Flavor inhaler, flavor inhalation system, battery assembly, and battery replacement method

Abstract

A flavor inhaler according to the present invention comprises: a heating unit that heats a flavor source; a battery that supplies power to the heating unit; a battery housing part that houses the battery; and a holding member that is attached to the battery and holds the battery. The holding member comprises a first holding part that is located between the battery and the battery housing part.

Description

Flavor inhaler, flavor inhalation system, battery assembly, and battery replacement method

[0001] The present invention relates to a flavor inhaler, a flavor inhalation system, a battery assembly, and a method for replacing a battery.

[0002] Conventionally, flavor inhalers for generating aerosols or the like having flavors without burning a material have been known. Such flavor inhalers may be configured to accommodate a battery. Patent Document 1 discloses that the battery is held between a first end portion and a second end portion of a battery support. Patent Document 2 discloses that the power supply unit includes an elongated outer shell, which is substantially tubular so as to define a cavity therein.

[0003] International Publication No. 2020 / 182751 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-130475

[0004] In the flavor inhaler described above, the structure of the battery or the components around the battery can affect the durability of the flavor inhaler. For example, if the temperature of the battery rises due to heat from the heating unit, gas may be more likely to be generated from the battery, which may reduce the durability of the flavor inhaler.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a flavor inhaler or flavor inhaler system with improved durability.

[0006] According to one aspect, there is provided a flavor inhaler comprising: a heating unit for heating a flavor source; a battery for supplying power to the heating unit; a battery housing for housing the battery; and a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery, the holding member comprising a first holding portion located between the battery and the battery housing.

[0007] According to the above aspect, the first holding portion can be used to suppress heat transfer from the heating portion to the battery, and a flavor inhaler with improved durability can be provided.

[0008] The first holding portion may include a spacer for forming an air layer between the battery and the battery housing portion.

[0009] In this case, the heat transfer from the heating section to the battery can be suppressed due to the heat insulating properties of the air layer.

[0010] The battery accommodating portion may have an opening configured to allow the battery to be inserted and removed, and a wall portion formed to surround the battery at least around the long axis of the battery, and the first holding portion may be formed between the outer peripheral surface of the battery surrounding the long axis and the wall portion.

[0011] In this case, since the outer peripheral surface of the battery is usually larger than other surfaces, heat transfer from the heating portion can be more effectively suppressed.

[0012] The spacer may be disposed over substantially the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the battery.

[0013] In this case, a more uniform air layer is formed in the circumferential direction, making it easier to suppress heat transfer over the entire outer periphery of the battery.

[0014] The holding member may extend in the longitudinal direction of the battery along the outer circumferential surface and protrude from the end of the battery on the opening side.

[0015] In this case, when removing the battery, the user can easily grip the holding member, making it easier to remove the battery.

[0016] The battery may include an electrode portion, and the flavor inhaler may further include a wiring member configured to be electrically connectable to the electrode portion when the battery is housed in the battery housing portion, and the holding member may include a second holding portion that holds the wiring member.

[0017] In this case, when attaching or detaching the battery, the electrical continuity between the battery and the wiring member can be easily switched by moving the second holding portion.

[0018] The wiring member may include a substrate and a connector electrically connected to the substrate, and the second holding portion may be fixed to the substrate.

[0019] In this case, the second holding portion can be easily grasped by hand without using tweezers, and the risk of a short circuit can be reduced.

[0020] The second holding portion may include a positioning portion for positioning the holding member relative to the wiring member.

[0021] In this case, it is possible to easily manufacture a battery assembly including a battery and a holding member, and to form the holding member and wiring member with high precision.

[0022] The battery and the holding member form a battery assembly, and the battery assembly is configured such that when the battery is not housed in the battery housing section, the second holding section is movable relative to the battery, and when the battery is housed in the battery housing section and the wiring member is electrically connected to the heating section, the holding member has an L-shaped structure in which the first holding section and the second holding section extend in directions that intersect with each other, and the wiring member is configured to be movable integrally with the second holding section.

[0023] In this case, when the battery is housed in the battery housing section, the L-shaped structure ensures electrical continuity between the battery and the wiring members, while the deformation of the holding member makes it easy to disassemble the battery and the wiring members connected to the battery when replacing the battery.

[0024] The device may further include a housing, and the battery accommodating section may be disposed inside the housing.

[0025] In this case, it is possible to suppress heat transfer from the heating unit to the battery and absorb impacts to the flavor inhaler.

[0026] The holding member may be made of an elastic material.

[0027] In this case, the elastic material can absorb impacts on the flavor inhaler, and the battery can be firmly fixed in the battery accommodating section.

[0028] The flavor inhaler may further include a pressing member that presses the holding member toward the battery in the longitudinal direction of the battery.

[0029] In this case, the wiring member and the battery can be electrically connected more stably.

[0030] According to another aspect, there is provided a flavor inhalation system comprising the flavor inhaler described above and a consumable material including a flavor source.

[0031] In this case, it is possible to provide a flavor inhalation system with improved durability.

[0032] According to another aspect, a battery assembly is provided, the battery assembly being attached to a flavor inhaler, the battery assembly comprising: a battery; and a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery; the battery having an outer circumferential surface surrounding a major axis of the battery; the holding member having a battery holding portion abutting the outer circumferential surface and extending circumferentially around the major axis; and a movable portion movable relative to the battery.

