Aerosol generating apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus. A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is part of the aerosolised aerosol precursor or the aerosol precursor itself may remain within the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. within a consumable cavity, and may deposit itself on surfaces or structures within the aerosol generating apparatus, requiring periodic cleaning of said surfaces or structures. Accordingly, there is provided an aerosol generating apparatus (1), comprising a housing (104) having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first opening (106a,b) arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces (108a,b), and a cavity (72) arranged for receiving a consumable (70), wherein the first opening is arranged as an access into the cavity (72), through one of the first and second side surfaces, a closure element (100), wherein the closure element (100) is arranged adjacent to the housing (104) and is moveable along the housing (104) between a first position (102a) and a second position (102b), wherein, in the first position (102a), the closure element (100) covers the first opening (106a,b), and in the second position (102b), the closure element (100) exposes the first opening (106a,b).

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus.BACKGROUND

[0002] A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user. It conventionally may comprise a heating element arranged in a consumable cavity. The consumable cavity is arranged for receiving a consumable so that the consumable may be brought into contact with the heating element to allow heating of consumable material by the heating element.

[0003] A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is part of the aerosolised aerosol precursor or the aerosol precursor itself may remain within the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. within a consumable cavity, and may deposit itself on surfaces or structures within the aerosol generating apparatus, requiring periodic cleaning of said surfaces or structures.

[0004] Despite the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses / systems, further improvements are desirable.SUMMARY

[0005] In an aspect the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating apparatus, comprising a housing having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first opening arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces, and a cavity arranged for receiving a consumable, wherein the first opening is arranged as an access into the cavity through one of the first and second side surfaces, a closure element, wherein the closure element is arranged adjacent to the housing and is moveable along the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the closure element covers the first opening, and in the second position, the closure element exposes the first opening.

[0006] For a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, it is beneficial to have adequate access to the consumable cavity for inserting and removing a consumable and / or for cleaning purposes, and a heating element potentially arranged therein. Such a heating element may for example be a rod heater, a blade heater or a heating element arranged at the circumference of the consumable cavity for heating the surface of the consumable. Conventionally, a heating element may be in contact with consumable material so that heat generated by the heating element may be propagated to the consumable material for heating the same, for generating an aerosol to be inhaled by a user of the aerosol generating apparatus. The use of the aerosol generating apparatus, i.e., the consumption of consumables, regularly results in dirt, deposits or debris accumulating within the consumable cavity, and in particular on the walls of the consumable cavity and the surface of a heating element. In order to provide adequate access to the consumable cavity, the present disclosure proposes to provide a closure element arranged adjacent to and / or surrounding the housing of an aerosol generating apparatus that is used to selectively open and close or expose and cover an opening arranged in the housing, for example in the vicinity of the heating element. The closure element may be seen as an element adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating apparatus perpendicular to a movement direction of the closure element, e.g., along the longitudinal extension of the aerosol generating apparatus. In one embodiment, the closure element may surround the housing, and may be seen as surrounding the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus in a form fit manner.

[0007] By using a closure element for exposing and covering an opening into the interior of the housing according to the present disclosure, the size of the external form factor of the aerosol generating apparatus is not significantly increased. Further, a movement of the closure element along the outer surface of the aerosol generating apparatus allows covering and exposing the opening without, at least temporarily, increasing the length of the aerosol generating apparatus, which may occur in such devices that e.g. comprise a dedicated top end or cap that is moved in its entirety to open or close an access to a consumable cavity. With a closure element moving, e.g., sliding, along the outer surface of the housing, an opening may be covered or exposed without changing the length of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0008] The interior of the band may comprise a suitable material, which may be different from an outside material, so that the movement of the closure element along the longitudinal extension of the housing is performed essentially without damaging or otherwise altering the surface or the material of the housing. E.g., a plastic material, or in other suitable material like a rubber material, Teflon material, or the like, may be used, which on the one hand may provide preferred sliding properties, and which on the other hand provides a sufficient fit with the surface of the aerosol generating apparatus, so that the closure element is located on the surface of the aerosol generating apparatus essentially without play.

[0009] The closure element, in the embodiment surrounding the housing, may move along the housing and may hold in place in a position by a form fit between the inner surface of the closure element and the outer surface of the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., by friction between the inner surface of the closure element and the outer surface of the housing. Additionally, or alternatively in case of an embodiment of the closure element not surrounding the housing, a dedicated mechanism between the closure element and the housing may be provided, e.g. by providing a track on the housing along which the closure element may slide. For example, the band could include a track or multiple tracks and to the aerosol generating apparatus may include a carriage or multiple carriages. The at least one carriage may be in slidable engagement with the respective at least one track. A track being on runners may provide the benefit that the track may not be visible with movement of the closure element.

[0010] Alternatively, or additionally, the closure element and the housing may interact magnetically in that a magnetic force between the closure element and the housing is holding the closure element in a preferred position adjacent to the housing, e.g., in at least two preferred positions, for example one position where the opening is exposed and one position where the opening is closed. In this regard, at least one of the closure element and the housing may comprise magnetic properties, e.g., a magnetic element interacting with the respective other one of the housing and the closure element, to position and hold the closure element in said at least one preferred position, for example, the two preferred positions as described previously. It is likewise conceivable that both the closure element and the housing comprise magnetic elements, for example, attracting each other, so that a preferred position is a position where a magnetic element in the closure element and a magnetic element in the housing are closest to one another, so that force is required to move the closure element in either direction along the longitudinal extension of the housing, thereby providing a stable position for the closure element to rest. Providing a plurality of magnetic elements, e.g. one or a set of magnetic elements for each preferred position, allows the movement of the closure element along the longitudinal extension of the housing and assuming different positions where the closure element is held in place by the attractive force of the at least one magnetic element in the closure element and the at least one magnetic element in the housing.

[0011] The closure element may be larger than the opening in the housing that is to be exposed or closed by the closure element, so that any dirt or debris or detritus accumulating at the edge of the housing, e.g., when the cleaning the interior of the housing, for example, the consumable cavity and / or the heating element, is visually covered by the closure element being in the first position.

