Heat stick remover

Abstract

To provide a heat stick remover for removing a heat stick (tobacco stick) remaining in a heating type tobacco cartridge.SOLUTION: A remover includes a main body 101 and a cap. The main body 101 includes a grip portion 1 in which a slip resistance is formed on the surface and a shaft portion 2 in which a helical section 3 is provided. In the remover, before use, the cap is pulled off the main body 101 to expose the shaft portion 2 of the main body 101. Then, the helical section 3 of the shaft portion 2 is screwed into the heat stick that has broken off and remains in the holder of the cartridge of the heating type tobacco. When screwing the helical section 3 into the heat stick, the user grips and rotates the grip portion 1, thereby the helical section 3 is screwed into the heat stick. The user then pulls the grip portion 1 to extract the heat stick from the holder. Once all the heat sticks are removed in this manner, the cleaning is completed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat stick removing tool for removing a heat stick (tobacco stick) remaining in a heated tobacco cartridge.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a tool for taking out a heat stick as described in Patent Document 1 is known. This tool is used when the heat stick of a heated tobacco breaks and gets clogged in the holder. This tool consists of a handle part, a shaft part, and an insertion part. The handle part is formed of a circular flat plate, and the shaft part is formed in a spiral shape.

[0003] When the heat stick breaks and remains in the holder, the insertion part is screwed into the heat stick and pulled out in such a way as to pull out the cork plug. Thereby, the inside of the holder can be cleaned.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the above-mentioned conventional tool for taking out the heat stick has a problem that it is difficult to mold a spiral shape suitable for taking out the remaining tobacco, although it is made of resin so as not to damage the inside of the holder. The present invention has been made to solve such problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The heat stick remover according to the present invention comprises a shaft-shaped handle portion, and a main body having a spiral portion that extends axially from the handle portion and has a shape approximating the ridges of a coarse thread for wood around the shaft, and a shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the shaft of the handle portion. It is preferable to have a cap that covers the shaft portion of the main body and is detachable from the main body. Further, it is preferable that the pointed tip of the shaft portion is spherical. Further, it is preferable that the main body is made of a transparent resin. Further, it is preferable that the cap is hollow and shaft-shaped and has a length not exceeding that of the heat stick when attached to the main body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an operation portion of a removing tool according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view (partial cross-sectional view) showing a cap of the removing tool shown in FIG. 1. This removing tool 100 is composed of a main body 101 and a cap 102. The main body 101 is composed of a cylindrical handle portion 1 having an anti-slip surface formed on its surface, and a shaft portion 2 having a screw-shaped spiral portion 3 provided around the shaft and extending from the handle portion 1. The diameter of the shaft portion 2 is smaller than the diameter of the handle portion 1. The outer diameter of the crest portion 5 of the spiral portion 3 is also smaller than the diameter of the handle portion 1. Since a conical portion 4 is provided on the handle portion 1 and the shaft portion 2 is continuously formed from the conical portion 4, the strength at the root of the shaft portion 2 is increased.

[0009] The spiral portion 3 has a shape that facilitates removal from the mold and ensures engagement with the heat stick. The screw shape of the spiral portion is approximated to a coarse thread for wood in that the pitch between the crests of the screw thread is wide and the height of the crest is high. This is to enable screwing into the heat stick with few rotations and to improve the engagement with the heat stick. The shape of the crest portion 5 is different from that of the coarse thread for wood. Twelve crests are formed on the shaft portion 2 for the spiral crest portion 5. The crest portion 5 may have 8 to 15 crests with respect to the shaft portion 2. The diameter up to the top of the crest portion 5 is 1.4 to 1.7 times the diameter of the shaft portion 2. The shape of the crest portion 5 is provided with a notch portion 5a in part. This notch portion 5a improves the removal from the mold.

