the first member from one side, relative to the direction in which the first member extends, at the exterior of the accommodation part, thereby suppressing movement of the first member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a flavor inhaler and a flavor inhalation system.

BACKGROUND ART

Flavor inhalers for inhalation of flavors, etc., without combustion of materials are conventionally known. Flavor inhalers may be aerosol generating devices that generate an aerosol. The flavor inhaler comprises an accommodating portion for accommodating a flavor generating article. Members may be disposed inside or outside the accommodating portion in addition to the flavor generating article. In PTL 1, a heating module is provided within a main body portion of an aerosol generating device. In PTL 2 and 3, a bottom member having an inhibiting portion that inhibits the flow of air through an air flow path is provided in the accommodating portion.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1 JP 2021-532755 A
PTL 2 WO 2022/123756
PTL 3 WO 2022/123758

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

From the viewpoint of efficiently heating the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion, it is desirable to suppress positional displacement of members extending from the accommodating portion. In PTL 3, the bottom member may be fixed to the inside of a bottom portion of a chamber constituting the accommodating portion by means of an adhesive containing an epoxy resin or the like. It is desirable for further methods for suppressing such positional displacement of members to be proposed.
One objective of the present invention is to suppress positional displacement of a member extending from the accommodating portion to efficiently heat the accommodated flavor generating article.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