[0012] When the closure element is in the second position, an actuation element, e.g., a button, on the surface of the housing may be covered so that it is inaccessible to a user. In other words, a button that is located at a position where the closure element is positioned when in the second position may be covered by the closure element, so that the button cannot be pressed by a user. Additionally, or alternatively, the aerosol generating apparatus may determine when the closure element is in at least one of the first position and the second position, and may adapt a mode of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus accordingly. E.g., when the closure element is in the second position, thus the opening into the consumable cavity is exposed, activation of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example, the heating element, may be prohibited. Such an activation may be prohibited either by electronic means, e.g., by deactivating the heating element, by a processing element or a controller of the aerosol generating apparatus and / or by mechanical means, e.g., by physically covering the activation element or button, by the closure element.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, exposing the opening may provide cleaning access to the cavity and / or elements arranged within the cavity, and / or exposing the opening may provide access for insertion of a consumable into the cavity.

[0014] The opening covered or exposed by the closure element may be of sufficient size to facilitate the cleaning, e.g. by allowing appropriate tools to be inserted with ease into the consumable cavity. Also, tools for cleaning the heating element may be inserted through the opening. For example, when the closure element is in a position at least not completely covering the at least one opening arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces or is removed from the housing, the consumable cavity and / or the heating element within the consumable cavity may be, at least partly, accessible for cleaning through the at least one opening.

[0015] Alternatively, or additionally, the opening may allow the insertion of a consumable into the cavity for consumption, i.e., heating the consumable material for aerosol generation. In this regard, the opening may be the only opening that the aerosol generating apparatus has for insertion / removal of a consumable and cleaning the consumable cavity. In particular in this embodiment, a further opening or passage for insertion / removal of the consumable only may be avoided.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a second opening, wherein the second opening may be arranged in the other one of the first and second side surfaces.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the two openings may provide a through access through the cavity.

[0018] Providing two openings instead of one further facilitates the cleaning and / or insertion / removal of a consumable, as the consumable cavity and the heating element may be accessed from different sides, thereby exposing half of their respective surface area to each opening. Furthermore, dedicated cleaning tools which may not only reach into the consumable cavity but may be designed to enter the consumable cavity through one opening and exiting the consumable cavity through the other opening may facilitate the cleaning of the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example the cavity walls and the surface of the heating element.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may further comprise an actuator for operating at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the closure element, when in the second position, may be covering the actuator, for example to prohibit actuating the actuator.

[0020] Covering an actuator in the second position may prohibit the activation, accidental or intentional, of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., a heating section, while the opening is exposed and therefore the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element. By prohibiting activation, it is avoided that a user, for example manipulating the surface of the heating element with their finger, accidentally initiates a heating session and subsequently is harmed by heat from the heating element.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the cavity may further comprise a heating element.

[0022] Providing a heating element within the consumable cavity, which cavity is accessible through the at least one opening, facilitates cleaning of the heating element via the at least one opening.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element when in the first position may substantially close the or each opening in an airtight manner.

[0024] Such an airtight closing off of the at least one opening by the closure element may avoid that air is drawn into the consumable cavity in a manner potentially unintended by the manufacturer. Regularly, an aerosol generating apparatus has a dedicated air flow path within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus to optimize the smoking experience of a user. In case an additional airflow, e.g., through the at least one opening into the consumable cavity, occurs, such may impact the smoking experience of the user. Providing an airtight closing prevents or avoids that aerosol generated within the cavity to be released through the at least one opening, bypassing the closure element and / or that air is drawn into the cavity in a potentially unintended manner, for example when inhaling, thereby bypassing the closure element.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may further comprise a passage into the cavity for consumable insertion along the length direction of the housing, wherein the passage may be different from the or each opening.

[0026] Such a passage may be the conventional opening for inserting a consumable. Depending on the size of a consumable for the aerosol generating apparatus, such an opening may not be suited for a cleaning of the consumable cavity and / or the heating element. As such, providing an opening in addition to the conventional passage for inserting the consumable enhances the usability of the device by facilitating the cleaning.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to provide or activate a dedicated mode of operation when the closure element is in the second position.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the dedicated mode of operation may be at least one mode out of the group consisting of activating a dedicated cleaning program for the heating element, activating the heating element and limiting the temperature of the heating element to not exceed a dedicated temperature lower than an operating temperature of the heating element for aerosol generation, e.g., 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C or 100°C.

[0029] For example, the dedicated mode of operation may electronically prevent activation of the aerosol generating apparatus, while the at least one opening exposes the interior of the consumable cavity and the heating element. Additionally, or alternatively, the dedicated mode of operation may be a mode of operation supporting the cleaning of the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element. For example, the heating element may be heated to a temperature below a normal operating temperature for aerosol generation, so that dirt, deposits, or debris accumulated on the surface of the consumable cavity and / or the heating element may be removed more easily as if they were in a cold condition. Likewise, the temperature may be used as activation temperature for cleaning fluid used to clean the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may comprise magnetic properties, for example at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element, and wherein the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to interact with the magnetic properties of the closure element so to hold the closure element in at first position and / or the second position, for example wherein the housing may comprise at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element for holding the closure element in the first position and / or the second position.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be attached to the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus only by magnetic interaction between the closure element and the housing, for example by magnetic interaction of at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element in at least one of the closure element and the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, and / or wherein the closure element may be completely removable from the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0032] Using magnetic properties, e.g. by providing at least one magnetic element and / or at least one magnetically sensitive element in either the closure element, or the housing or both, allows the movement of the closure element relative to the housing and in particular the maintaining of dedicated positions along the surface of the housing without further elements like guides or rails on the exterior surface of the housing. E.g., a magnetic element in one of the closure element and the housing positioned to interact with a further magnetic element or a magnetically sensitive element, e.g., having attractive forces between them, in the other one of the closure element and the housing may allow maintaining the closure element in a dedicated position along the longitudinal extension of the housing. It is further conceivable to realize a further dedicated position by providing a further magnetic element or magnetically sensitive element and a further position of the housing, so that the magnetic element or the magnetically sensitive element of the closure element interacts with the further magnetic element or magnetically sensitive element to realize said second dedicated position. The first dedicated position and the second dedicated position may correspond to one of the first position and the second position, i.e., the position where the opening into the consumable cavity is covered and the position where the opening into the consumable cavity is exposed.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus may be at least one of prohibited, disabled, enabled or activated when the closure element is in a position out of the group consisting of: in the first position, in the second position, substantially not the first position, and removed from the housing.

