Inhalation device
The inhalation device addresses the challenge of user-friendly recess operation by employing a slidable spring carrier and track-based locking mechanism for easy opening and closing, improving user experience and aesthetics through efficient consumable handling.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JT INTERNATIONAL SA
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing inhalation devices lack a user-friendly mechanism for easily opening and closing the recess to accommodate consumables, such as tobacco sticks, which affects user experience and device aesthetics.
The inhalation device features a slidable spring carrier and displaceable cover with a track-based locking mechanism that allows the cover to move in one direction for alternating exposure and closure of the recess, utilizing a spring carrier biased to expose the recess and engage with a locking portion for seamless operation.
This mechanism provides a cost-effective and user-friendly operation, enhancing the device's appearance and user experience by allowing easy and efficient insertion and removal of consumables with minimal movement, resulting in a seamless device design.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
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[0001] The present invention relates to an inhalation device such as a device for heating consumables such as tobacco sticks.
Background Art
[0002] Several types of inhalation or aerosol generating devices are known and are increasingly replacing traditional cigarettes. Such devices typically have a body with a recess for receiving a consumable, such as a stick, that contains aerosol-generating material that may include tobacco. Before and after use, it is generally desirable to cover the recess.
[0003] In this regard, for example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 102355185B1 relates to a device as described above having a slidable cover for covering a recess, adapted to receive a consumable. Further, somewhat similar devices are known from European Patent No. 2727619B1 and European Patent No. 2531053B1.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The underlying object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation device of the above type having a particularly user-friendly mechanism for opening and closing the recess.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] This is achieved by the inhalation devices according to claims 1 and 15.
[0006] Accordingly, the device has a body with a recess for receiving a consumable, and a slidable spring carrier for covering the recess and supporting a spring. Furthermore, a displaceable cover having an opening is provided, and a base having a track for accommodating the first arm of the spring described above is provided on the body of the cover. The track further has a locking portion adapted to lock the spring in a position where the spring carrier covers the recess, and the cover, when displaced, is adapted to move the spring carrier to disengage the spring from the locking portion when in the position covering the recess, and further adapted to move the spring carrier to engage with the locking portion when in the position exposing the recess.
[0007] This essentially makes it possible for the cover to move in one direction for both opening and closing the recess, just as the operation of the click pen, i.e., the movement of one actuator in the same direction, alternately exposes and retracts the tip of the pen. This provides easy operation by the user, as described herein, with respect to the drawing device, since repeated movement of the cover in one direction alternately opens and closes the recess. This is essentially achieved by moving the spring carrier from a position where it covers the recess and its spring is locked in the locking portion of the track, disengaging the spring from the locking portion, and moving the spring carrier to a position where the recess is exposed.
[0008] Furthermore, the cover then moves to a position where its opening aligns with the recess, allowing for the insertion of consumables such as a heatable stick. After the consumables are sucked in and removed, the displacement of the cover in the same direction when it is moved to expose the recess causes a spring in the spring carrier to engage with the locking mechanism, resulting in the spring carrier covering the recess. As detailed below, this provides an efficient novel mechanism, resulting in both cost-effectiveness and a good user experience.
[0009] Preferred embodiments are described in further claims.
[0010] The spring carrier is preferably biased to a position that exposes the recess, which, when in a position covering the recess, advantageously interacts with a cover that moves the spring carrier to disengage the spring from the locking portion. Because the spring carrier is biased, it then automatically moves to a position that exposes the recess.
[0011] In particular, it can improve the appearance of the device, and when the cover is biased to be at least partially flush with the main body during use, it can advantageously provide a seamless device.
[0012] To guide the cover during the aforementioned movement, it is beneficial to provide the cover with a cover portion and a frame portion. The cover portion typically covers the recess, and the frame portion is used to guide the movement.
[0013] In particular, it has been found beneficial to guide the cover, especially its frame, with the base.
[0014] In either case, the spring includes a first arm portion housed within the truck, allowing for the efficient provision of a second arm portion to bias the spring carrier.
[0015] To provide an overall aesthetic for the device, and to facilitate the movement of various components, the spring carrier preferably has a spring cover that specifically covers the spring.
[0016] Regarding suitable materials for various components, if the cover, particularly the cover portion and the spring, is made of metal, it is currently preferred and will provide beneficial properties to the aforementioned components.
[0017] In contrast, one or more of the frame, spring cover, spring carrier, and base can be efficiently manufactured from plastic.
[0018] While different mechanisms are generally possible, the ability of the cover and spring carrier to move along the same direction offers advantages in terms of mechanisms that enable the aforementioned movement of various components.
[0019] The recess and the cover that covers the recess can generally be provided as a whole anywhere on the device, but if the body is elongated, it provides a well-designed device in which the cover is displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. In other words, the body typically has two surface regions perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, which are considerably smaller than the rest, and typically has four surface regions parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the cover is preferably provided on one of the smaller surface regions described and typically covers a recess that extends substantially along the longitudinal axis.