According to a first aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler comprises: an accommodating portion in which a flavor generating article is accommodated, and which is provided with a first opening portion into which the flavor generating article is inserted; a first member which extends from the accommodating portion; and, outside the accommodating portion, a second member which suppresses movement of the first member by pressing the first member from the side, with respect to the direction in which the first member extends.
According to the first aspect, positional displacement of the first member extending from the accommodating portion, in particular positional displacement in a front-rear direction in which the first member extends, can be suppressed, allowing the accommodated flavor generating article to be heated efficiently.
The essential point of a second aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the first aspect, wherein the second member includes a metal.
According to the second aspect, since the second member can be precisely formed and metal resilience can be utilized to press the first member, positional displacement of the first member can be further suppressed.
The essential point of a third aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the second member is provided with at least one contacting portion that includes a contacting surface having a shape corresponding to a side surface of the first member.
According to the third aspect, the second member can effectively press the first member, and positional displacement of the first member can be further suppressed.
The essential point of a fourth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the third aspect, wherein the contacting portion is a member that extends from the contacting surface in a direction inclined with respect to said direction.
According to the fourth aspect, the second member can press the first member more strongly due, for example, to the resilience of the inclined part, and positional displacement of the first member can be further suppressed.
The essential point of a fifth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein at least a portion of the second member is annular.
According to the fifth aspect, it is easier to position the second member around the first member, facilitating attachment of the second member to the first member.
The essential point of a sixth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the first member is fixed to the accommodating portion using an adhesive.
According to the sixth aspect, by bonding the first member to the accommodating portion, positional displacement of the first member can be suppressed further.
The essential point of a seventh aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, further comprising a third member which is disposed between the accommodating portion and the second member, and which has formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted.
According to the seventh aspect, the orientation of the second member can be firmly fixed by means of the third member, and positional displacement of the first member can be more reliably suppressed.
The essential point of an eighth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, further comprising: a housing; and a resilient member that presses the accommodating portion, the first member and the second member toward the housing or a member fixed to the housing.
According to the eighth aspect, by, for example, forming a seal between the accommodating portion and either the housing or a member fixed to the housing, it is possible to suppress undesirable leakage, inside the housing, of an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion by heating the flavor generating article.
The essential point of a ninth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a third member having formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted, wherein the accommodating portion, the third member, the second member, and the resilient member are arranged in the stated order in the direction in which the first member extends.
According to the ninth aspect, the resilience of the resilient member makes it possible to suppress positional displacement of the first member while integrally urging the accommodating portion, the third member and the second member.
The essential point of a tenth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the ninth aspect, wherein the second member is in contact with the third member and the resilient member.
According to the tenth aspect, the flavor inhaler can be made more compact.
The essential point of an eleventh aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, wherein the accommodating portion further includes a second opening portion, and the first member extends from the inside of the accommodating portion through the second opening portion to the outside of the accommodating portion.
According to the eleventh aspect, positional displacement of the first member with respect to the accommodating portion can be suppressed, allowing the accommodated flavor generating article to be heated more efficiently.
The essential point of a twelfth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the first member is configured to support the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion.
According to the twelfth aspect, the first member, of which positional displacement is suppressed by the second member, is configured to support the tip end of the flavor generating article, thereby enabling the flavor generating article to be supported more stably.
The essential point of a thirteenth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect, wherein the first member is provided with a groove portion that defines an air flow passage inside the accommodating portion when the flavor generating article is accommodated in the accommodating portion.
According to the thirteenth aspect, a more stable air flow passage can be formed when the flavor generating article is accommodated in the accommodating portion.
The essential point of a fourteenth aspect lies in the flavor generating article according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the first member has a supporting surface which supports the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion and in which the groove portion is formed.
According to the fourteenth aspect, an air flow passage that communicates with an end surface of the flavor generating article can be formed using a simplified structure.
The essential point of a fifteenth aspect lies in the flavor inhaler according to any of the eleventh aspect to the fourteenth aspect, wherein the second opening portion is formed in a bottom portion of the accommodating portion.
According to the fifteenth aspect, various structures such as an air flow passage can be disposed near the end surface of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion.
According to a sixteenth aspect, a flavor inhalation system is provided. The essential point of the sixteenth aspect lies in the fact that the flavor inhalation system comprises the flavor inhaler according to any of the first aspect to the fifteenth aspect, and a flavor generating article.
According to the sixteenth aspect, positional displacement of the first member extending from the accommodating portion of the flavor inhaler, in particular positional displacement in a front-rear direction in which the first member extends, can be suppressed, allowing the accommodated flavor generating article to be heated efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 1B is a schematic top view of a flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 1C is a schematic bottom view of a flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a consumable material.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flavor inhaler as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 shown in Fig. 1B.
Fig. 4A is an oblique view of a chamber.
Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the chamber as viewed in the direction of the arrows 4B-4B shown in Fig. 4A.
Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the chamber as viewed in the direction of the arrows 5A-5A shown in Fig. 4B.
Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the chamber as viewed in the direction of the arrows 5B-5B shown in Fig. 4B.
Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the chamber and a heating unit.
Fig. 7 is the cross-sectional view illustrated in Fig 5B, in a state in which a consumable material is disposed in a desired position within the chamber.
Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first supporting portion.
Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second supporting portion.
Fig. 10 is an oblique view of the second supporting portion as viewed from the negative Z-axis side.
Fig. 11A is an oblique view of a second member.
Fig. 11B is a plan view of the second member.
Fig. 11C is a cross-sectional view of the second member as viewed in the direction of the arrows 11C-11C shown in Fig. 11B.
Fig. 12A is an oblique view of a first member.
Fig. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the first member as viewed in the direction of the arrows 12B-12B shown in Fig. 12A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, identical reference numbers are assigned to identical or corresponding components, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 1B is a schematic top view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment. An X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system may be applied to the drawings described in the present specification for convenience of description. In this coordinate system, the Z-axis is oriented vertically upwards, the X-Y plane is arranged cutting across the flavor inhaler 100 in a horizontal direction, and the Y-axis is arranged extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the flavor inhaler 100. The Z-axis can also refer to the insertion direction of the consumable material accommodated in the chamber of the atomizing unit discussed hereinafter, or the axial direction of the first member. The X-axis direction can also refer to a device longitudinal direction in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable material, or the direction in which the heating unit and the power source unit are aligned. The Y-axis direction can also refer to a device lateral direction in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable material.
The flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by heating a stick-type consumable material having a flavor source containing an aerosol source.
As illustrated in Fig. 1A to Fig. 1C, the flavor inhaler 100 comprises an outer housing 101, a sliding cover 102, and a switch unit 103. The outer housing 101 constitutes the outermost housing of the flavor inhaler 100 and is sized to fit in a user's hand. When the user is using the flavor inhaler 100, the user can inhale the aerosol while holding the flavor inhaler 100 in their hand. The outer housing 101 may be configured by assembling a plurality of members. The outer housing 101 can be formed from a resin such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone), for example.
The outer housing 101 has an opening, which is not shown in the drawings, for accepting the consumable material, and the sliding cover 102 is slidably attached to the outer housing 101 to close the opening. More specifically, the sliding cover 102 is configured to be capable of moving along an outer surface of the outer housing 101 between a closed position (the position illustrated in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B) for closing the opening of the outer housing 101, and an open position for opening the opening. For example, the user can manually operate the sliding cover 102 to move the sliding cover 102 between the closed position and the open position. As a result, the sliding cover 102 can permit or restrict access of the consumable material to the inside of the flavor inhaler 100.
The switch unit 103 is used to switch the operation of the flavor inhaler 100 on and off. For example, in a state in which the consumable material has been inserted into the flavor inhaler 100, the user can operate the switch unit 103 to supply power from the power source to the heating unit, as discussed hereinafter, thereby heating the consumable material without burning. It should be noted that the switch unit 103 may be a switch provided outside the outer housing 101 or may be a switch located inside the outer housing 101. If the switch is located inside the outer housing 101, depressing the switch unit 103 on the surface of the outer housing 101 indirectly causes the switch to be depressed. In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the switch of the switch unit 103 is located inside the outer housing 101.
The flavor inhaler 100 may further include a terminal, which is not shown in the drawings. The terminal may be an interface for connecting the flavor inhaler 100 to an external power source, for example. If the power source provided in the flavor inhaler 100 is a rechargeable battery, connecting an external power source to the terminal allows a current to flow from the external power source to the power source, thereby charging the power source. Further, the flavor inhaler 100 may be configured to be capable of transmitting data relating to the operation of the flavor inhaler 100 to an external device by connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal.
The consumable material used in the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment will next be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a consumable material 110. In the present embodiment, the flavor inhaler 100 and the consumable material 110 may constitute a flavor inhalation system. In the example illustrated in Fig. 2, the consumable material 110 comprises a solid smokable material 111 (corresponding to an example of an aerosol-generating substrate), a tubular member 114, a hollow filter portion 116, and a filter portion 115. The smokable material 111 is wrapped with a first wrapping paper 112. The tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116 and the filter portion 115 are wrapped with a second wrapping paper 113 different from the first wrapping paper 112. The second wrapping paper 113 also wraps a portion of the first wrapping paper 112 that wraps the smokable material 111. This links the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 to the smokable material 111. However, the second wrapping paper 113 may be omitted, and the first wrapping paper 112 may be used to link the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116 and the filter portion 115 to the smokable material 111. A lip release agent 117 is applied to the outer surface of the second wrapping paper 113, near the end on the filter portion 115 side, to decrease the likelihood of the second wrapping paper 113 sticking to the user's lips. The part of the consumable material 110 to which the lip release agent 117 is applied functions as a mouthpiece of the consumable material 110.
The smokable material 111 may contain a flavor source, such as tobacco, and an aerosol source. Further, the first wrapping paper 112 that wraps the smokable material 111 may be a breathable sheet member. The tubular member 114 may be a paper tube or a hollow filter. In the illustrated example, the consumable material 110 comprises the smokable material 111, the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115, but the configuration of the consumable material 110 is not limited to this. For example, the hollow filter portion 116 may be omitted, and the tubular member 114 and the filter portion 115 may be disposed adjacent to one other.
The internal structure of the flavor inhaler 100 will next be described. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flavor inhaler 100 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 shown in Fig. 1B. As illustrated in Fig. 3, an inner housing 10 is provided inside the outer housing 101 of the flavor inhaler 100. The inner housing 10 is made of resin, for example, and in particular may be formed from polycarbonate (PC), ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resin, PEEK, a polymer alloy containing a plurality of types of polymer, for example, or a metal such as aluminum. From the viewpoint of heat resistance and strength, the inner housing 10 is preferably formed from PEEK. However, the material of the inner housing 10 is not particularly limited. A power source unit 20 and an atomizing unit 30 are provided in an internal space of the inner housing 10. Further, the outer housing 101 is made of resin, for example, and in particular may be formed from polycarbonate, ABS resin, PEEK, a polymer alloy containing a plurality of types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum.
The power source unit 20 includes a power source 21. The power source 21 may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery, for example. The power source 21 is electrically connected to the atomizing unit 30. This allows the power source 21 to supply power to the atomizing unit 30 to heat the consumable material 110 appropriately.