[0033] In this case, the battery holding section can be used to suppress heat transfer from the heating section to the battery, making it possible to provide a flavor inhaler or a flavor inhalation system with improved durability.

[0034] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for replacing a battery in a flavor inhaler, the method including: manipulating a housing, lid, or cover of the flavor inhaler to expose a movable part of a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery; and gripping the movable part to remove the battery, wherein the battery has an outer circumferential surface surrounding a longitudinal axis of the battery, the holding member abuts the outer circumferential surface and has a battery holding part extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, and the movable part is configured to be movable relative to the battery.

[0035] According to the above aspect, the battery holding section can be used to suppress heat transfer from the heating section to the battery, which contributes to the durability of the flavor inhaler and makes it easier to replace the battery of the flavor inhaler.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor inhalation system according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view schematically showing a flavor inhalation system according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a flavor inhaler including a battery and a battery housing; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a battery assembly attached to the flavor inhaler; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the battery assembly removed from the flavor inhaler; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the flavor inhaler with the pressing member and bottom cover removed; FIG. 7 is a 7-7 cross-sectional view of region A of the flavor inhaler in FIG. 1; FIG. 8-8 cross-sectional view of region A of the flavor inhaler in FIG. 1; FIG. 9-9 cross-sectional view of region A of the flavor inhaler in FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pressing member; FIG. 11 is a conceptual view showing the bottom cover; and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of a battery replacement method according to one embodiment.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings described below, identical or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0038] Fig. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a flavor inhalation system 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the flavor inhalation system 100 includes a consumable material 110 and a flavor inhaler 120 that heats the consumable material 110. The consumable material 110 is a flavor-generating article that includes a flavor source and is configured to generate a flavored aerosol or the like when heated. The flavor inhaler 120 may be an aerosol generating device that generates a flavored aerosol.

[0039] The flavor inhaler 120 has a heating unit 40, a storage unit 50 that stores the consumable product 110, a housing 200, and a battery storage unit 400. The housing 200 has an opening 201 that communicates with the storage unit 50. The consumable product 110 is inserted into the storage unit 50 through the opening 201. The consumable product 110 stored in the storage unit 50 is heated by the heating unit 40. Here, "storing the consumable product 110" includes storing at least a portion of the consumable product 110. In other words, when the consumable product 110 is properly inserted into the storage unit 50, a portion of the consumable product 110 may be exposed to the outside of the flavor inhaler 120. As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 200 may have a top surface 210 in which the opening 201 is formed, and a bottom surface 220 that is located on the opposite side of the top surface 210 in the insertion direction of the consumable product 110. The material of the housing 200 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, resin such as PC (polycarbonate), ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resin, or PEEK (polyetheretherketone), or metal such as aluminum.

[0040] In the drawings described in this specification, an X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system may be used for ease of explanation. In this coordinate system, the Z-axis points vertically upward, the X-Y plane is positioned so as to cut the flavor inhaler 120 horizontally, and the Y-axis is positioned so as to extend from the front to the back of the flavor inhaler 120. The Z-axis direction can also be referred to as the insertion direction of the consumable product 110 housed in the housing 50. The X-axis direction can also be referred to as the longitudinal direction of the device in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable product 110. The Y-axis direction can also be referred to as the lateral direction of the device in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable product 110. The shape of the flavor inhaler 120 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the heating unit 40 and the battery housing 400, and it may be, for example, stick-shaped.

[0041] In this embodiment, the consumable product 110 includes a flavor source such as tobacco capable of producing a smokable flavor, and has, for example, a columnar shape extending along the longitudinal direction. The flavor source included in the consumable product 110 is not particularly limited and may include at least one of natural materials such as plant materials and flavorings. The consumable product 110 may also include a filler. Such a filler may include chopped plant materials, sheets obtained by processing plant materials into sheets, or materials obtained by chopping such sheets. When the plant material is tobacco, the tobacco shred material included in the filler is not particularly limited, and known materials such as lamina or ribs can be used. The sheet may also be a homogenized sheet obtained by crushing dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of 20 μm or more and 200 μm or less to obtain tobacco grounds, homogenizing the tobacco grounds, and processing them into a sheet. Such a filler may be wrapped in paper. The consumable product 110 may be, for example, a tobacco stick. The consumable product 110 may have a cylindrical shape, a columnar shape with a polygonal cross section, a flat shape, or a capsule shape. The form of the consumable product 110 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cartridge containing a liquid having a flavor source. Alternatively, the consumable product 110 may be a liquid or granules in which a flavor source is dispersed.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1 , the consumable product 110 may have an insertion end 111 that is inserted into the flavor inhaler 120, and a mouthpiece end 112 that serves as a mouthpiece. Air inhaled by a user is introduced into the consumable product 110 from or near the insertion end 111, flows through the interior of the consumable product 110 toward the mouthpiece end 112, and may be introduced into the user's oral cavity. The air flow path in the flavor inhalation system 100 is not particularly limited, and may have a counterflow type air flow path or a bottom flow type air flow path. A counterflow type air flow path is configured so that air is introduced into the flavor inhaler 120 through a gap between the consumable product 110 and the storage unit 50 at the opening 201 and flows toward the insertion end 111. A bottom flow type air flow path is configured so that air is introduced into the flavor inhaler 120 from an air inlet (not shown) located in the housing 200, etc., and then introduced into the storage unit 50 from the bottom of the storage unit 50 (near the insertion end 111 of the stored consumable product 110).