[0034] Providing an according function may assure that the aerosol generating apparatus may not be operated or activated when there is a risk that the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element arranged therein is accessible through the opening, so to avoid accidents or injuries. To provide the disablement, enablement, activation, or deactivation of the at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus, a sensor element may be provided, e.g., within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, which may be arranged to detect a dedicated position the closure element is in. E.g., such a sensor element may be detecting that the closure element is in the first position, is in the second position, or the closure element is not in the first position and may disable, enable, activate, or deactivate the at least one function accordingly. Such a sensor element may e.g. be a magnetic switch in the interior of the housing interacting with a magnetic element, arranged on the closure element, thereby detecting a particular position the closure element is in.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be a heat insulating element or heat shielding element, for example a two-layer element comprising an outer metal layer and an inner layer of material having a lower thermal conductivity.

[0036] Such a closure element may prohibit that heat generated within the consumable cavity, e.g., by the heating element, propagates to the outside of the housing via the closure element. For example, maintaining generated heat within the consumable allows the touching of the closure element by the user even during a smoking session, where the heating element may be heated significantly, e.g., to temperatures in excess of 300°C or 350°C. Further, providing a two-layer element comprising a heat insulating or heat shielding layer, e.g., made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, allows to use an outside material with a pleasant tactile feeling, e.g., metal, while assuring that heat generated within the consumable cavity does not excessively heat up the outside material. In other words, the heat insulating or heat shielding element, the layer of material having a low thermal conductivity, may be arranged in the interior or as interior surface of the closure element while the second layer, e.g., a metal layer, may be arranged on the exterior or as exterior surface of the closure element.

[0037] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be completely detachable from the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0038] E.g., in case the closure element is held in place by magnetic elements, the closure element may be completely removed from the housing. Thereby, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged so that it cannot be activated without the closure element. Removing the closure element from the aerosol generating apparatus therefore reliably prevents use of the aerosol generating apparatus. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be used with different closure elements, e.g., having different colours, materials, surface structures or the like. Still alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to detect a particular closure element, e.g., by near-field communication or short-range communication technology like RFID or NFC, and may activate or deactivate functions of the aerosol generating apparatus dependent on a particular closure element being identified as being present or absent.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may at least partially surround the housing or may completely surround the housing.

[0040] With the closure element partially and in particular completely surrounding the housing, the housing may function as a guiding element along which the closure element may move. The housing may thus be seen as limiting the movement freedom of the closure element relative to the housing. E.g., the closure element may surround the housing to such an extent that movement other than a movement along the main longitudinal extension of the housing is prevented, for example by a form fit of the closure element at least partially around the housing. In this regard, a movement, e.g., perpendicular to the main longitudinal extension of the housing, or perpendicular or generally at an oblique angle to the movement of the closure element performed when moving between the first position and a second position may be prevented. Regardless, it may still be conceivable to completely remove the closure element from the housing by a movement as previously described.

[0041] For example, the closure element may be essentially flat and may be movable adjacent to the housing, or the closure element may bend around the housing, e.g., in a 180° manner (i.e. half around) or more than 180°, e.g., 200°, 210°, 240°, 270° or more. 240° may be seen as the closure element being bent around the housing by two thirds of the circumference, while 270° may be seen as the closure element being bent around the housing by three fourth of the circumference. Likewise, 360° may be seen the closure element being bent around the whole circumference of the housing, i.e., completely surrounding the housing. In case the cross section around which the closure element bends is not circular in shape, but shaped differently, e.g., oval, the above degree values may still be considered to represent an analogous fraction of fully sounding the housing by the closure element. E.g., even in case of an oval or other shape, surrounding by 240° may mean that the closure element surrounds the housing by two thirds of the length of the circumference around the housing, or two thirds of the angular value of 360° of completely surrounding the housing.

[0042] The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and / or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] Aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements. Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus. Figs. 2A, 2B are schematic overviews of an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a closure element according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic overview of an aerosol generating apparatus with a closure element removed according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0046] Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0047] All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.

[0048] The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and / or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.

[0049] The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and / or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0050] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0051] Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to `an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and / or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.

[0052] The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably: As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally / alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and / or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and / or an airflow sensor.

[0053] Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength / duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).

[0054] The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.

[0055] As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry / components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and / or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus).

[0056] As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.

[0057] An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0058] As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to / include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

[0059] As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and / or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and / or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.

[0060] As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.

[0061] As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.

[0062] As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.

[0063] As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.

[0064] As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and / or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.

[0065] As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.

[0066] As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.

[0067] As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule / pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.

[0068] As used herein, an "information carrying medium" may include one or more arrangements for storage of information on any suitable medium. Examples include: a computer readable medium; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder; codes encoding information, such as optical (e.g. a bar code or QR code) or mechanically read codes (e.g. a configuration of the absence or presents of cut-outs to encode a bit, through which pins or a reader may be inserted).

[0069] As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).

[0070] Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and / or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.

[0071] Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.

[0072] In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.

[0073] Figs. 2A, 2B are schematic overviews of an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a closure element according to the present invention.

[0074] In Fig. 2A, a section of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol generating apparatus 1 is shown, comprising a closure element 100 surrounding the housing 104 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. For illustrative purposes, the closure element 100 is arranged in the second position 102b so that a cavity 72 is exposed via a first opening 106a and a second opening 106b. Within the cavity 72, a heating element 54 is arranged. The cavity 72 may be a consumable cavity for receiving a consumable 70, not depicted in Fig. 2A. The closure element 100 may move along the longitudinal extension or lengthwise extension 110, depicted by the black vertical arrow in Fig. 2A. In other words, the closure element 100 may be movable along the outer surface of the housing 104, comprising the first side surface 108a and the second side surface 108b. When moving along the surface of the housing 104, the closure element 100 may assume at least two distinct positions, the second position 102b depicted in Fig. 2A, or alternatively, a first position 102a, as depicted in Fig. 2B.