As illustrated in the drawing, the atomizing unit 30 comprises a chamber 50 (corresponding to an example of an accommodating portion) that extends in the consumable material 110 insertion direction (Z-axis direction), a heating unit 40 that encloses a portion of the chamber 50, an insulating portion 32, and a substantially tubular insertion guide member 34. The chamber 50 is configured to accommodate the consumable material 110. The heating unit 40 is configured to heat the consumable material 110 accommodated in the chamber 50 from the outside. The heating unit 40 may be provided so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50.
The flavor inhaler 100 further includes a first supporting portion 37 and a second supporting portion 38 which support both ends of the chamber 50 and the insulating portion 32. The first supporting portion 37 is disposed so as to support end portions of the chamber 50 and the insulating portion 32 on the sliding cover 102 side (positive Z-axis side). The second supporting portion 38 is disposed so as to directly or indirectly support end portions of the chamber 50 and the insulating portion 32 on the negative Z-axis side. The first supporting portion 37 and the second supporting portion 38 can, for example, contain an elastomer such as silicone rubber.
The second supporting portion 38 includes a first member 36. A portion of the first member 36 is disposed in a bottom portion of the bottom of the chamber 50 and constitutes a portion of the accommodating portion, while another portion extends to the outside of the chamber 50. The first member 36 may function as a stopper for positioning the consumable material 110 inserted into the chamber 50. The first member 36 has protrusions and recesses in the surface with which the consumable material 110 comes into contact, and an air flow passage is formed between the surface with which the consumable material 110 comes into contact and the first member 36. The first member 36 may be made of a resin material such as PEEK, or metal, glass, or ceramic, for example, but is not particularly limited thereto. Further, the material constituting the first member 36 may be a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the material constituting the chamber 50. When joining the first member 36 to the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 (see Fig. 4B), an adhesive, which may consist of a resin material such as an epoxy resin or an inorganic material, can be used. It should be noted that the heating unit 40 may be provided on an inner surface of the chamber 50.
The insulating portion 32 is substantially tubular as a whole, and is disposed so as to surround the chamber 50. The insulating portion 32 may contain an aerogel sheet, for example. The insertion guide member 34 is formed from a resin material such as PEEK, polycarbonate or ABS, and is provided between the sliding cover 102 in the closed position and the chamber 50. In the present embodiment, since the insertion guide member 34 may come into contact with the chamber 50, the insertion guide member 34 is preferably formed from PEEK, from the viewpoint of heat resistance. The insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 100 when the sliding cover 102 is in the open position, and guides the insertion of the consumable material 110 into the chamber 50 when the consumable material 110 is inserted into the insertion guide member 34.
The structure of the chamber 50 will next be described. Fig. 4A is an oblique view of the chamber 50. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the chamber 50 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 4B-4B shown in Fig. 4A. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the chamber 50 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 5A-5A shown in Fig. 4B. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the chamber 50 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 5B-5B shown in Fig. 4B. Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the chamber 50 and the heating unit 40. As illustrated in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the chamber 50 may be a tubular member including a first opening portion 52 into which the consumable material 110 is inserted, and a tubular side wall portion 60 accommodating the consumable material 110. The chamber 50 internally includes an accommodating space for heating the consumable material 110. The chamber 50 is preferably formed from a material that is heat resistant and has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and may, for example, be formed from a metal such as stainless steel, a resin such as PEEK, glass, or ceramic.
As illustrated in Fig. 4B and Fig. 5B, the side wall portion 60 includes contacting portions 62 and separated portions 66. When the consumable material 110 is disposed in a desired position within the chamber 50, the contacting portions 62 contact or press a portion of the consumable material 110, and the separated portions 66 are separated from the consumable material 110. It should be noted that, in the present specification, "a desired position within the chamber 50" refers to a position in which the consumable material 110 is heated appropriately, the position of the consumable material 110 when the user smokes, or the position at which the consumable material 110 comes into contact with the first member 36. The contacting portions 62 each have an inner surface 62a and an outer surface 62b. The separated portions 66 each have an inner surface 66a and an outer surface 66b. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the heating unit 40 is disposed on the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62. The heating unit 40 is preferably disposed on the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62 without a gap. It should be noted that the heating unit 40 may contain an adhesive layer. In this case, the heating unit 40 containing the adhesive layer is preferably disposed on the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62 without a gap.
As illustrated in Fig. 4A and Fig. 5B, the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62 are planar. Since the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62 are planar, if a strip-shaped electrode 48 is connected to the heating unit 40 disposed on the outer surfaces 62b of the contacting portions 62, as illustrated in Fig. 6, flexing of the strip-shaped electrode 48 can be suppressed. As illustrated in Fig. 4B and Fig. 5B, the inner surfaces 62a of the contacting portions 62 are planar. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 4B and Fig. 5B, the thickness of the contacting portions 62 is uniform.
As illustrated in Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B and Fig. 5B, the chamber 50 has two contacting portions 62 in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50, and the two contacting portions 62 face one other and are substantially parallel to one other. The distance between the inner surfaces 62a of the two contacting portions 62 is, at least partially, preferably less than the width of the part of the consumable material 110 that is disposed between the contacting portions 62 when inserted into the chamber 50.
As illustrated in Fig. 5B, the inner surfaces 66a of the separated portions 66 may have an overall arc-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) of the chamber 50. Also, the separated portions 66 are disposed so as to be adjacent to the contacting portions 62 in the circumferential direction.
As illustrated in Fig. 4B, the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 has a second opening portion 56a through which the first member 36 illustrated in Fig. 3 penetrates so as to be disposed inside the chamber 50. The first member 36 extends from the inside of the chamber 50 through the second opening portion 56a to the outside of the chamber 50. The first member 36 is configured to support the tip end of the consumable material 110 accommodated in the chamber 50. This makes it possible to form an air flow passage based on the shape of the first member 36. From the viewpoint of forming the air flow passage, the first member 36 preferably supports a portion of the consumable material 110 inserted into the chamber 50 so as to expose at least a portion of an end surface of the consumable material 110. Furthermore, the bottom portion 56 may support a portion of the consumable material 110 such that the exposed end surface of the consumable material 110 communicates with voids 67 (see Fig. 7) discussed hereinafter.