[0043] As shown in Fig. 1, the flavor inhaler 120 has a battery 10 and a control unit 20. The battery 10 stores power used by the flavor inhaler 120. The battery 10 is configured to supply power to the heating unit 40. The battery 10 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The battery 10 may be rechargeable by an external power source. The battery 10 has an electrode unit 18 (Fig. 2).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1 , the battery 10 extends along the longitudinal axis AX and may have a first end 11 and a second end 12 opposite the first end 11 in the longitudinal direction. The second end 12 is located closer to the opening 401 ( FIG. 2 ) through which the battery 10 is removed than the first end 11. In the illustrated example, the first end 11 is located on the top surface 210 side where the opening 201 of the flavor inhaler 120 is located, and the second end 12 is located on the bottom surface 220 side, but the orientation of the battery 10 is not particularly limited. The battery 10 may be columnar. In the illustrated example, the battery 10 has a cylindrical shape. The battery 10 may also have a plate-like shape extending in the longitudinal direction, like a gum-type battery, for example.

[0045] The control unit 20 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, etc., and controls the operation of the flavor inhaler 120. For example, the control unit 20 starts heating the consumable product 110 in response to a user operation on an input device (not shown), such as a button or a touch panel, and stops heating the consumable product 110 after a certain time has passed. The control unit 20 may stop heating the consumable product 110 even before the certain time has passed since the start of heating the consumable product 110, if the number of puffing actions by the user exceeds a certain value. For example, puffing actions are detected by a sensor (not shown).

[0046] Alternatively, the control unit 20 may start heating the consumable product 110 in response to the start of a puffing action, and may stop heating the consumable product 110 in response to the end of the puffing action. The control unit 20 may stop heating the consumable product 110 when a certain time has elapsed since the start of the puffing action, even before the end of the puffing action.

[0047] The control unit 20 may have a control board such as a printed circuit board. The control unit 20 may have a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). In the illustrated example, the control unit 20 is a control board that extends in the insertion direction of the consumable product 110, extending from the bottom surface 220 side toward the storage unit 50. However, the orientation of the control board is not particularly limited as long as it can be electrically connected to the heating unit 40 and the battery 10.

[0048] The heating unit 40 is configured to heat the flavor source. The heating unit 40 may be a heater disposed in the flavor inhaler 120. The heater may include an electric heating wire. The heater may heat the consumable product 110 containing the flavor source from the outside as shown in FIG. 1 , or may heat the consumable product 110 from the inside, such as a pin-type or blade-type heater. The form of the heating unit 40 is not particularly limited. The heating unit 40 may be an induction coil that inductively heats a susceptor included in the consumable product 110, a susceptor installed in the container 50, or a susceptor that constitutes at least a part of the container 50. The heating unit 40 may also be a microwave radiation source.

[0049] The heating temperature when the heating unit 40 heats the consumable product 110 is not particularly limited, but is 200° C. or higher, preferably 250° C. or higher. It is also 400° C. or lower, preferably 350° C. or lower. The heating temperature is the temperature of the heat source that provides heat to the flavor source when the consumable product 110 is inserted into the storage unit 50 and used, or the temperature of the flavor source, and may be the temperature of the heater or susceptor described above.

[0050] The shape of the storage unit 50 is not particularly limited as long as it can define a space therein in which the consumable product 110 is placed. The storage unit 50 preferably includes a chamber that stores at least a portion of the consumable product 110. The material of the storage unit 50 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a resin such as PC, ABS, or PEEK, or a metal such as aluminum.

[0051] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by a dashed-dotted rectangle R1 in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a view including the end of the flavor inhaler 120 on the bottom surface 220 side. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the battery accommodating section 400 is configured to accommodate the battery 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the battery accommodating section 400 has an opening 401 configured to allow the battery 10 to be inserted into and removed from the battery accommodating section 400. When removing the battery 10, the opening 401 is connected to a bottom opening 202 formed in the bottom surface 220 of the flavor inhaler 120, and the battery 10 is removed through the opening 401 and the bottom opening 202 of the battery accommodating section 400.

[0052] 2, the flavor inhaler 120 may have a pressing member 500 and a bottom cover 600. The bottom cover 600 may be a lid that covers at least a portion of the bottom opening 202. As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, when the bottom cover 600 is attached to the bottom surface 220 of the flavor inhaler 120, the pressing member 500 presses the holding member 300, which will be described later, to make the electrical connection more stable.

[0053] 2 , the battery accommodating section 400 may have a wall section 410. The wall section 410 may be formed around the long axis AX of the battery 10 to surround the battery 10. As shown in the illustrated example, the wall section 410 may cover the first end 11 of the battery 10. The material of the battery accommodating section 400 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a resin such as PC, ABS, or PEEK, or a metal such as aluminum.

