Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/30—Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
  • A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/49—Child proofing
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
  • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F9/00—Accessories for smokers' pipes
  • A24F9/14—Stands or supports for tobacco pipes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F9/00—Accessories for smokers' pipes
  • A24F9/16—Protective coverings or cases for pipes or parts thereof
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• Aerosol provision devices and systems are known. Common systems use heaters which are activated by a user to create an aerosol by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol generating material which is then inhaled by the user.
• the device may provide an aerosol from the aerosol generating material in the device. Users may wish to lock and unlock their device during periods of non-use and use respectively. It can be desirable for the user to control the ability of the device to provide aerosol. This may increase the overall safety of the device by improving user control over the device, in turn this may increase the user experience of the device.
• the arrangement is therefore able to provide a “plug-and-play” approach.
• the user may activate the device on first usage with a first movement of the moveable component and then, with a minor physical movement, prevent activation of the device, i.e. put the device in an inoperable state.
• Returning to an operable state may be simple for the user, by performing a further physical movement.
• the moveable component may be moved using a complex or simple but intricate movement.
• the likelihood of an inappropriate user, such as an age-inappropriate user, performing the movement is significantly low such that the likelihood of use of the device by an inappropriate user is drastically reduced.
• the present disclosure improves the safety of the device.
• the system disclosed herein is an improvement over previous systems due to the ease of use and removal of complex manipulations for altering between operable and inoperable states of a device.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of a portion of an aerosol provision device according to an example
• Figure 6 is a schematic view of an aerosol provision device according to an example
• Figure 7 is a series of schematic views of portions of an aerosol provision device according to examples.
• the moveable component 140 does not block airflow through at least one flow channel.
• the aerosol generating region 130 is in fluid communication with the outlet 120 as the moveable component 140 does not block the flow from the aerosol generating region 130 to the outlet 120.
• the airflow enters the device 100 through the inlet 110, follows airflow line A, enters the aerosol generating region 130, passes through the region 130 following airflow line B, passes through the moveable component 140 and then exits the device via the outlet 120 having followed airflow line C.
• the moveable component 140 may be moved by a rotational motion, as illustrated by the arrow R in Figure lb.
• the moveable component may be moved by a translational motion, as illustrated by the arrow T in Figure lb.
• More complex manoeuvres may be required by the manufacturer to move the moveable component 140.
• a simple motion may be more user friendly for an appropriate user.
• the user wishing the use, lock, and unlock the device may prefer a simpler motion, such as rotation of a portion of the device 100 around a small number of degrees, such as between 30 and 90 degrees.
• rotating a portion of the device 100 anticlockwise by 90 degrees renders the device useable (i.e. unlocks the device 100) and rotating a portion of the device 100 clockwise 90 degrees renders the device temporarily un-useable (i.e. locks the device 100).
• a less complex motion may improve user experience of the device 100.
• a more complex motion such as squeezing a portion of the device 100 and then rotating may be more difficult for an inappropriate user to perform, thereby increasing the safety of the mechanical lock of the device 100. This may however impact the appropriate user’s user experience of the device 100.
• Combinations of motions such a squeeze and rotate, or translate then rotate are more difficult to replicate and are less likely to occur during, e.g., normal motion associated with the device 100 for example when being carried in luggage during travel.
• a more complex motion also has improved resistance to accidental motion changing the device 100 from inactive (locked) to active (unlocked) states.
• the device 100 may further comprise a stopper to prevent the moveable component 140 moving beyond the predetermined positions.
• the stopper may therefore provide further control over the positioning of the moveable component.
• the stopper may be a physical element that physically opposes attempts to move the moveable component beyond the range of predetermined positions.
• the stopper may be an electrical and/or magnetic component that electrically/magnetically opposed attempts to move the movable component beyond the range of predetermined positions.
• the device When the moveable component is moved to the third position, the device may be inoperable, for example this may be in a sleep mode or a locked mode or an “off’ mode or the like. In this position, the moveable component may block at least one flow channel. In this position, the moveable component may block some portion of all flow channels in the device, to prevent an aerosol being provided to a user. While in one of these modes (lock, sleep, etc), the user cannot receive an aerosol from the device without changing the mode. The user may change the mode by moving the moveable component into a different predetermined position. Any predetermined position may be a latched position, i.e. a position from which additional effort is required from the user to move out of the predetermined position.
• the aerosol provision device 300 has a further aerosol generating region 332 arranged to generate a further aerosol.
• the device 300 of Figure 3a has an inlet (not shown), and outlet 320, a first aerosol generating region 330, a second aerosol generating region 332, a moveable component 340, a body portion 350 which comprises a power portion 352 and the moveable component 340.
• the power portion 352 may comprise a power source such as a battery or the like alongside control circuitry for controlling the activation and use of power in the device 300.