As illustrated in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the chamber 50 preferably has a tubular portion 54 between the first opening portion 52 and the side wall portion 60. In a state in which the consumable material 110 is positioned in the desired position in the chamber 50, gaps may be formed between the tubular portion 54 and the consumable material 110. Also, as shown in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the chamber 50 preferably has a first guide portion 58 having tapered surfaces 58a that connect the inner surface of the tubular portion 54 and the inner surfaces 62a of the contacting portions 62.
As illustrated in Fig. 6, the heating unit 40 includes a heating element 42. The heating element 42 may, for example, be a heating track. The heating element 42 is preferably disposed so as to heat the contacting portions 62 without coming into contact with the separated portions 66 of the chamber 50. In other words, the heating element 42 is preferably disposed only on the outer surfaces of the contacting portions 62. The heating element 42 may have a difference in heating capacity between parts that heat the separated portions 66 of the chamber 50 and parts that heat the contacting portions 62. More specifically, the heating element 42 may be configured to heat the contacting portions 62 to a higher temperature than the separated portions 66. For example, the arrangement density of the heating track of the heating element 42 in the contacting portions 62 and the separated portions 66 may be adjusted. The heating element 42 may also be wound around the outer circumference of the chamber 50 with substantially the same heating capacity around the entire circumference of the chamber 50. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the heating unit 40 preferably includes, in addition to the heating element 42, an electrically insulating member 44 that covers at least one surface of the heating element 42. In the present embodiment, the electrically insulating member 44 is disposed to cover both surfaces of the heating element 42.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the same position as that in Fig 5B, in a state in which the consumable material 110 is disposed in the desired position within the chamber 50. As illustrated in Fig. 7, when the consumable material 110 is disposed in the desired position within the chamber 50, the consumable material 110 may come into contact with and be pressed by the contacting portions 62 of the chamber 50. Meanwhile, voids 67 are formed between the consumable material 110 and the separated portions 66. The voids 67 constitute first air flow passages A1 and may communicate with the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50, and may also communicate with an air flow passage (second air flow passage A2 discussed hereinafter) between the end surface of the consumable material 110 positioned within the chamber 50 and the first member 36. This allows air that has flowed in from the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50 to pass through the voids 67 and flow into the inside of the consumable material 110.
The structure of the first supporting portion 37 and the second supporting portion 38, which support the chamber 50 and the insulating portion 32, will next be described.
As illustrated in Fig. 8, the first supporting portion 37 includes a gasket 80 and an annular member 90. The gasket 80 is disposed around the tubular portion 54 of the chamber 50 is and configured to support the chamber 50. The gasket 80 is made of resin, for example, and in particular may be formed from polycarbonate, ABS resin, PEEK, or a polymer alloy containing a plurality of types of polymer, for example. A flange portion 52a of the chamber 50 comes into contact with the chamber 50 side of the insertion guide member 34, around the entire circumference thereof, and is configured such that a through-hole 34a and the inside of the chamber 50 communicate with one another. It should be noted that the gasket 80 may be formed from metal, glass, ceramic, or the like. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of heat resistance, the gasket 80 is preferably made of PEEK.
The annular member 90 is configured to engage with and support the insertion guide member 34 and the gasket 80. In the illustrated example, the annular member 90 engages with an upper end portion 82 of the gasket 80. The annular member 90 may be formed from a resilient member made of silicone rubber or the like. It should be noted that if silicone rubber is used, the Shore A hardness is preferably within the range of 40 to 60, and can be selected, as appropriate, depending on deformation of the annular member 90. Furthermore, the annular member 90 is configured to be positioned on and fixed to a fixing portion 22 that is fixed to the inner housing 10. Furthermore, although not shown in the drawing, the insertion guide member 34 is configured to come into contact with the fixing portion 22 on the opposite side to the chamber 50. It should be noted that a sealing surface may be formed at the point of contact between the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 in order to further suppress leakage of the aerosol generated in the chamber 50 into the inner housing 10 from between the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the second supporting portion 38. Fig. 10 is an oblique view of the second supporting portion 38 as viewed from the negative Z-axis side. As illustrated in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the second supporting portion 38 comprises a second member 200, a ring-shaped member 72, and a heater cushion 74. Further, the first member 36 provided in the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 has a shaft portion 36a which protrudes through the second opening portion 56a of the chamber 50 to the outside of the chamber 50. The shaft portion 36a is formed around a central axis Ax that extends in the longitudinal direction of the first member 36. Hereinafter, the direction in which the first member 36 extends through the second opening portion 56a is referred to as the axial direction. The orientation of the axial direction is not limited, and the axial direction refers to both the forward and backward directions in which the first member 36 extends, without distinction. The axial direction includes the direction in which the first member 36 extends from the inside to the outside of the chamber 50. In the illustrated example, the axial direction is set to the same direction as the insertion direction (Z-axis direction) of the consumable material 110. The second opening portion 56a, into which the first member 36 is inserted, is formed in the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50, allowing various structures, such as an air flow passage, to be disposed near the end surface of the consumable material 110 accommodated in the chamber 50.
The ring-shaped member 72 has a through-hole 72a in a central part thereof, through which the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36 is inserted. The ring-shaped member 72 is disposed between the chamber 50 and the second member 200. The ring-shaped member 72 may function as a supporting portion which comes into contact with the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 and supports the chamber 50. The ring-shaped member 72 is made of resin, for example, and in particular may be formed from polycarbonate, ABS resin, PEEK, a polymer alloy containing a plurality of types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of heat resistance, the ring-shaped member 72 is preferably made of PEEK. It should be noted that the ring-shaped member 72 may have a cutout through which the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36 passes, instead of the through-hole 72a.
The heater cushion 74 may be formed from a resilient member made of silicone rubber or the like. It should be noted that if silicone rubber is used, the Shore A hardness is preferably within the range of 40 to 60, and can be selected, as appropriate, depending on deformation of the heater cushion 74. Furthermore, the heater cushion 74 is configured to be positioned on and fixed to the inner housing 10 or the fixing portion 22 that is fixed to the inner housing 10. The heater cushion 74 has a through-hole 74a in a central part thereof, through which the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36 is inserted. It should be noted that the heater cushion 74 may have a cutout through which the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36 passes, instead of the through-hole 74a.