[0010] The notch portion 5a is provided in a part of the crest portion 5 and is flat. When injection molding a coarse thread with a mold, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of an undercut. On the other hand, since partially deforming the thread of a normal screw leads to a performance degradation, it is not done. In this removing tool, since it suffices to bite into the heat stick, it is not necessary to make the shape of the thread uniform. An example of the notch portion 5a is shown in FIG. 4(a), but it is not limited thereto. In the example of the figure, a notch portion 5a is provided in a part of the crest portion 5. The structure of the mold is arbitrary, but in order to improve the removal from the mold, it tends to have a complicated structure. By providing the notch portion 5a in part as in the present invention, the removal from the mold is improved and complication can be suppressed.

[0011] On the surface of the shaft portion 2, dimpling is formed. The dimpled surface is transferred and formed on the surface of the threaded portion by forming fine irregularities on the mold. This dimpled surface can prevent the leaves of the heat stick from adhering more than necessary.

[0012] The material of the removing tool 100 is made of polycarbonate, which is a plastic material. Polycarbonate is very strong and resistant to impact, has high transparency and transmits light well. Also, even when the temperature inside the holder is high, it is easy to use because of its high heat resistance temperature. Furthermore, the fact that it is flame-retardant is preferable for the heat stick removing tool 100.

[0013] The cap 102 is formed by injection molding a bottomed resin having a cylindrical hollow portion 9 inside. As shown in Fig. 2, the opening 7 at the entrance of the cap 102 is funnel-shaped, and the conical portion 4 is fitted into the opening 7 with substantially no gap. This cap 102 covers the entire shaft portion 2 of the main body 101 with the cylindrical hollow portion 9. By inserting and pushing the shaft portion 2 inside the cap 102, the ring-shaped protrusion 6 provided on the conical portion 4 fits into the groove portion 8 provided inside the funnel-shaped opening 7, and the cap 102 is fixed to the main body 101. With this structure, the cap 102 can be attached with one touch. Also, since the structure is simple, the leaves do not get clogged. Fig. 3 shows the state where the cap 102 is attached to the main body 101.

[0014] With the cap 102 attached to the main body 101, the entire removing tool 100 has a length equal to or less than that of a general heat stick and a substantially same diameter. For this reason, it can be stored together with the heat stick S in the box B for the heat stick. The length of a general heat stick is 45 mm.

[0015] The main body 101 is made of a transparent resin. When removing the heat stick, the inside of the holder becomes dark, and inserting the shaft portion 2 makes it even darker and less visible. Therefore, by molding the entire main body 101 with a transparent resin, external light can easily pass through the main body 101 and reach the back of the holder. Additionally, by providing a light source (not shown), such as an LED, in the handle portion 1, light can refract and travel inside the main body 101 to illuminate the inside of the holder. Also, the cap 102 is made of the same material as the main body 101 and is transparent.

[0016] A cavity is formed inside the handle portion 1 for weight reduction and material reduction. The anti-slip unevenness of the handle portion 1 is provided in the axial direction and evenly in the circumferential direction. Depending on the size of this unevenness, the handle portion 1 can be prevented from rolling on the table. Therefore, the distance between the convex portions 1a should not be too clogged, and it is preferable to have about 15 convex portions 1a in the circumferential direction. Also, if there is a flat surface in the circumferential direction of the handle portion 1, it becomes easier to roll, so the convex portions 1a are provided over the entire circumferential surface of the handle portion 1.

[0017] The length of the shaft portion 2 is preferably 1.2 times or more and 2 times or less that of the handle portion 1. The length of the shaft portion 2 is preferably about the same as the depth of the holder. This is because it is convenient for scraping out if pieces of the heat stick remain at the back of the holder.

[0018] The tip 2a of the shaft portion 2 is generally pointed, but becomes a small spherical shape. An enlarged view of the tip portion is shown in Fig. 4(b). It is easy to insert into the heat stick, and on the other hand, it is difficult to stab fingers or the like. The radius of the sphere is preferably about 1 mm.