[0054] 1 and 2, the battery accommodating section 400 is preferably installed inside the housing 200. This can suppress heat transfer from the heating section 40 and absorb impacts caused by, for example, dropping the flavor inhaler 120. From the perspective of suppressing heat transfer, the wall section 410 can be located between the heating section 40 and the battery 10. If the temperature of the battery 10 rises, gas may be more likely to be generated and the continuous smoking time may be shortened.

[0055] 3 is an exploded view of the flavor inhaler 120 including the battery housing 400 and the battery 10. In the illustrated example, the wall 410 of the battery housing 400 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The shape of the wall 410 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the battery 10 therein, and may be, for example, a hollow columnar shape.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the flavor inhaler 120 includes a holding member 300. The holding member 300 is configured to hold the battery 10. The holding member 300 is attached to the battery 10. The battery 10 and the holding member 300 constitute a battery assembly 1000. In this embodiment, the battery assembly 1000 can be configured with fewer components, thereby reducing the number of discarded parts and contributing to a circular economy. The holding member 300 is preferably fixed to the battery 10. The method for attaching the holding member 300 to the battery 10 is not particularly limited. For example, the holding member 300 and the battery 10 may be bonded together using double-sided tape or adhesive. The holding member 300 is preferably made of an elastic material. This allows shock to be absorbed by the flavor inhaler 120 and also allows the battery 10 to be firmly fixed in the battery housing portion 400.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3 , the holding member 300 has a first holding portion 310 and a second holding portion 320. The first holding portion 310 functions as a battery holding portion that holds the battery 10. The first holding portion 310 is located between the battery 10 and the battery housing portion 400. As described in detail below, this allows the first holding portion 310 to function as a spacer, for example, to suppress heat transfer from the heating portion 40 to the battery 10, thereby contributing to the durability of the flavor inhaler 120. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first holding portion 310 can be attached to the battery 10 by abutting against the outer circumferential surface 13 of the battery 10 that surrounds the long axis AX of the battery 10. The second holding portion 320 is connected to the first holding portion 310 and is not fixed to the battery 10. Note that even if the cross section of the battery 10 perpendicular to the long axis AX is not circular, the outer surface surrounding the long axis AX of the battery 10 is referred to as the outer circumferential surface 13.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the battery assembly 1000 attached to the flavor inhaler 120. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "completed attachment state." The "completed attachment state" is a state in which the battery 10 is housed in the battery housing portion 400 and the wiring between the battery 10 and the control unit 20 is complete. As shown in FIG. 4, the first holding portion 310 may have a spacer 311 and a spacer connecting portion 312. The spacer 311 preferably extends in the circumferential direction and is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 13 of the battery 10 with double-sided tape, adhesive, or the like. Hereinafter, the terms "circumferential direction" and "radial direction" refer to the circumferential direction and radial direction of a rotating coordinate system whose axis is the major axis AX of the battery 10.

[0059] The shape of the spacer connecting portion 312 is not particularly limited as long as it can physically connect the spacer 311 and the second holding portion 320. In the example shown, the spacer connecting portion 312 is a sheet-like member that extends in the longitudinal direction along the outer peripheral surface 13 of the battery 10. The spacer connecting portion 312 may or may not be adhered to the outer peripheral surface 13.

[0060] The second holding portion 320 functions as a movable portion M1 that is movable relative to the battery 10. Here, "movable" includes rotatability. The battery assembly 1000 is preferably configured such that the second holding portion 320 is movable relative to the battery 10 when the battery 10 is not housed in the battery housing portion 400. The second holding portion 320 is preferably plate-shaped or sheet-shaped so that it is easy for a user to grip and to easily hold a wiring member 60, such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), which will be described later. In the fully installed state, the second holding portion 320 is preferably fixed by, for example, pressing with a pressing member 500. The second holding portion 320 is configured to hold the wiring member 60.

[0061] The wiring member 60 constitutes at least a part of the wiring connecting the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10 and the control unit 20. In the fully attached state, the wiring member 60 can be in conductive contact with the electrode portion 18. Because the wiring member 60 is held by the movable second holding portion 320, when attaching or detaching the battery 10, the conductivity between the battery 10 and the control unit 20 can be easily switched by moving the second holding portion 320.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 4, the wiring member 60 may include a substrate 61 and a connector 62 electrically connected to the substrate 61. The substrate 61 is preferably an FPC from the viewpoint of allowing flexible movement of the second holding portion 320, but is not limited thereto, and the substrate 61 may also have rigidity. The wiring member 60 or its substrate 61 is preferably plate-shaped or sheet-shaped. This allows the wiring member 60 to be configured to be movable while being positioned on the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10 for more stable electrical continuity.

[0063] The second holding portion 320 is preferably configured to be movable integrally with the wiring member 60 and is preferably fixed to the substrate 61. This allows a user to easily remove the battery assembly 1000 by gripping the second holding portion 320 with their hand and switching the electrical continuity between the wiring member 60 and the battery 10. In conventional flavor inhalers, battery removal can be difficult, for example, because removing an internal unit to which various components are connected is required. One reason for this is thought to be that battery removal by consumers is not anticipated. Meanwhile, to realize a circular economy, there is an increasing need for easy battery removal so that consumers can replace the battery. Conventionally, metal tweezers have been used to separate the battery and the wiring. However, when a consumer attempts such separation, the tweezers may come into contact with the flavor inhaler's wiring, potentially causing a short circuit. However, this embodiment can mitigate this risk.