[0075] The closure element 100 may essentially be a hollow structure where the geometry of the interior cross-section of the closure element may be adapted to the outer geometry of the outer cross-section of the housing 104 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. Thereby, the closure element 100 may surround the housing 104 substantially without play. Since the housing 104 in Fig. 2A exemplarily comprises an essentially uniform outer circumference and shape of its cross-section, perpendicular to the lengthwise extension 110, the closure element 100 may be moved along the housing 104 to assume the first and second positions 102a,b.

[0076] When the closure element 100 is in the second position 102b, the exemplary two openings 106a,b are exposed so that the interior of the cavity 72 is accessible through the openings 106a,b. Likewise, a heating element 54 is accessible when the closure element 100 is in the second position 102b. Thus, with the exposed cavity 72 and the heating element 54, a cleaning of the cavity 72 and / or the heating element 54 may be performed through the access provided by the openings 106a,b.

[0077] In Fig. 2B, the closure element 100 is in the first position 102a. In this position, the closure element 100 is covering, thus closing off the openings 106a,b. Access to the cavity 72 and the heating element 54 via the openings 106a,b is therefore prevented. At the same time, while the closure element 100 is in the first position 102a, the actuator 55 is exposed and therefore accessible. A user of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may thus interact with actuator 55 to initiate an operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. E.g., pressing the actuator 55 may initiate a heating of a heating element 54 so that a consumable 70, introduced into the cavity 72, is heated. With the closure element 100 being in the first position 102a, activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is thus enabled. Contrary hereto, with the closure element 100 being in the second position 102b, as depicted in Fig. 2A, the closure element 100 is physically covering actuator 55, thereby preventing an interaction of the user with the actuator 55. As a consequence, when the actuator 55 is covered, accidental activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 while the openings 106a,b, and therefore the cavity 72 and the heating element 54 are exposed may be avoided.

[0078] Fig. 3 is a schematic overview of an aerosol generating apparatus with a closure element removed according to the present invention.

[0079] As described previously, the closure element 100 may be completely removable from the aerosol generating apparatus 1, as depicted in Fig. 3. The closure element 100 has been pulled off, e.g., by moving the closure element 100 to the top or bottom end of the housing 104. A movement of the closure element 100 beyond the top or bottom end of the housing 104 may thus result in removal of the closure element from the aerosol generating apparatus 1. The aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be arranged to detect that the closure element is removed from the housing 104 / no closure element 100 is present, e.g., not present around the surface of the housing 104, so that activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be prohibited despite that the actuator 55 is not covered by the closure element 100, as shown in Fig. 3. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may detect that the closure element 100 has been removed and as a consequence only allows a defined mode of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 when interacting with the actuator 55. E.g., when the closure element 100 has been removed, an interaction with actuator 55 may trigger a cleaning operation where the heating element 54 is heated to a temperature suitable for cleaning the heating element 54 and / or the cavity 72, but not a temperature that would allow a consumption of a consumable 70.

[0080] Completely removing a closure element 100 may allow substitution and / or exchange of a closure element with a closure element having different physical and / or optical properties. E.g., as depicted in Fig. 3, different closure elements 100 may have a different visual appearance, here exemplarily having different colour or tone, so that a user may adapt the appearance of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to their personal preference. Alternatively, or additionally, different types of closure elements may provide different subsets of modes of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. For example, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may differentiate between different closure elements, and may, as a consequence, initiate different modes of operation dependent on a particular detected closure element 100. E.g., the left most closure element 100 in Fig. 3, having the darkest colour, may allow consumption of a consumable with an increased temperature compared to a nominal heating temperature of a consumable, while the right most closure element 100 in Fig. 3 having the lightest colour may allow consumption of a consumable with a reduced temperature compared to a nominal heating temperature for a consumable. Thereby, by using different closure elements, a user of an aerosol generating apparatus may adapt the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus to their preference. In this context, the central closure element 100 in Fig. 3, having moderate colour, may initiate the heating of a consumable with the nominal heating temperature.

[0081] Fig. 4 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.

[0082] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.

[0083] In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 52 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.

[0084] The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.

[0085] The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.

[0086] The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and / or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 5).

[0087] The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.

[0088] Fig. 5 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 4.

[0089] As depicted in Fig. 5, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.

[0090] The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.

[0091] In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).

[0092] In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 5, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.

[0093] The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.

[0094] The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and / or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.

[0095] The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.

[0096] In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.

[0097] In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0044]Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0045]Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0046]Any paten...

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus.BACKGROUND

[0002] A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user. It conventionally may comprise a heating element arranged in a consumable cavity. The consumable cavity is arranged for receiving a consumable so that the consumable may be brought into contact with the heating element to allow heating of consumable material by the heating element.

[0003] A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is part of the aerosolised aerosol precursor or the aerosol precursor itself may remain within the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. within a consumable cavity, and may deposit itself on surfaces or structures within the aerosol generating apparatus, requiring periodic cleaning of said surfaces or structures.

[0004] Despite the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses / systems, further improvements are desirable.SUMMARY

[0005] In an aspect the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating apparatus, comprising a housing having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first opening arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces, and a cavity arranged for receiving a consumable, wherein the first opening is arranged as an access into the cavity through one of the first and second side surfaces, a closure element, wherein the closure element is arranged adjacent to the housing and is moveable along the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the closure element covers the first opening, and in the second position, the closure element exposes the first opening.