As discussed hereinabove, the heater cushion 74 is formed from a resilient member made of silicone rubber, for example, and is configured to urge the chamber 50 toward the insertion guide member 34, that is, in the positive Z-axis direction, via the second member 200 and the ring-shaped member 72. More specifically, in a state in which the insertion guide member 34 has been inserted into the enclosure and has come into contact with the flange portion 52, the heater cushion 74 is compressed by the insertion guide member 34 and the chamber 50, urging the chamber 50 toward the insertion guide member 34. In this way, the heater cushion 74 presses the chamber 50, the first member 36 and the second member 200 toward the housing, such as the inner housing 10, or a member fixed to the housing. This forms a seal between the flange portion 52a of the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34, making it possible to suppress leakage of the aerosol generated in the chamber 50 by heating the consumable material 110 into the inner housing 10 from between the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34.
Further, by configuring the heater cushion 74 from a resilient member, the heater cushion 74 fixed to the fixing portion 22 is resiliently deformed, making it possible to maintain the state in which the chamber is urged by the heater cushion 74 within the inner housing 10.
Further, since the heater cushion 74 urges the chamber 50 via the second member 200 and the ring-shaped member 72, the heater cushion 74 and the chamber 50 do not come into contact with one other. This makes it difficult for heat from the chamber 50 to be transmitted to the heater cushion 74, thereby making it possible to suppress deterioration of the heater cushion 74 and also making it possible to suppress heat loss from the chamber 50. From the same viewpoint, the ring-shaped member 72 is preferably formed from a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the heater cushion 74.
As illustrated in Fig. 10, the first member 36 is configured such that the shaft portion 36a penetrates through an opening in the fixing portion 22 that is fixed to the inner housing 10. The shaft portion 36a has a flat surface 360 on the side surface of an end portion thereof on the negative Z-axis side. The fixing portion 22 has a flat surface 22a that opposes the flat surface 360 of the shaft portion 36a. The flat surface 360 of the shaft portion 36a comes into contact with the flat surface 22a of the fixing portion 22, thereby making it possible to prevent the chamber 50 rotating relative to the fixing portion 22.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the second member 200 presses the first member 36 from the side, with respect to the direction (the axial direction) in which the first member 36 extends, outside the chamber 50. As a result of the frictional force associated with the pressing, the second member 200 functions as a stopper to suppress positional displacement, in particular axial positional displacement, of the first member 36. In other words, the second member 200 can suppress positional displacement in both or either of the front-rear directions in which the first member 36 extends. Axial displacement of the first member 36, which extends from the inside to the outside of the chamber 50, in particular displacement of the first member 36 relative to the chamber 50, may adversely affect the heating efficiency, in that, for example, a gas flow passage based on the shape of the first member 36 may form inside the chamber 50. The second member 200 can also suppress such adverse effects. The first member 36 may be fixed to the chamber 50 using an adhesive or the like, but there is a risk that the adhesion may weaken due to degradation of epoxy resin contained in the adhesive, for example. The second member 200 is even capable of suppressing the abovementioned adverse effects in such situations.
Fig. 11A is an oblique view of the second member 200. Fig. 11B is a plan view of the second member 200. Fig. 11C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11C-11C in Fig. 11B. The second member 200 comprises contacting portions 210 that come into contact with the first member 36, and a base portion 220. The contacting portions 210 are configured such that end portions 211 thereof come into contact with the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36.
The material of the second member 200 is not particularly limited, provided that axial displacement of the first member 36 can be suppressed. Since the contacting portions 210 press the first member 36 from the side of the first member 36 to suppress axial displacement of the first member 36, the end portions 211 of the contacting portions 210 are required to have a high machining accuracy. From this viewpoint, the second member 200 preferably contains a metal, and is more preferably a metal member. The metal constituting the second member 200 is not particularly limited, but can, for example, be stainless steel.
From a similar viewpoint, at least one contacting portion 210 preferably includes a contacting surface having a shape corresponding to the side surface of the shaft portion 36a of the first member 36. The contacting surface, which is the end surface of the end portion 211 of the contacting portion 210, is preferably configured such that there is substantially no gap between the contacting surface and the side surface of the shaft portion 36a. In the illustrated example, since the shaft portion 36a is cylindrical, the end portion 211 of each contacting portion 210 is formed with an arch-shaped end surface of which the radius of curvature is the radius of the transverse cross section of the shaft portion 36a (see Fig. 11B). Also, from the viewpoint of effectively pressing the shaft portion 36a, the second member 200 is preferably configured to come into contact with the first member 36 from a plurality of directions. From this viewpoint, it is more preferable that the second member 200 has a plurality of contacting portions 210 having a shape corresponding to the side surface of the shaft portion 36a.
The base portion 220 is a member that supports the contacting portions 210. The base portion 220 may function as a connecting portion that connects the plurality of contacting portions 210 while supporting the same. In the illustrated example, four contacting portions 210 are formed in the second member 200, but the number of contacting portions 210 is not particularly limited and can be one, two, three, or five or more. The base portion 220 is preferably annular. Configuring at least a portion of the second member 200 to be annular in this way makes it easier to dispose the second member 200 around the first member 36, thereby facilitating attachment. It should be noted that the base portion 220 does not have to be annular, and may, for example, have a polygonal outline shape.
As illustrated in Fig. 11C, the base portion 220 is formed along a plane S10. Meanwhile, each contacting portion 210 is a member that extends from the contacting surface in a direction inclined relative to the axial direction. In the illustrated example, the contacting portions 210 are arranged along a conical surface. In this way, the contacting portions 210 are formed so as to be inclined relative to the plane S10 and the axial direction, and can be made resiliently deformable in a direction perpendicular to the inclination (see arrow A 10). As a result, when the shaft portion 36a is inserted into the second member 200, the shaft portion 36a is pressed as a result of the resilience, enabling the shaft portion 36a to be fixed more stably. From this viewpoint, the second member 200 is preferably resilient. In addition, the second member 200 preferably includes two parts, one disposed with an inclination relative to the other. If the second member 200 contains a metal, the second member 200 can press the shaft portion 36a by means of metal resilience. It should be noted that the shape of the second member 200 is not particularly limited, provided that the first member 36 can be pressed from the side, thereby suppressing axial displacement of the first member 36.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the ring-shaped member 72 is disposed between the second member 200 and the chamber 50. By disposing the second member 200 in contact with the lower surface of the ring-shaped member 72, the orientation of the second member 200 is firmly fixed, and positional displacement of the first member 36 can be more reliably suppressed. In addition, the ring-shaped member 72 allows for greater design flexibility. For example, the ring-shaped member 72 and other members can be caused to engage with each other and urged integrally by the heater cushion 74. The shape of the ring-shaped member 72 is not particularly limited, provided that the through-hole 72a is formed, and a member that is not ring-shaped may be used instead. The member having the through-hole 72a will be referred to, as appropriate, as a third member, including cases in which the member is not ring-shaped. It should be noted that the ring-shaped member 72 may be omitted from the second supporting portion 38, and the second member 200 may come into contact with and support the chamber 50.