[0064] In the fully attached state, the substrate 61 and the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10 are in conductive contact. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 , the second holding portion 320 extends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis AX of the battery 10. In the illustrated example, the second holding portion 320 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AX of the battery 10. Thus, in the fully attached state, the holding member 300 may have an L-shaped structure in which the first holding portion 310 and the second holding portion 320 extend in directions intersecting each other. This ensures electrical continuity between the battery 10 and the wiring member 60, while facilitating disassembly of the battery 10 and the wiring member 60 connected to the battery 10 when replacing the battery 10. In the fully attached state, the second holding portion 320 is pressed by the pressing member 500 and fixed in a folded state.

[0065] 2 , in the fully attached state, the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10, the substrate 61 of the wiring member 60, and the second holding portion 320 can be positioned in this order along the longitudinal axis. The second holding portion 320 can be pressed toward the battery 10 by a pressing member 500. With this configuration, the wiring member 60 and the second holding portion 320 can be configured to be movable, while still allowing a more stable electrical connection between the electrode portion 18 and the control unit 20 in the fully attached state.

[0066] 2 and 3 , the flavor inhaler 120 may have an intermediate connection part 22. The wiring member 60 and the control unit 20 are electrically connected via the intermediate connection part 22. After the battery assembly 1000 is housed in the battery housing part 400, the intermediate connection part 22 and the wiring member 60 are connected, and the battery assembly 1000 can be attached to the flavor inhaler 120. In the illustrated example, the intermediate connection part 22 includes a connector coupled to an FPC, but the form of the intermediate connection part 22 is not particularly limited as long as it can electrically connect the control unit 20 and the wiring member 60.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the battery housing 400 may have an abutting portion 420. The abutting portion 420 abuts against the wiring member 60 or the intermediate connection portion 22 and presses the wiring member 60 or the intermediate connection portion 22 toward the pressing member 500. Alternatively, the abutting portion 420 supports the wiring member 60 or the intermediate connection portion 22 against pressure from the pressing member 500. In the fully attached state, at least a portion of the wiring member 60 is held between the abutting portion 420 and the second holding portion 320. This presses the wiring member 60 in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10, thereby more stabilizing the electrical connection between the wiring member 60 and the intermediate connection portion 22, etc. As shown in FIG. 2 , in the fully attached state, the abutting portion 420, the intermediate connection portion 22, the connector 62, the second holding portion 320, and the pressing member 500 may be arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction.

[0068] 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the battery assembly 1000 in a state where it is detached from the flavor inhaler 120. In this state, the second holding portion 320 is configured to be movable relative to the first holding portion 310. The second holding portion 320 may be configured to be rotatable around the second end 12 of the battery 10 with which the second holding portion 320 abuts. In the illustrated example, the second holding portion 320 extends in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the holding member 300 extends in the longitudinal direction along the outer circumferential surface 13 of the battery 10 and can protrude from the second end 12 of the battery 10. This makes it easier for the user to grip the second holding portion 320.

[0069] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the flavor inhaler 120 showing the bottom surface 220 of the battery assembly 1000 in a fully installed state. The pressing member 500 and the bottom cover 600 are not shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the second holding portion 320 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AX along the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6 , the second holding portion 320 may have a positioning portion 321 for positioning the holding member 300 relative to the wiring member 60. This facilitates manufacturing of the battery assembly and enables the holding member 300 and the wiring member 60 to be formed with high precision. In the illustrated example, the positioning portion 321 is a first through-hole 322A or 322B that penetrates the sheet-like second holding portion 320 in the thickness direction. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the wiring member 60 may also have second through-holes 63A or 63B at positions corresponding to the first through-holes 322A or 322B. The first through-holes 322A or 322B may be positioned to overlap the second through-holes 63A or 63B, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the second holding portion 320. As shown in FIG. 6 , the battery housing portion 400 may have a columnar portion 421 extending in the longitudinal direction from the abutting portion 420. The columnar portion 421 may be a protrusion formed to protrude from the contact portion 420. The columnar portion 421A may pass through the first through-hole 322A and the second through-hole 63A, and the columnar portion 421B may pass through the first through-hole 322B and the second through-hole 63B. The columnar portion 421 may be located on a chassis or the like disposed inside the flavor inhaler 120.

[0071] In the illustrated example, two first through holes 322A and 322B are formed, but the number of positioning portions 321 is not particularly limited and can be one or three or more. The form of the positioning portion 321 is also not particularly limited and can include a protrusion, a recess, a through hole, or the like. For example, the second holding portion 320 may have a recess, and the wiring member 60 may have a protrusion that fits into the recess. As in the illustrated example, the positioning portion 321 may position the second holding portion 320 with respect to the abutting portion 420 of the battery housing portion 400.