[0006] For a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, it is beneficial to have adequate access to the consumable cavity for inserting and removing a consumable and / or for cleaning purposes, and a heating element potentially arranged therein. Such a heating element may for example be a rod heater, a blade heater or a heating element arranged at the circumference of the consumable cavity for heating the surface of the consumable. Conventionally, a heating element may be in contact with consumable material so that heat generated by the heating element may be propagated to the consumable material for heating the same, for generating an aerosol to be inhaled by a user of the aerosol generating apparatus. The use of the aerosol generating apparatus, i.e., the consumption of consumables, regularly results in dirt, deposits or debris accumulating within the consumable cavity, and in particular on the walls of the consumable cavity and the surface of a heating element. In order to provide adequate access to the consumable cavity, the present disclosure proposes to provide a closure element arranged adjacent to and / or surrounding the housing of an aerosol generating apparatus that is used to selectively open and close or expose and cover an opening arranged in the housing, for example in the vicinity of the heating element. The closure element may be seen as an element adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating apparatus perpendicular to a movement direction of the closure element, e.g., along the longitudinal extension of the aerosol generating apparatus. In one embodiment, the closure element may surround the housing, and may be seen as surrounding the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus in a form fit manner.

[0007] By using a closure element for exposing and covering an opening into the interior of the housing according to the present disclosure, the size of the external form factor of the aerosol generating apparatus is not significantly increased. Further, a movement of the closure element along the outer surface of the aerosol generating apparatus allows covering and exposing the opening without, at least temporarily, increasing the length of the aerosol generating apparatus, which may occur in such devices that e.g. comprise a dedicated top end or cap that is moved in its entirety to open or close an access to a consumable cavity. With a closure element moving, e.g., sliding, along the outer surface of the housing, an opening may be covered or exposed without changing the length of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0008] The interior of the band may comprise a suitable material, which may be different from an outside material, so that the movement of the closure element along the longitudinal extension of the housing is performed essentially without damaging or otherwise altering the surface or the material of the housing. E.g., a plastic material, or in other suitable material like a rubber material, Teflon material, or the like, may be used, which on the one hand may provide preferred sliding properties, and which on the other hand provides a sufficient fit with the surface of the aerosol generating apparatus, so that the closure element is located on the surface of the aerosol generating apparatus essentially without play.

[0009] The closure element, in the embodiment surrounding the housing, may move along the housing and may hold in place in a position by a form fit between the inner surface of the closure element and the outer surface of the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., by friction between the inner surface of the closure element and the outer surface of the housing. Additionally, or alternatively in case of an embodiment of the closure element not surrounding the housing, a dedicated mechanism between the closure element and the housing may be provided, e.g. by providing a track on the housing along which the closure element may slide. For example, the band could include a track or multiple tracks and to the aerosol generating apparatus may include a carriage or multiple carriages. The at least one carriage may be in slidable engagement with the respective at least one track. A track being on runners may provide the benefit that the track may not be visible with movement of the closure element.

[0010] Alternatively, or additionally, the closure element and the housing may interact magnetically in that a magnetic force between the closure element and the housing is holding the closure element in a preferred position adjacent to the housing, e.g., in at least two preferred positions, for example one position where the opening is exposed and one position where the opening is closed. In this regard, at least one of the closure element and the housing may comprise magnetic properties, e.g., a magnetic element interacting with the respective other one of the housing and the closure element, to position and hold the closure element in said at least one preferred position, for example, the two preferred positions as described previously. It is likewise conceivable that both the closure element and the housing comprise magnetic elements, for example, attracting each other, so that a preferred position is a position where a magnetic element in the closure element and a magnetic element in the housing are closest to one another, so that force is required to move the closure element in either direction along the longitudinal extension of the housing, thereby providing a stable position for the closure element to rest. Providing a plurality of magnetic elements, e.g. one or a set of magnetic elements for each preferred position, allows the movement of the closure element along the longitudinal extension of the housing and assuming different positions where the closure element is held in place by the attractive force of the at least one magnetic element in the closure element and the at least one magnetic element in the housing.

[0011] The closure element may be larger than the opening in the housing that is to be exposed or closed by the closure element, so that any dirt or debris or detritus accumulating at the edge of the housing, e.g., when the cleaning the interior of the housing, for example, the consumable cavity and / or the heating element, is visually covered by the closure element being in the first position.

[0012] When the closure element is in the second position, an actuation element, e.g., a button, on the surface of the housing may be covered so that it is inaccessible to a user. In other words, a button that is located at a position where the closure element is positioned when in the second position may be covered by the closure element, so that the button cannot be pressed by a user. Additionally, or alternatively, the aerosol generating apparatus may determine when the closure element is in at least one of the first position and the second position, and may adapt a mode of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus accordingly. E.g., when the closure element is in the second position, thus the opening into the consumable cavity is exposed, activation of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example, the heating element, may be prohibited. Such an activation may be prohibited either by electronic means, e.g., by deactivating the heating element, by a processing element or a controller of the aerosol generating apparatus and / or by mechanical means, e.g., by physically covering the activation element or button, by the closure element.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, exposing the opening may provide cleaning access to the cavity and / or elements arranged within the cavity, and / or exposing the opening may provide access for insertion of a consumable into the cavity.

[0014] The opening covered or exposed by the closure element may be of sufficient size to facilitate the cleaning, e.g. by allowing appropriate tools to be inserted with ease into the consumable cavity. Also, tools for cleaning the heating element may be inserted through the opening. For example, when the closure element is in a position at least not completely covering the at least one opening arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces or is removed from the housing, the consumable cavity and / or the heating element within the consumable cavity may be, at least partly, accessible for cleaning through the at least one opening.

[0015] Alternatively, or additionally, the opening may allow the insertion of a consumable into the cavity for consumption, i.e., heating the consumable material for aerosol generation. In this regard, the opening may be the only opening that the aerosol generating apparatus has for insertion / removal of a consumable and cleaning the consumable cavity. In particular in this embodiment, a further opening or passage for insertion / removal of the consumable only may be avoided.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a second opening, wherein the second opening may be arranged in the other one of the first and second side surfaces.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the two openings may provide a through access through the cavity.