• the control circuitry may communicate with a microphone or other puff sensor or the like and control heating of the heating elements in the device.
• the arrangements discussed herein may use single or multiple puff sensors, flow sensors or the like.
• a body portion 350 of the device 300 comprises the moveable component 340, the moveable component 340 arranged to provide relative movement between the aerosol generating portion 351 and the power portion 352.
• the moveable component 340 at least partially blocks one or more flow channels between at least one inlet and at least one outlet of the device 300.
• the device 300 may have one or more inlets to allow air to enter the device 300.
• Flow channels may link the one or more inlets to one or more outlets of the device 300.
• the moveable component 340 is part of the aerosol generating portion 351 and may be moved in the manner of arrow R’.
• the moveable component 340 provides relative movement between the aerosol generating portion 351 and the power portion 352.
• the moveable component 340 may be part of the power portion 352.
• the moveable component 340 may be part of a mouthpiece of the device 300.
• the device 300 has a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece comprises at least one outlet.
• the mouthpiece may provide a suitable contact point for a user’s mouth to receive an aerosol from the device.
• the mouthpiece may have one or more outlets in the mouthpiece.
• the mouthpiece may therefore have a series of outlets from which different aerosols may be provided to a user.
• the moveable component 340 is part of the aerosol generating portion 351 and may be moved in the manner of arrow R’.
• the arrangement of Figure 3b is similar to the arrangement of Figure 3a, however the arrangement of Figure 3a has one electrical connection to the power portion 352. Moving the moveable component 340 in the example of Figure 3a relatively moves the electrical contact or electrical contacts connected to the first aerosol generating region 330 and the second aerosol generating region 332 to the contact or contacts of the power portion 352.
• Moving the moveable component 340 allows a user to align the contacts of the power portion 352 with any of: the electrical contacts of the first aerosol generating region 330; the electrical contacts of the second aerosol generating region 332; and not connect to either contacts of the first aerosol generating region 330 or the second aerosol generating region 332, such that one region can provide an aerosol for inhalation, or the device can be placed in a locked state where neither region provides an aerosol for inhalation.
• the contacts may be slidable contacts. In this way, the contacts may be moved to slide along a face and connect with the contacts of the power portion 352 when the respective contacts are aligned.
• the contacts may be contact brushes, or the like, to assist sliding and electrical connection.
• the contacts may be moved into alignment with contacts of the power portion 352.
• either contact or contacts may be a conductive trace which can be contacted by contact brushes or pins or the like.
• the power portion 352 contacts may be recessed and the contacts of the first aerosol generating region 330 and the second aerosol generating region 332 may comprise a resilient member to bias the brushes or pins or the like into the recesses holding the contact or contacts of the power portion 352. In this way, a reliable and robust electrical connection can be provided after moving the moveable component into a predetermined position.
• the moveable component 340 is arranged to provide tactile feedback when in a predetermined position. In this way, the user may be informed when the moveable component is in a predetermined position and can be expected to operate in a predetermined manner. As the movement of the moveable component 340 affects the aerosol provided by the device 300, inaccurate positioning of the moveable component 340 may result in poor aerosol delivery, whether by inaccurate blocking of flow channels or poor alignment of electrical connections or the like. As such, the user experience of the device 300 may be improved by providing some form of feedback to the user when the moveable component 340 is in a predetermined position. Such an arrangement also increases the reliability of the overall device 300.
• the feedback may be tactile, this may be provided by an arrangement of projections and recesses, or may be electrical, for example a sensor may provide a visual or audible indication when the moveable component 340 is in a predetermined position.
• the device has a device housing for housing the components of the device.
• the housing may comprise indicators indicating locations of the predetermined positions.
• Such indicators may be graphics on the housing that may be arrow heads, which can be aligned with indicators on the moveable component.
• the user may be informed as to where the predetermined positions are and thereby be discouraged from moving the moveable component beyond the predetermined positions. This reduces the likelihood of damage to the device and therefore increases the lifetime of the device.
• Such indicators also decrease the likelihood of the device being put in a non-predetermined position and therefore being in an inoperable mode. In this way, the user experience is also improved.
• the moveable component 340 may unlock the power source portion 352.
• the power source portion 352 may comprise a battery, control circuitry, puff detectors, microphones or the like for accurately initiating heating from suitable aerosol generating regions during inhalation. Unlocking the power source portion 352 may improve ease of repair for a manufacturer or designated engineer for the device 300. In this way, the lifetime of the device 300 may be improved.
• the moveable component 340 unlocks the power source portion 352 to provide access to the power source portion 352 for removing a power source from and/or inserting a power source to the power source portion 352.
• Providing a user with access to the power source for removing and replacing a power source improves the ease with which the battery can be removed, recharged and/or replaced. This in turn increases the lifetime of the device 300 over a device 300 without access to the power source portion 352.