The chamber 50, the ring-shaped member 72, the second member 200, and the heater cushion 74 are arranged in the stated order along the axial direction of the first member 36. As a result, axial displacement of the first member 36 relative to the chamber 50 is suppressed, while the chamber 50, the ring-shaped member 72, the first member 36 and the second member 200 are urged integrally as a result of the resilience of the heater cushion 74. The first member 36 can therefore be stably fixed to the chamber 50, which is urged by the heater cushion 74. From the viewpoint of making the flavor inhaler 100 more compact, the second member 200 is preferably in contact with the ring-shaped member 72 and the heater cushion 74, but the configuration is not limited thereto.
The structure of the first member 36 and an example of an air flow passage during flavor inhalation will next be described in detail. Fig. 12A is an oblique view of the first member 36. Fig. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the first member 36 as viewed in the direction of the arrows 12B-12B shown in Fig. 12A. As illustrated in Fig. 12A and 12B, the first member 36 includes the shaft portion 36a and a flat plate portion 36b. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the shaft portion 36a protrudes through the second opening portion 56a of the chamber 50 to the outside of the chamber 50. One end of the shaft portion 36a is coupled to a substantially central portion of one surface of the flat plate portion 36b. The flat plate portion 36b has a shape that, when seen in a plan view, substantially coincides with the inner surfaces 62a and 66a of the side wall portion 60 of the chamber 50 in the cross section of the chamber 50 illustrated in Fig. 5A and 5B. More specifically, the flat plate portion 36b has a planar surface portion 81 on the opposite side to the surface to which the shaft portion 36a is coupled, and the planar surface portion 81 includes a pair of straight line portions 81a, and arcuate portions 81b connecting the pair of straight line portions 81a.
The flat plate portion 36b is disposed inside the chamber 50, and may be fixed to the inner surface of the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 by means of an adhesive, for example. In a state in which the flat plate portion 36b of the first member 36 is fixed to the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50, the planar surface portion 81 is disposed so as to face the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50. The flat plate portion 36b constitutes a bottom wall portion of the accommodating portion for the consumable material 110.
The first member 36 further has a pair of ridge portions 83 on the planar surface portion 81. The pair of ridge portions 83 each extend substantially parallel to the straight line portions 81a of the planar surface portion 81 and are arranged so as to be spaced apart from one other. In the example illustrated in Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B, the pair of ridge portions 83 are disposed respectively on the straight line portions 81a, and portions of each are also disposed on the arcuate portions 81b.
The pair of ridge portions 83 have end surfaces 83a in the extension direction thereof, side surfaces 83b that face one other and upper surfaces 83c. The upper surfaces 83c are supporting surfaces that support the tip end of the consumable material 110 when the consumable material 110 is accommodated in the chamber 50. In this way, the first member 36, of which positional displacement is suppressed by the second member 200, is configured to support the tip end of the consumable material 110 accommodated in the chamber 50, thereby enabling the consumable material 110 to be more stably supported.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the side surfaces 83b of the pair of ridge portions 83 are flat, and a straight groove portion 85 is formed between the side surfaces 83b. In other words, the groove portion 85 is formed in the upper surface 83c, which is the supporting surface for the consumable material 110. The groove portion 85 opens towards the end surface of the consumable material 110 when the consumable material 110 is accommodated in the chamber 50. The groove portion 85 defines a second air flow passage A2 that communicates with the end surface of the consumable material 110 accommodated in the chamber 50. This second airflow passage A2 extends along the bottom surface of the accommodating portion, the bottom surface being formed by the first member 36.
As described in connection with Fig. 7, when the consumable material 110 is disposed in the desired position within the chamber 50, the voids 67 are formed between the consumable material 110 and the separated portions 66, and the first air flow passages A1 are formed between the consumable material 110 and the separated portions 66. The first airflow passages A1 extend from the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50 to the planar surface portion 81 of the first member 36.
When the user performs a puff action, air that has passed from the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50 through the first air flow passages A1 and has reached the vicinity of the planar surface portion 81 of the first member 36 then passes through the second air flow passage A2 and enters into the inside of the consumable material 110 from the end surface. The air that has entered the inside of the consumable material 110 can reach the inside of the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated within the consumable product 110.
Since the first air flow passage A1 and the second air flow passage A2 are formed inside the chamber 50, it is not necessary to provide a separate flow passage in the flavor inhaler 100 to introduce air to be supplied to the consumable material 110, and it is therefore possible to simplify the structure of the flavor inhaler 100.
In the present embodiment, since axial displacement of the first member 36 is suppressed by the second member 200 and the groove portion 85 of the first member 36 defines an air flow passage, a more stable air flow passage is formed when the consumable material 110 is accommodated in the chamber 50, enabling more stable inhalation. Furthermore, since the groove portion 85 is formed in the upper surfaces 83c of the ridge portions 83 that support the consumable material 110, the second air flow passage A2 that communicates with the end surface of the consumable material 110 can be formed using a simplified structure.
The flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment comprises: the chamber 50 in which the consumable material 110 is accommodated, the chamber 50 being provided with the first opening portion 52 into which the consumable material 110 is inserted; the first member 36, which extends from the chamber 50; and, outside the chamber 50, the second member 200, which presses the first member 36 from the side, with respect to the direction in which the first member 36 extends, thereby suppressing movement of the first member 36 in said direction. This makes it possible to suppress positional displacement of the first member 36, which extends from the chamber 50, in the direction in which the first member 36 extends, thereby allowing the accommodated consumable material 110 to be heated efficiently.
In the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment, the chamber 50 is further provided with the second opening portion 56a, and the first member 36 extends from the inside of the chamber 50 through the second opening portion 56a to the outside of the chamber 50. This makes it possible to suppress positional displacement of the first member 36 relative to the chamber 50, allowing the accommodated consumable material 110 to be heated more efficiently.
The following variants are also within the scope of the present invention, and can be combined with the above-described embodiment or other variants. In the following modified examples, parts and the like having the same structure and function as those in the embodiment discussed hereinabove are referred to using the same reference numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