[0018] Providing two openings instead of one further facilitates the cleaning and / or insertion / removal of a consumable, as the consumable cavity and the heating element may be accessed from different sides, thereby exposing half of their respective surface area to each opening. Furthermore, dedicated cleaning tools which may not only reach into the consumable cavity but may be designed to enter the consumable cavity through one opening and exiting the consumable cavity through the other opening may facilitate the cleaning of the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example the cavity walls and the surface of the heating element.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may further comprise an actuator for operating at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the closure element, when in the second position, may be covering the actuator, for example to prohibit actuating the actuator.

[0020] Covering an actuator in the second position may prohibit the activation, accidental or intentional, of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., a heating section, while the opening is exposed and therefore the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element. By prohibiting activation, it is avoided that a user, for example manipulating the surface of the heating element with their finger, accidentally initiates a heating session and subsequently is harmed by heat from the heating element.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the cavity may further comprise a heating element.

[0022] Providing a heating element within the consumable cavity, which cavity is accessible through the at least one opening, facilitates cleaning of the heating element via the at least one opening.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element when in the first position may substantially close the or each opening in an airtight manner.

[0024] Such an airtight closing off of the at least one opening by the closure element may avoid that air is drawn into the consumable cavity in a manner potentially unintended by the manufacturer. Regularly, an aerosol generating apparatus has a dedicated air flow path within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus to optimize the smoking experience of a user. In case an additional airflow, e.g., through the at least one opening into the consumable cavity, occurs, such may impact the smoking experience of the user. Providing an airtight closing prevents or avoids that aerosol generated within the cavity to be released through the at least one opening, bypassing the closure element and / or that air is drawn into the cavity in a potentially unintended manner, for example when inhaling, thereby bypassing the closure element.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may further comprise a passage into the cavity for consumable insertion along the length direction of the housing, wherein the passage may be different from the or each opening.

[0026] Such a passage may be the conventional opening for inserting a consumable. Depending on the size of a consumable for the aerosol generating apparatus, such an opening may not be suited for a cleaning of the consumable cavity and / or the heating element. As such, providing an opening in addition to the conventional passage for inserting the consumable enhances the usability of the device by facilitating the cleaning.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to provide or activate a dedicated mode of operation when the closure element is in the second position.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the dedicated mode of operation may be at least one mode out of the group consisting of activating a dedicated cleaning program for the heating element, activating the heating element and limiting the temperature of the heating element to not exceed a dedicated temperature lower than an operating temperature of the heating element for aerosol generation, e.g., 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C or 100°C.

[0029] For example, the dedicated mode of operation may electronically prevent activation of the aerosol generating apparatus, while the at least one opening exposes the interior of the consumable cavity and the heating element. Additionally, or alternatively, the dedicated mode of operation may be a mode of operation supporting the cleaning of the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element. For example, the heating element may be heated to a temperature below a normal operating temperature for aerosol generation, so that dirt, deposits, or debris accumulated on the surface of the consumable cavity and / or the heating element may be removed more easily as if they were in a cold condition. Likewise, the temperature may be used as activation temperature for cleaning fluid used to clean the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may comprise magnetic properties, for example at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element, and wherein the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to interact with the magnetic properties of the closure element so to hold the closure element in at first position and / or the second position, for example wherein the housing may comprise at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element for holding the closure element in the first position and / or the second position.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be attached to the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus only by magnetic interaction between the closure element and the housing, for example by magnetic interaction of at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element in at least one of the closure element and the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, and / or wherein the closure element may be completely removable from the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0032] Using magnetic properties, e.g. by providing at least one magnetic element and / or at least one magnetically sensitive element in either the closure element, or the housing or both, allows the movement of the closure element relative to the housing and in particular the maintaining of dedicated positions along the surface of the housing without further elements like guides or rails on the exterior surface of the housing. E.g., a magnetic element in one of the closure element and the housing positioned to interact with a further magnetic element or a magnetically sensitive element, e.g., having attractive forces between them, in the other one of the closure element and the housing may allow maintaining the closure element in a dedicated position along the longitudinal extension of the housing. It is further conceivable to realize a further dedicated position by providing a further magnetic element or magnetically sensitive element and a further position of the housing, so that the magnetic element or the magnetically sensitive element of the closure element interacts with the further magnetic element or magnetically sensitive element to realize said second dedicated position. The first dedicated position and the second dedicated position may correspond to one of the first position and the second position, i.e., the position where the opening into the consumable cavity is covered and the position where the opening into the consumable cavity is exposed.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus may be at least one of prohibited, disabled, enabled or activated when the closure element is in a position out of the group consisting of: in the first position, in the second position, substantially not the first position, and removed from the housing.

[0034] Providing an according function may assure that the aerosol generating apparatus may not be operated or activated when there is a risk that the consumable cavity, and / or the heating element arranged therein is accessible through the opening, so to avoid accidents or injuries. To provide the disablement, enablement, activation, or deactivation of the at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus, a sensor element may be provided, e.g., within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, which may be arranged to detect a dedicated position the closure element is in. E.g., such a sensor element may be detecting that the closure element is in the first position, is in the second position, or the closure element is not in the first position and may disable, enable, activate, or deactivate the at least one function accordingly. Such a sensor element may e.g. be a magnetic switch in the interior of the housing interacting with a magnetic element, arranged on the closure element, thereby detecting a particular position the closure element is in.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be a heat insulating element or heat shielding element, for example a two-layer element comprising an outer metal layer and an inner layer of material having a lower thermal conductivity.

[0036] Such a closure element may prohibit that heat generated within the consumable cavity, e.g., by the heating element, propagates to the outside of the housing via the closure element. For example, maintaining generated heat within the consumable allows the touching of the closure element by the user even during a smoking session, where the heating element may be heated significantly, e.g., to temperatures in excess of 300°C or 350°C. Further, providing a two-layer element comprising a heat insulating or heat shielding layer, e.g., made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, allows to use an outside material with a pleasant tactile feeling, e.g., metal, while assuring that heat generated within the consumable cavity does not excessively heat up the outside material. In other words, the heat insulating or heat shielding element, the layer of material having a low thermal conductivity, may be arranged in the interior or as interior surface of the closure element while the second layer, e.g., a metal layer, may be arranged on the exterior or as exterior surface of the closure element.