[0020] Regarding the detailed design of the spring, it is currently preferred when its first and second arm portions are located on either side of the helical portion of the spring, as this allows for the efficient manufacture of the spring.
[0021] As detailed above, the suction device described herein allows the displacement of the cover for moving the spring carrier when it is in a position to cover the recess to be in the same direction as the displacement of the cover for moving the spring carrier when it is in a position to expose the recess. This provides a comfortable user experience.
[0022] Finally, the user experience is further enhanced when the displacement of the cover to expose the recess and to cover the recess is the same. In other words, users will easily become accustomed to the same displacement, which is advantageous for both exposing and covering the recess.
[0023] One embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0024] [Figure 1] This shows an exploded perspective view of the essential components of the inhalation device. [Figure 2] It shows a cross-sectional view of the component shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3-8] The operations for exposing and covering the recess of the device are shown in a top view including the details thereof. [Figure 9-14] It shows top views and side views of the entire device during operation shown in FIGS. 3 to 8.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the mechanism of the device for opening and closing the recess of the device has a base 10 with an opening 12 that at least substantially coincides with the recess of the device for receiving the consumable, as can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 11 and 12, and as will be described below. A spring carrier 14 that carries a spring 16 and can cover the opening 12 of the base 10 is slidable on the base 10 in an essentially horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, a cover 18 is provided to cover the spring 16.
[0026] Furthermore, a cover 20 having a cover portion 22 and a frame portion 24 is also provided slidably with respect to the base 10. As can be seen in the drawings, the cover 20 has an opening 26 which, in use, is essentially aligned with the opening 12 of the base 10. As can also be seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 16 is typically a helical spring having a helical portion 30, a first arm portion 28, and a second arm portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm portion 28 is essentially U-shaped and has an end bent essentially 90° from the plane of the U so as to interact with a track 34 provided on the base 10, as will be described in detail below. The second arm portion 32 also interacts with an appropriate structure on the base 10 so as to bias the spring carrier to a position exposing the recess and the opening 12 of the base 10.
[0027] The spring carrier 14, in its assembled state, has a pin 36 that is housed in the center of the helical portion 30 of the spring 16. Furthermore, the leg portion 56 of the spring 16, which connects the first arm portion 28 to the helical portion 30 via a U, is housed in a groove between blocks formed on the spring carrier 14. The spring cover 18 is essentially flat, and the cover, including the base 10 and its cover portion 22 and its frame portion 24, is essentially elliptical in the top view, having rounded ends and essentially straight portions between the ends. The frame portion 24 of the cover 20 extends essentially horizontally in the orientation shown in Figure 2 and is reinforced by longitudinal strips 38 that extend essentially parallel to the sides of the cover 20. The side walls of the frame portion 24 and the reinforcing strips 38 can, advantageously, cooperate with appropriate structures provided on the base, such as walls 54, to guide the cover 20 during movement to open and close the recess. The spring carrier 14 is also appropriately guided by the base 10.
[0028] The operation of the mechanism for opening and closing the recess of the device will be described starting from the closed state, as shown in both Figures 2 and 3. In this state, the first arm portion 28 of the spring engages with the locking portion 40 of the track 34 provided on the base 10. As the cover 20 is moved to the left, as shown in Figure 4, and also as the cover 20 moves towards the end of its movement, the inner surface of the cover, shown as 42 in Figures 1 and 2, comes into contact with the opposing surface 44 of the spring carrier 14, causing the spring carrier 14 to move somewhat to the left. As a result, the cover 20 moves the spring carrier 14, including the spring 16 on it, sufficiently to the left, as shown in Figure 4, after the aforementioned contact, and as a result, the first arm portion 28 of the spring 16 is disengaged from the locking portion 40, as shown by arrow A. Generally, as additionally shown by arrow C in Figure 5, the track 34 has an upper part that slopes slightly outward toward the outside of the device, i.e., toward the top of Figures 3 to 8 when viewed from left to right in these figures. As will be detailed below, the lower part of track 34 is similarly sloped and leads to locking section 40, where the first arm section 28 is positioned as shown in Figure 3.
[0029] As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the second arm portion 32 engages with a suitable structure on the base 10 to bias the spring carrier to the right in Figures 3 to 8. As can be seen in Figure 5, as soon as the first arm portion 28 is unlocked, the assertion of the second arm portion 32 pushes the spring carrier 14 to the right, resulting in the release of the spring 16. The cover 20 is then preferably also moved by appropriate bias to the position shown in Figure 5, which is essentially flush with the body of the device.