[0072] As shown in Figure 6, after removing the bottom cover 600 and the pressing member 500 from the flavor inhaler 120, the user can grasp and lift the second holding part 320 with their fingers or the like (arrow Ar). This separates the wiring member 60 from the intermediate connector 22 of the flavor inhaler 120, resulting in no electrical connection between the battery 10 and the control unit 20. Meanwhile, the second holding part 320 can protrude to the outside of the flavor inhaler 120 through the opening 401 of the battery housing part 400, allowing the user to easily remove the battery assembly 1000 while grasping the second holding part 320. This also reduces the risk of the user touching the wiring of the flavor inhaler 120 with metal tweezers or the like, causing a short circuit.

[0073] The battery assembly 1000 of this embodiment has a holding member 300, which abuts against the outer circumferential surface 13 of the battery 10 and has a first holding portion 310, which is a battery holding portion that extends circumferentially around the major axis AX, and a second holding portion 320, which is a movable portion M1 that is movable relative to the battery 10. This makes it possible to provide a flavor inhaler 120 and a flavor inhalation system 100 that allow the battery 10 to be removed more easily and have improved durability.

[0074] Figures 7 to 9 show the battery housing section 400 and its interior in the fully installed state, and are cross-sectional views taken along lines 7-7, 8-8, and 9-9 of Figure 1, respectively. Figures 7 to 9 show area A in Figure 1. The 7-7 cross section shown in Figure 7 is located closer to the first end 11 of the battery 10 than the spacer 311 along the major axis AX. The 8-8 cross section shown in Figure 8 is located at a position where the spacer 311 extends in the circumferential direction. The 9-9 cross section shown in Figure 9 is located closer to the second end 12 of the battery 10 than the spacer 311 along the major axis AX.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 8, the first holding portion 310 is formed between the outer peripheral surface 13 of the battery 10 and the wall portion 410 of the battery housing portion 400. The outer peripheral surface 13 usually does not have an electrode and has a larger area than the other surfaces. Therefore, by arranging the first holding portion 310 on the outer peripheral surface 13, it is possible to enhance the effect of suppressing heat transfer or the effect of absorbing shock.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 7 , in the longitudinal direction, at positions where the spacer 311 is not disposed, an air layer 15 is formed between the outer peripheral surface 13 of the battery 10 and the wall 410 of the battery housing portion 400. As shown in FIG. 8 , in the longitudinal direction, at positions where the spacer 311 is present, the spacer 311 abuts the battery 10 and the battery housing portion 400 on the radially inner and outer sides, respectively. This allows the battery 10 to be held at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the spacer 311 from the radially inner surface of the battery housing portion 400. Therefore, in the longitudinal direction, at positions where the spacer 311 is not present, an air layer 15 is formed. In this manner, the first holding portion 310 can include the spacer 311 for forming the air layer 15 between the battery 10 and the battery housing portion 400. This allows the heat insulating properties of the air layer 15 to further suppress heat transfer from the heating portion 40.

[0077] 9, an air layer 15 can also be formed in the longitudinal direction at a position closer to the second end 12 than the spacer 311. At the position of the cross section 9-9 in FIG. 9, the spacer connection portion 312 extending from the spacer 311 toward the second end 12 is located between the battery 10 and the wall portion 410 of the battery housing portion 400.

[0078] It is preferable that the spacers 311 extend in the circumferential direction from the viewpoint of forming a uniform air layer 15. From the same viewpoint, it is preferable that the spacers 311 be arranged over 50% or more of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface 13 of the battery 10, and more preferably over 80% or more. It is even more preferable that the spacers 311 be arranged over substantially the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface 13. Note that, as shown in FIG. 4 , one spacer 311 may be arranged in the center of the outer peripheral surface 13, or one spacer 311 may be arranged on each of the first end 11 and second end 12 sides of the outer peripheral surface 13. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving shock absorption, the spacers 311 may extend from the outer peripheral surface 13, which is the side surface of the battery 10, to the end face of the first end 11 or the second end 12 of the battery 10. The number and positions of the spacers 311 are not particularly limited as long as they can stably hold the battery 10 with the desired accuracy.

[0079] Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the pressing member 500. As shown in Fig. 10, the pressing member 500 may have a plate-shaped pressing member body 510. In the illustrated example, the pressing member body 510 is disposed along the bottom surface 220 of the flavor inhaler 120.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 10 , the pressing member 500 may have a first pressing portion 521. The first pressing portion 521 presses the second holding portion 320 toward the electrode portion 18 of the battery 10. In this manner, the flavor inhaler 120 has the pressing member 500 that presses the holding member 300 toward the battery 10, thereby enabling a more stable electrical connection between the wiring member 60 and the electrode portion 18 in the fully attached state. When the pressing member 500 is attached to the flavor inhaler 120, the first pressing portion 521 may be positioned so as to overlap with the electrode portion 18 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AX of the battery 10. From the perspective of more reliable pressing, the first pressing portion 521 may be a convex portion that protrudes from the pressing member main body 510 toward the battery 10.

[0081] 10 , the pressing member 500 may have a second pressing portion 522. The second pressing portion 522 presses the second holding portion 320 and the wiring member 60 toward the intermediate connection portion 22. This allows for a more stable electrical connection between the wiring member 60 and the intermediate connection portion 22 in the fully attached state. When the pressing member 500 is attached to the flavor inhaler 120, the second pressing portion 522 may be positioned so as to overlap with the connector 62 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AX of the battery 10. The second pressing portion 522 may be a protrusion that protrudes from the pressing member main body 510 toward the intermediate connection portion 22.