[0037] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may be completely detachable from the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0038] E.g., in case the closure element is held in place by magnetic elements, the closure element may be completely removed from the housing. Thereby, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged so that it cannot be activated without the closure element. Removing the closure element from the aerosol generating apparatus therefore reliably prevents use of the aerosol generating apparatus. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be used with different closure elements, e.g., having different colours, materials, surface structures or the like. Still alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to detect a particular closure element, e.g., by near-field communication or short-range communication technology like RFID or NFC, and may activate or deactivate functions of the aerosol generating apparatus dependent on a particular closure element being identified as being present or absent.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the closure element may at least partially surround the housing or may completely surround the housing.

[0040] With the closure element partially and in particular completely surrounding the housing, the housing may function as a guiding element along which the closure element may move. The housing may thus be seen as limiting the movement freedom of the closure element relative to the housing. E.g., the closure element may surround the housing to such an extent that movement other than a movement along the main longitudinal extension of the housing is prevented, for example by a form fit of the closure element at least partially around the housing. In this regard, a movement, e.g., perpendicular to the main longitudinal extension of the housing, or perpendicular or generally at an oblique angle to the movement of the closure element performed when moving between the first position and a second position may be prevented. Regardless, it may still be conceivable to completely remove the closure element from the housing by a movement as previously described.

[0041] For example, the closure element may be essentially flat and may be movable adjacent to the housing, or the closure element may bend around the housing, e.g., in a 180° manner (i.e. half around) or more than 180°, e.g., 200°, 210°, 240°, 270° or more. 240° may be seen as the closure element being bent around the housing by two thirds of the circumference, while 270° may be seen as the closure element being bent around the housing by three fourth of the circumference. Likewise, 360° may be seen the closure element being bent around the whole circumference of the housing, i.e., completely surrounding the housing. In case the cross section around which the closure element bends is not circular in shape, but shaped differently, e.g., oval, the above degree values may still be considered to represent an analogous fraction of fully sounding the housing by the closure element. E.g., even in case of an oval or other shape, surrounding by 240° may mean that the closure element surrounds the housing by two thirds of the length of the circumference around the housing, or two thirds of the angular value of 360° of completely surrounding the housing.

[0042] The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and / or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] Aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements. Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus. Figs. 2A, 2B are schematic overviews of an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a closure element according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic overview of an aerosol generating apparatus with a closure element removed according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0046] Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0047] All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.

[0048] The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and / or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.

[0049] The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and / or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0050] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0051] Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to `an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and / or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.

[0052] The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably: As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally / alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and / or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and / or an airflow sensor.

[0053] Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength / duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).

[0054] The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.

[0055] As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry / components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and / or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus).

[0056] As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.

[0057] An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.

[0058] As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to / include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

[0059] As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and / or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and / or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.

[0060] As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.

[0061] As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.

[0062] As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.

[0063] As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.

[0064] As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and / or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.

[0065] As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.

[0066] As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.

[0067] As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule / pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.

[0068] As used herein, an "information carrying medium" may include one or more arrangements for storage of information on any suitable medium. Examples include: a computer readable medium; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder; codes encoding information, such as optical (e.g. a bar code or QR code) or mechanically read codes (e.g. a configuration of the absence or presents of cut-outs to encode a bit, through which pins or a reader may be inserted).

[0069] As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).

[0070] Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and / or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.

[0071] Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.

[0072] In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.

[0073] Figs. 2A, 2B are schematic overviews of an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a closure element according to the present invention.

[0074] In Fig. 2A, a section of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol generating apparatus 1 is shown, comprising a closure element 100 surrounding the housing 104 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. For illustrative purposes, the closure element 100 is arranged in the second position 102b so that a cavity 72 is exposed via a first opening 106a and a second opening 106b. Within the cavity 72, a heating element 54 is arranged. The cavity 72 may be a consumable cavity for receiving a consumable 70, not depicted in Fig. 2A. The closure element 100 may move along the longitudinal extension or lengthwise extension 110, depicted by the black vertical arrow in Fig. 2A. In other words, the closure element 100 may be movable along the outer surface of the housing 104, comprising the first side surface 108a and the second side surface 108b. When moving along the surface of the housing 104, the closure element 100 may assume at least two distinct positions, the second position 102b depicted in Fig. 2A, or alternatively, a first position 102a, as depicted in Fig. 2B.

[0075] The closure element 100 may essentially be a hollow structure where the geometry of the interior cross-section of the closure element may be adapted to the outer geometry of the outer cross-section of the housing 104 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. Thereby, the closure element 100 may surround the housing 104 substantially without play. Since the housing 104 in Fig. 2A exemplarily comprises an essentially uniform outer circumference and shape of its cross-section, perpendicular to the lengthwise extension 110, the closure element 100 may be moved along the housing 104 to assume the first and second positions 102a,b.

[0076] When the closure element 100 is in the second position 102b, the exemplary two openings 106a,b are exposed so that the interior of the cavity 72 is accessible through the openings 106a,b. Likewise, a heating element 54 is accessible when the closure element 100 is in the second position 102b. Thus, with the exposed cavity 72 and the heating element 54, a cleaning of the cavity 72 and / or the heating element 54 may be performed through the access provided by the openings 106a,b.

[0077] In Fig. 2B, the closure element 100 is in the first position 102a. In this position, the closure element 100 is covering, thus closing off the openings 106a,b. Access to the cavity 72 and the heating element 54 via the openings 106a,b is therefore prevented. At the same time, while the closure element 100 is in the first position 102a, the actuator 55 is exposed and therefore accessible. A user of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may thus interact with actuator 55 to initiate an operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. E.g., pressing the actuator 55 may initiate a heating of a heating element 54 so that a consumable 70, introduced into the cavity 72, is heated. With the closure element 100 being in the first position 102a, activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is thus enabled. Contrary hereto, with the closure element 100 being in the second position 102b, as depicted in Fig. 2A, the closure element 100 is physically covering actuator 55, thereby preventing an interaction of the user with the actuator 55. As a consequence, when the actuator 55 is covered, accidental activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 while the openings 106a,b, and therefore the cavity 72 and the heating element 54 are exposed may be avoided.