(Modified example 1)

In the embodiment discussed hereinabove, the second member 200 is configured to suppress movement of the first member 36 disposed in the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50. However, the first member 36, of which movement is suppressed by the second member 200, is not particularly limited in terms of the position thereof within the chamber 50, and does not need to define an air flow passage. The first member 36 may also be disposed outside the chamber 50, provided that the first member 36 extends from the chamber 50. Even in such a case, the second member 200 can, for example, suppress positional displacement of the chamber 50 by suppressing displacement of the first member 36 in the direction in which the first member 36 extends, thereby making it possible to suppress a decrease in heating efficiency. In this case, the first member 36 may be formed integrally with the chamber 50, which is the accommodating portion, or the first member 36 may be configured to come into contact with the chamber 50 to support the chamber 50.

(Modified example 2)

The flavor inhaler 100 according to the embodiment discussed hereinabove has a so-called counterflow air flow passage in which air flowing in from the first opening portion 52 of the chamber 50 is supplied to the end surface of the consumable material 110, but the configuration is not limited to this, and a so-called bottom-flow air flow passage in which air is supplied into the chamber 50 from the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 may be provided.

(Modified example 3)

Furthermore, the heating element 42 is not limited to a resistance heating type, and may be an induction heating type. In this case, the heating element 42 can heat the chamber 50 by induction heating. Furthermore, if the consumable material 110 includes a susceptor, the heating element 42 can heat the susceptor of the consumable material 110 by induction heating.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment and modified examples described hereinabove, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept set forth in the claims, specification and drawings. It should be noted that any shape or material not directly stated in the specification or the drawings also falls within the scope of the technical concept of the invention of the present application provided that the action and effect of the invention of the present application are exhibited thereby.
A flavor inhaler according to a first mode of the present invention comprises: an accommodating portion in which a flavor generating article is accommodated, and which is provided with a first opening portion into which the flavor generating article is inserted; a first member which extends from the accommodating portion; and, outside the accommodating portion, a second member which suppresses movement of the first member by pressing the first member from the side, with respect to the direction in which the first member extends.
A second mode of the present invention comprises the first mode, wherein the second member includes a metal.
A third mode of the present invention comprises the first or second mode, wherein the second member is provided with at least one contacting portion that includes a contacting surface having a shape corresponding to a side surface of the first member.
A fourth mode of the present invention comprises the third mode, wherein the contacting portion is a member that extends from the contacting surface in a direction inclined with respect to said direction.
A fifth mode of the present invention comprises any of the first to fourth modes, wherein at least a portion of the second member is annular.
A sixth mode of the present invention comprises any of the first to fifth modes, wherein the first member is fixed to the accommodating portion using an adhesive.
A seventh mode of the present invention comprises any of the first to sixth modes, further comprising a third member which is disposed between the accommodating portion and the second member, and which has formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted.
An eighth mode of the present invention comprises any of the first to sixth modes, further comprising: a housing; and a resilient member that presses the accommodating portion, the first member and the second member toward the housing or a member fixed to the housing.
A ninth mode of the present invention comprises the eighth mode, further comprising a third member having formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted, wherein the accommodating portion, the third member, the second member, and the resilient member are arranged in the stated order in the direction in which the first member extends.
A tenth mode of the present invention comprises the ninth mode, wherein the second member is in contact with the third member and the resilient member.
An eleventh mode of the present invention comprises any of the first to tenth modes, wherein the accommodating portion further includes a second opening portion, and the first member extends from the inside of the accommodating portion through the second opening portion to the outside of the accommodating portion.
A twelfth mode of the present invention comprises the eleventh mode, wherein the first member is configured to support the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion.
A thirteenth mode of the present invention comprises the eleventh or twelfth mode, wherein the first member is provided with a groove portion that defines an air flow passage inside the accommodating portion when the flavor generating article is accommodated in the accommodating portion.
A fourteenth mode of the present invention comprises the thirteenth mode, wherein the first member has a supporting surface which supports the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion and in which the groove portion is formed.
A fifteenth mode of the present invention comprises any of the eleventh to fourteenth modes, wherein the second opening portion is formed in a bottom portion of the accommodating portion.
A flavor inhalation system according to a sixteenth mode of the present invention comprises the flavor inhaler according to any of the first to fifteenth modes, and a flavor generating article.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10:: Inner housing

36:: First member
50:: Chamber
52:: First opening portion
56:: Bottom portion of chamber
56a:: Second opening portion
72:: Ring-shaped member
74:: Heater cushion
83:: Ridge portion
83c:: Upper surface of ridge portion
85:: Groove portion
100:: Flavor inhaler
101:: Outer housing
110:: Consumable material
111:: Smokable material
200:: Second member
210:: Contacting portion
220:: Base portion
A1:: First air flow passage
A2:: Second air flow passage

Claims

A flavor inhaler comprising: an accommodating portion in which a flavor generating article is accommodated, and which is provided with a first opening portion into which the flavor generating article is inserted;
a first member which extends from the accommodating portion; and

outside the accommodating portion, a second member which suppresses movement of the first member by pressing the first member from the side, with respect to the direction in which the first member extends.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second member includes a metal.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second member is provided with at least one contacting portion that includes a contacting surface having a shape corresponding to a side surface of the first member.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the contacting portion is a member that extends from the contacting surface in a direction inclined with respect to said direction.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a portion of the second member is annular.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first member is fixed to the accommodating portion using an adhesive.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a third member which is disposed between the accommodating portion and the second member, and which has formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a housing; and
a resilient member that presses the accommodating portion, the first member and the second member toward the housing or a member fixed to the housing.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a third member having formed therein a through-hole or a cutout into which the first member is inserted, wherein
the accommodating portion, the third member, the second member, and the resilient member are arranged in the stated order in the direction in which the first member extends.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second member is in contact with the third member and the resilient member.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the accommodating portion further includes a second opening portion, and
the first member extends from the inside of the accommodating portion through the second opening portion to the outside of the accommodating portion.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first member is configured to support the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the first member is provided with a groove portion that defines an air flow passage inside the accommodating portion when the flavor generating article is accommodated in the accommodating portion.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first member has a supporting surface which supports the tip end of the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion and in which the groove portion is formed.
The flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the second opening portion is formed in a bottom portion of the accommodating portion.
A flavor inhalation system comprising the flavor inhaler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, and a flavor generating article.