[0082] 10 , the pressing member 500 may have a fixing portion 530 for fixing the pressing member 500 to the flavor inhaler 120. In the illustrated example, the fixing portion 530 has through-holes 531 and 532 and a protrusion 533 extending substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pressing member 500. Screws for fixing the pressing member 500 to the housing 200 may be disposed in the through-holes 531 and 532. Furthermore, the protrusion 533 can be fitted into a recess (not shown) formed on the inner wall surface of the housing 200 to prevent the battery 10 from shifting in the longitudinal direction of the pressing member 500. In the illustrated example, the pressing member 500 is firmly fixed to the housing 200 by the fixing portions 530 at three locations: the through-holes 531 and 532 and the protrusion 533; however, the positions and number of the fixing portions 530 are not particularly limited.

[0083] 10 , the pressing member 500 may have a sealing portion 540 for sealing between the pressing member 500 and the housing 200. This can prevent foreign matter from entering the flavor inhaler 120, improve the waterproofing of the flavor inhaler 120, and reduce the risk of short circuits. The form of the pressing member 500 is not particularly limited as long as it can press the second holding portion 320. As long as the control unit 20 and the battery 10 can be electrically connected with the desired stability in the fully attached state, the flavor inhaler 120 does not need to have the pressing member 500.

[0084] In this embodiment, the battery 10 is configured to be inserted and removed through the bottom opening 202 (FIG. 2). This reduces the risk of gas being released toward the user's face even if gas is generated due to an abnormality in the battery 10. The pressing member 500 or the bottom cover 600 may have ventilation holes for releasing gas. Such ventilation holes may be covered with a sheet made of a porous membrane material. This prevents the intrusion of foreign matter while ensuring breathability.

[0085] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2 including the bottom cover 600. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, the bottom cover 600 may be formed in a plate shape and have a hook 610 protruding in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the hook 610 may engage with a recess 206 formed in the inner wall surface defining the bottom opening 202 of the housing 200, thereby restricting movement of the bottom cover 600 in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, a notch 207 may be formed in the bottom surface 220 of the flavor inhaler 120 formed by the housing 200. An elongated member such as a pin P1 may be inserted into the notch 207 to disengage the hook 610 from the recess 206, making it easier to remove the bottom cover 600.

[0086] 3 and 4 , the flavor inhaler 120 may have a cushion 90. The cushion 90 is located between the battery 10 and the battery housing portion 400 in the longitudinal direction and is configured to absorb impact. In the illustrated example, the cushion 90 is a sheet-like member that extends approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction at the first end 11 of the battery 10. However, the form of the cushion 90 is not particularly limited. The flavor inhaler 120 does not have to have the cushion 90.

[0087] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the battery 10 replacement method of this embodiment. In step S10, in the fully installed state, the movable portion M1 of the holding member 300 is exposed. The user can expose the second holding portion 320, which is the movable portion M1, by manipulating the housing 200, the pressing member 500, or the bottom cover 600 of the flavor inhaler 120. The pressing member 500 and the bottom cover 600 may be removed from the flavor inhaler 120, or the pressing member 500 and the bottom cover 600 may be moved while still connected to the housing 200, etc., to expose the movable portion M1. In step S20, the movable portion M1 exposed in step S10 is grasped and the battery 10 is removed. The user can grasp the second holding portion 320 and pull the battery 10 to remove it from the battery holder 400 and to remove it from the flavor inhaler 120.

[0088] When attaching the battery 10 to the flavor inhaler 120, the battery assembly 1000 having the battery 10 with stored power is prepared, and the battery assembly 1000 is inserted into the battery housing portion 400 so that the second end 12 of the battery 10 is positioned on the bottom surface 220 side. Thereafter, the second holding portion 320 is grasped to connect the connector 62 and the intermediate connecting portion 22, and the pressing member 500 and the bottom cover 600 can be attached to the housing 200.

[0089] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical idea described in the specification and drawings. Note that any shape or material not directly described in the specification or drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention as long as it achieves the functions and effects of the present invention.