[0078] Fig. 3 is a schematic overview of an aerosol generating apparatus with a closure element removed according to the present invention.

[0079] As described previously, the closure element 100 may be completely removable from the aerosol generating apparatus 1, as depicted in Fig. 3. The closure element 100 has been pulled off, e.g., by moving the closure element 100 to the top or bottom end of the housing 104. A movement of the closure element 100 beyond the top or bottom end of the housing 104 may thus result in removal of the closure element from the aerosol generating apparatus 1. The aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be arranged to detect that the closure element is removed from the housing 104 / no closure element 100 is present, e.g., not present around the surface of the housing 104, so that activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be prohibited despite that the actuator 55 is not covered by the closure element 100, as shown in Fig. 3. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may detect that the closure element 100 has been removed and as a consequence only allows a defined mode of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 when interacting with the actuator 55. E.g., when the closure element 100 has been removed, an interaction with actuator 55 may trigger a cleaning operation where the heating element 54 is heated to a temperature suitable for cleaning the heating element 54 and / or the cavity 72, but not a temperature that would allow a consumption of a consumable 70.

[0080] Completely removing a closure element 100 may allow substitution and / or exchange of a closure element with a closure element having different physical and / or optical properties. E.g., as depicted in Fig. 3, different closure elements 100 may have a different visual appearance, here exemplarily having different colour or tone, so that a user may adapt the appearance of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to their personal preference. Alternatively, or additionally, different types of closure elements may provide different subsets of modes of operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. For example, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may differentiate between different closure elements, and may, as a consequence, initiate different modes of operation dependent on a particular detected closure element 100. E.g., the left most closure element 100 in Fig. 3, having the darkest colour, may allow consumption of a consumable with an increased temperature compared to a nominal heating temperature of a consumable, while the right most closure element 100 in Fig. 3 having the lightest colour may allow consumption of a consumable with a reduced temperature compared to a nominal heating temperature for a consumable. Thereby, by using different closure elements, a user of an aerosol generating apparatus may adapt the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus to their preference. In this context, the central closure element 100 in Fig. 3, having moderate colour, may initiate the heating of a consumable with the nominal heating temperature.

[0081] Fig. 4 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.

[0082] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.

[0083] In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 52 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.

[0084] The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.

[0085] The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.

[0086] The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and / or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 5).

[0087] The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.

[0088] Fig. 5 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 4.

[0089] As depicted in Fig. 5, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.

[0090] The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.

[0091] In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).

[0092] In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 5, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.

[0093] The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.

[0094] The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and / or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.

[0095] The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.

[0096] In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.

[0097] In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0044]Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0045]Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0046]Any paten...

Claims

1. An aerosol generating apparatus (1), comprising a housing (104) having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, a first opening (106a,b) arranged in one of the first and second side surfaces (108a,b), and a cavity (72) arranged for receiving a consumable (70), wherein the first opening is arranged as an access into the cavity (72), through one of the first and second side surfaces, a closure element (100), wherein the closure element (100) is arranged adjacent to the housing (104) and is moveable along the housing (104) between a first position (102a) and a second position (102b), wherein, in the first position (102a), the closure element (100) covers the first opening (106a,b), and in the second position (102b), the closure element (100) exposes the first opening (106a,b).

2. Aerosol generating apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein exposing the opening (106a,b) provides cleaning access to the cavity (72) and / or elements arranged within the cavity (72), and / or wherein exposing the opening (106a,b) provides access for insertion of a consumable into the cavity (72).

3. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second opening (106a,b), wherein the second opening (106b) is arranged in the other one of the first and second side surfaces (108b,a).

4. Aerosol generating apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the two openings (106a,b) provide a through access through the cavity (72).

5. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuator (55) for operating at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus (1), wherein the closure element (100), when in the second position, covers the actuator, for example to prohibit actuating the actuator.

6. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a heating element (54) arranged in the cavity (72).

7. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (100) when in the first position (102a) substantially closes the or each opening (106a,b) in an airtight manner.

8. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a passage into the cavity (72) for consumable insertion along the length direction of the housing, wherein the passage is different from the or each opening (106a,b).

9. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus (1) is arranged to provide or activate a dedicated mode of operation when the closure element (100) is in the second position (102b).

10. Aerosol generating apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the dedicated mode of operation is at least one mode out of the group consisting of: activating a dedicated cleaning program for the heating element, activating the heating element and limiting the temperature of the heating element to not exceed a dedicated temperature lower than an operating temperature of the heating element for aerosol generation, e.g., 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C or 100°C.

11. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (100) comprises magnetic properties, for example at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element, and wherein the housing (104) of the aerosol generating apparatus is arranged to interact with the magnetic properties of the closure element (100) so to hold the closure element (100) in the first position (102a) and / or the second position (102b), for example wherein the housing (104) comprises at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element for holding the closure element (100) in the first position (102a) and / or the second position (102b).

12. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (100) is attached to the housing (104) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1) only by magnetic interaction between the closure element (100) and the housing (104), for example by magnetic interaction of at least one magnetic element and / or magnetically sensitive element in at least one of the closure element (100) and the housing (104) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1).

13. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one function of the aerosol generating apparatus (1) is at least one of prohibited, disabled, enabled or activated when the closure element (100) is in a position out of the group consisting of: the first position (102a), the second position (102b), substantially not the first position (102a), and removed from the housing.

14. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (100) is a heat insulating or heat shielding element, for example a two-layer element comprising an outer metal layer and an inner layer of material having a lower thermal conductivity.

15. Aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (100) is completely detachable from the housing (104) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1), and / or wherein the closure element (100) at least partially surrounds the housing (104) or wherein the closure element (100) completely surrounds the housing (104).

Images