• a user may be able to access the power source portion 352 remove the elements therein (power source, electronics etc), and recycle the elements in a suitable way, while recycling the body of the device 300 in another suitable way. As the body of such devices are often made from different materials (plastics etc), this reduces the environmental impact of disposal of the device 300.
• Figure 4a shows a cross-sectional view of a device 400.
• the device 400 has a housing 410 that holds a first aerosol generating region 420 and a second aerosol generating region 430. Each region may have an aerosol generating material store, such as a reservoir or the like.
• the device 400 has a heater 440 located so that the heater 440 can heat a region.
• the moveable component may be connected to the reservoirs such that the moveable component can be moved and, in turn, move the reservoirs in a direction shown by arrow E. By rotating the reservoirs, the user can control which reservoir is close to the heating element 440.
• the power source may be non-rechargeable and non-replaceable.
• the access to the power source portion is advantageous as the user may dispose of the power source once the device is suitably depleted.
• the power source may be arranged to have sufficient power to aerosolise the amount of aerosol generating material in the device, but not more. In this way, when the aerosol generating material has been aerosolised, the device 400 is has no remaining power and can be disposed of. This may improve the user experience, by providing a device that is easy to use and requires no maintenance.
• the heater may be activated and one reservoir may have airflow through it such that one aerosol is provided to a user.
• the device may have a plurality of heaters, each of which may be activated by a specific predetermined position and corresponding electrical connection.
• a first heating element may be arranged to provide an aerosol from the first aerosol generating region and a second heating element arranged to provide an aerosol from the second aerosol generating region. While more costly to provide more heating elements and more complex electrical circuitry, the arrangement of the heating elements and the aerosol generating regions is made simpler. In either arrangement, one or more puff sensors may be used.
• the cover 720 is shown covering a mouthpiece and is in a good fit to the housing 710 of the device.
• the cover 720’ is shown with a flat end surface 721’ and can therefore allow a user to stand the device on the surface 721’ (as described above), other arrangements are capable of proving this as noted above.
• the cover 720” is shown with a housing connection 722” for connecting to a housing 710” of the aerosol provision device.
• the cover 720” may be capable of rotating around the housing connection 722”. This rotation may be enjoyable for a user.
• the rotation also allows the device to be rested on the flat end 721” of the cover 720 in a variety of arrangements.
• the housing connection 722” is half way along the device and therefore the cover 720” can free spin around the full body of the device.
• the cover 820 is a slideable cover 820 for slideable covering the outlet (or a mouthpiece).
• the cover 820 may be slid up and down the housing 810 to uncover 820’ and cover 820 the outlet.
• the cover 820 may be a sleeve or the like that can be moved by a user.
• the sleeve 820 may be moved by a handle 822 or lever or the like to move the sleeve 820.
• the arrangements discussed herein may use single or multiple puff sensors, flow sensors or the like. By ensuring, the flow paths (whether entirely separate or overlapping in some portion) impact the area near the puff sensor, only one puff sensor need be used. In this way, fewer electronics can be used in the manufacture of the device and the overall cost is decreased. Such a device can then be provided to users for a lower price.
• the aerosol provision device as disclosed herein When combined with an aerosol generating medium, the aerosol provision device as disclosed herein may be referred to as an aerosol provision system.
• the aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette also known as a vaping device.
• the electronic cigarette comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a liquid or gel, a housing and optionally a mouthpiece.
• the aerosolizable substrate is contained in or on a substrate container.
• the substrate container is combined with or comprises the heater.
• the heating product is an electronic device.
• the heating product comprises an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material, and a heat source which is capable of supplying heat energy to the aerosolizable substrate without any electronic means, such as by burning a combustion material, such as charcoal.
• the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials.
• the substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine.
• the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate.
• the solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
• the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.
• An aerosol provision device according to any of clauses 1 to 3, further comprising a further aerosol generating region arranged to generate a further aerosol; a further flow channel arranged provide fluid communication between at least one inlet, the outlet and the further aerosol generating region; wherein in a third position the moveable component is arranged to not block airflow through the further flow channel, and arranged to block airflow through at least one flow channel.
• An aerosol provision device according to any of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the moveable component is a part of at least one of: a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision device; a portion comprising the aerosol generating region of the aerosol provision device; a distal end of the aerosol provision device.
• An aerosol provision device according to any of clauses 1 to 9, further comprising a removable cover for removably covering the outlet.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=88068802

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2022
  • 2022-09-06 US US17/930,038 patent/US20240074513A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2023
  • 2023-09-05 US US19/108,823 patent/US20250380744A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-09-05 CA CA3265603A patent/CA3265603A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-09-05 WO PCT/GB2023/052289 patent/WO2024052660A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-09-05 EP EP23771913.3A patent/EP4583731A1/de active Pending

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