[0030] In particular, as can be seen from Figure 6, when the recess is exposed, the inner surface 42 of the cover 20 and the opposing surface 44 of the spring carrier 14 are already in contact. Starting from this position and exposing the recess, as shown in Figure 6, moving the cover 20 to the left again, due to the aforementioned contact, moves the spring carrier 14 to the left to cover the recess, and moves the lower part of the first arm portion 28 of the spring in the track 34, here as shown in Figure 7, to the locking portion 40, indicated by arrow B, in order to lock the spring 16 and hold the spring carrier 14 in the position to cover the recess. Finally, as shown in Figure 8, the cover 20 can then be moved again to the position corresponding to the position in Figures 5 and 3. In summary, the locking / unlocking of the spring by the track contributes to positioning the spring carrier to cover or expose the recess and allows the spring carrier to move between these positions.
[0031] The remaining figures essentially illustrate the above operation of the device 46 as a whole. It will be particularly noticeable that its body 48 is essentially elongated, with its longitudinal axis in the vertical direction at the bottom of Figures 9–14. As can be seen from the top of each of the above figures showing the top view, the top and bottom surfaces are substantially smaller than the sides, one of which can be seen at the bottom of Figures 9–14. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 20 is further designed to show the user that it is movable only to the left, according to the figure, with an extension 50 extending from the essentially flat bottom of the cover 20 toward the body 48, which provides a stop for the movement of the cover 20 to the right according to the figure.
[0032] As can be seen from the bottom of each of Figures 9 to 14, the cover 20 has a height along its longitudinal axis that is significantly smaller than the height of the device 46. In particular, on the side opposite the extension 50, to the right in the drawings, the cover 20 occupies about half of the rounded edge on this upper side of the device 46. On the side of the extension 50, the extension forms the entire curve at this edge. Generally, the device 46 has a rounded edge to provide a pleasant feel when handled, and according to the bottom of Figures 9 to 14, it has the appearance of a rectangular parallelepiped with the top and bottom significantly smaller. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the side facing the viewer in the bottom of Figures 9 to 14 is somewhat larger than the right and left sides in the drawings. In the undisplaced position of the cover 20 as shown in Figures 9, 11, 12, and 14, the cover 20 is essentially flush with the entire body 48 of the device to provide a seamless appearance. Furthermore, from Figures 10 and 13, it can be understood that the movement of the cover 20 to open and close the recess 52, particularly shown in Figures 11 and 12, is in the same direction and has the same amount of movement for both opening and closing the recess 52. Finally, in the illustrated embodiment, the recess 52 is eccentrically located in the left and right directions of Figures 9 to 14, and is located approximately in the center in the vertical direction of the top of these figures. In this direction, the recess covers about 30-50% of the cover, and about 25-35% in the left and right directions of these figures.
Claims
1. Inhalation device (46), A main body (48) having a recess (52) for receiving consumables, A displaceable cover (20) having an opening (26), A slidable spring carrier (14) covers the recess (52) and supports the spring (16), A base portion (10) provided on the main body (48) and having a track (34) that accommodates the first arm portion (28) of the spring (16), It has, The track (34) has a locking portion (40) adapted to lock the spring (16) in a position where the spring carrier (14) covers the recess (52), When the cover (20) is displaced, When in the position covering the recess (52), the spring carrier (14) is adapted to move so as to disengage the spring (16) from the locking portion (40). When the recess (52) is exposed, the spring carrier (14) is adapted to move so that the spring (16) engages with the locking portion (40). Inhalation device (46).
2. The suction device (46) according to claim 1, wherein the spring carrier (14) is biased to the position that exposes the recess (52).
3. The suction device (46) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (20) is biased to be at least partially flush with the main body (48).
4. The inhalation device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (20) has a cover portion (22) and a frame portion (24).
5. The inhalation device (46) according to claim 4, wherein the cover (20), in particular the frame portion (24), is guided by the base portion (10).
6. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spring (16) has a second arm portion (32) that biases the spring carrier (14).
7. The suction device (46) according to claim 4, wherein the spring carrier (14) has a spring cover (18).
8. The inhalation device (46) according to claim 4, wherein the cover (20), particularly the cover portion (22), and / or the spring (16) are made of metal.
9. The suction device (46) according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the frame portion (24), the spring cover (18), the spring carrier (14), and the base portion (10) is made of plastic.
10. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (20) and the spring carrier (14) are movable along the same direction.
11. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body (48) is elongated, and the cover (20) is displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body (48).
12. The suction device (46) according to claim 6, wherein the first and second arm portions are located on both sides of the helical portion (30) of the spring (16).
13. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the displacement of the cover (20) for moving the spring carrier (14) when it is in a position to cover the recess (52) is in the same direction as the displacement of the cover (20) for moving the spring carrier (14) when it is in a position to expose the recess (52).
14. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the displacement of the cover (20) for moving the spring carrier (14) when it is in a position to cover the recess (52) is the same amount as the displacement of the cover (20) for moving the spring carrier (14) when it is in a position to expose the recess (52).
15. The suction device (46) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer cover is repeatedly displaced in the same direction, thereby alternately exposing and covering recesses (52) adapted to receive consumables by an inner cover (preferably composed of the spring carrier (14)).