[0090] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a flavor inhaler includes a heating unit that heats a flavor source, a battery that supplies power to the heating unit, a battery housing that houses the battery, and a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery, the holding member including a first holding portion located between the battery and the battery housing. According to a second aspect of the present invention, as in the first aspect, the first holding portion includes a spacer for forming an air layer between the battery and the battery housing. According to a third aspect of the present invention, as in the second aspect, the battery housing portion includes an opening configured to allow the battery to be inserted and removed, and a wall portion formed to surround the battery around at least the major axis of the battery, the first holding portion being formed between the wall portion and the outer peripheral surface of the battery surrounding the major axis. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as in the third aspect, the spacer is arranged around substantially the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the battery. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect, the holding member extends along the outer circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction of the battery and protrudes from the end of the battery on the opening side. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the battery includes an electrode portion, and the flavor inhaler further includes a wiring member configured to be electrically connectable with the electrode portion when the battery is housed in the battery housing portion, and the holding member includes a second holding portion that holds the wiring member. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the wiring member includes a substrate and a connector electrically connected to the substrate, and the second holding portion is fixed to the substrate. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth or seventh aspect, the second holding portion includes a positioning portion that positions the holding member relative to the wiring member.According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, the battery and the holding member form a battery assembly, and the battery assembly is configured such that the second holding portion is movable relative to the battery when the battery is not housed in the battery housing portion, and when the battery is housed in the battery housing portion and the wiring member is electrically connected to the heating portion, the holding member has an L-shaped structure in which the first holding portion and the second holding portion extend in directions intersecting each other, and the wiring member is configured to be movable integrally with the second holding portion. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the flavor inhaler further includes a housing, and the battery housing portion is installed inside the housing. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the holding member is made of an elastic material. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the flavor inhaler further includes a pressing member that presses the holding member toward the battery in the longitudinal direction of the battery. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a flavor inhalation system comprises the flavor inhaler of any one of the first to twelfth aspects and a consumable material containing a flavor source. According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a battery assembly is attached to the flavor inhaler, comprising a battery and a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery, the battery having an outer circumferential surface surrounding a major axis of the battery, the holding member having a battery holding portion abutting the outer circumferential surface and extending circumferentially around the major axis, and a movable portion movable relative to the battery. According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a method for replacing a battery in a flavor inhaler includes manipulating a housing, lid, or cover of the flavor inhaler to expose a movable part of a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery, and grasping the movable part to remove the battery, wherein the battery has an outer circumferential surface surrounding a major axis of the battery, the holding member abuts the outer circumferential surface and has a battery holding part extending circumferentially around the major axis, and the movable part is configured to be movable relative to the battery.

[0091] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Battery 11: First end of battery 12: Second end of battery 13: Outer periphery of battery 15: Air layer 18: Electrode portion 20: Control portion 22: Intermediate connection portion 40: Heating portion 60: Wiring member 61: Board 62: Connector 100: Flavor inhalation system 110: Consumable product 120: Flavor inhaler 200: Housing 201: Opening 202: Bottom opening 300: Holding member 310: First holding portion 311: Spacer 312: Spacer connection portion 320: Second holding portion 321: Positioning portion 400: Battery accommodating portion 401: Opening of battery accommodating portion 410: Wall portion of battery accommodating portion 420: Contact portion 500: Pressing member 600 : Bottom cover 1000 : Battery assembly AX : Long axis of battery M1 : Movable part

Claims

1. A flavor inhaler comprising: a heating unit that heats a flavor source; a battery that supplies power to the heating unit; a battery housing that houses the battery; and a holding member that is attached to the battery and holds the battery, the holding member comprising a first holding portion located between the battery and the battery housing.

2. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the first holding portion includes a spacer for forming an air layer between the battery and the battery housing portion.

3. A flavor inhaler as described in claim 2, wherein the battery accommodating section has an opening configured to allow the battery to be inserted and removed, and a wall section formed to surround the battery at least around the long axis of the battery, and the first holding section is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the battery surrounding the long axis and the wall section.

4. The flavor inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the spacer is disposed over substantially the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the battery.

5. A flavor inhaler according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the holding member extends in the longitudinal direction of the battery along the outer circumferential surface and protrudes from the end of the battery on the opening side.

6. A flavor inhaler as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the battery comprises an electrode portion, the flavor inhaler further comprises a wiring member configured to be electrically connectable to the electrode portion when the battery is housed in the battery housing portion, and the holding member comprises a second holding portion that holds the wiring member.

7. The flavor inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the wiring member comprises a substrate and a connector electrically connected to the substrate, and the second holding portion is fixed to the substrate.

8. The flavor inhaler according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second holding portion includes a positioning portion for positioning the holding member relative to the wiring member.

9. A flavor inhaler as described in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the battery and the holding member constitute a battery assembly, the battery assembly is configured such that the second holding member is movable relative to the battery when the battery is not housed in the battery housing section, and when the battery is housed in the battery housing section and the wiring member is electrically connected to the heating section, the holding member has an L-shaped structure in which the first holding member and the second holding member extend in directions that intersect with each other, and the wiring member is configured to be movable integrally with the second holding member.

10. The flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a housing, wherein the battery accommodating section is disposed inside the housing.

11. A flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the holding member is made of an elastic material.

12. The flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a pressing member that presses the holding member toward the battery in the longitudinal direction of the battery.

13. A flavor inhalation system comprising: a flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and a consumable material containing a flavor source.

14. A battery assembly to be attached to a flavor inhaler, comprising: a battery; and a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery, wherein the battery has an outer circumferential surface surrounding a major axis of the battery, and the holding member has: a battery holding portion abutting the outer circumferential surface and extending circumferentially around the major axis; and a movable portion movable relative to the battery.

15. A method for replacing a battery in a flavor inhaler, comprising: manipulating a housing, lid, or cover of the flavor inhaler to expose a movable part of a holding member attached to the battery and holding the battery; and grasping the movable part to remove the battery, wherein the battery has an outer circumferential surface surrounding a major axis of the battery, the holding member abuts the outer circumferential surface and has a battery holding part extending circumferentially around the major axis, and the movable part is configured to be movable relative to the battery.

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