[0019] Next, the usage method of this remover 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the usage method of the remover 100. Before using this remover 100, the cap 102 is pulled out from the main body 101 to expose the shaft portion 2 of the main body 101. Then, as shown in FIG. (a), the spiral portion 3 of this shaft portion 2 is screwed into the heat stick H remaining broken in the holder 51 of the heated tobacco cartridge 50. When screwing the spiral portion 3 into the heat stick H, pinch the handle portion 1 and rotate it. Thereby, the spiral portion 3 is screwed into the heat stick H.

[0020] Since the length of the shaft portion 2 is set to be slightly longer than the depth of the holder, as shown in FIG. (b), it is screwed in until the spiral portion 3 is completely buried in the heat stick H. Then, as shown in FIG. (c), pull the handle portion 1 to pull out the heat stick H from the holder 51. If the heat stick H can be completely removed in this state, the cleaning is completed.

[0021] When the heat stick H is disassembled and leaves such as leaves remain inside, the spiral portion 3 of the shaft portion 2 is hooked on these and taken out. Since the shaft portion 2 is wrinkled, even if fragments of leaves adhere, they can be easily removed. Also, since it is made of resin, it is difficult to damage the inside of the holder 51.

[0022] The number of ridges 5 of the spiral portion 3 is optimal when screwing the main body 101 into the heat stick H, and the shaft portion 2 can be screwed into the heat stick H with a small number of rotations. The size of the ridge 5 is set to a dimension just right for biting into the heat stick H.

[0023] After use, the cap 102 is attached to the main body 101 again and stored in the box of the heat stick H. Thus, according to this remover 100, it is easy to remove the broken heat stick H from the holder 51. Also, since it can be stored in the box of the heat stick H, it is convenient.

[0024] In addition, in the removing tool 150 according to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral cross-sectional shape of the holding portion 151 may be rectangular. Other configurations are the same as described above. In this way, rolling on the table can be prevented. Note that other configurations are the same as those of the removing tool 100. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer peripheral cross-sectional shape of the cap 152 may be rectangular. In this way, rolling on the table can be prevented. Note that other configurations are the same as those of the removing tool 100. In addition to a rectangle, a pentagon to an octagon can be adopted for the same purpose.

[0025] Furthermore, the entire shaft portion 2 or the removing tool 100 can also be formed of a light-storing material. The light-storing effect is usually realized by incorporating a special coating or layer containing light-storing powder or light-storing agent into the material. These light-storing substances have the property of absorbing light and emitting it. By applying such a light-storing coating to the surface of the polycarbonate shaft portion 2, the shaft portion 2 can be made to emit light, making it easier to see inside the holder.

[0026] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the main body of the removing tool according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. This removing tool 200 has the same configuration as the removing tool 100 according to Embodiment 1, but is configured such that a cap 202 can be attached to the rear end to extend the handle. A conical portion 204 is formed at the rear end of the main body 1, and the same protrusions 205 as described above are provided in the circumferential direction on the conical portion 204. The cap 202 is connected to the main body 101 by fitting the protrusions 205 into the groove portion 8 of the opening 7 of the cap 202. This makes it easier to hold the holding portion 1.

[0027] Furthermore, in this removing tool 200, the cap 202 can be attached to a cartridge or a cartridge case by magnetic force. As shown in FIG. 10, a magnet 210 is embedded inside the cap 102, and the magnet 210 can adsorb a metal cartridge or a cartridge case. A flat portion 211 is formed on a part of the cap 202, and adsorption by magnetic force is performed on the flat portion 211.

[0028] (Other Embodiments) FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the shape of the shaft portion. As shown in FIG. (a), this shaft portion 21 may be formed by spirally forming a metal bar material with a pointed tip. Also, in this shaft portion 22, as shown in FIG. (b), it may be configured to have an overall ear-scraping shape. Further, in this shaft portion 23, as shown in FIG. (c), the tip may be configured to be planar and bow-shaped.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 100 Remover 101 Body 102 Cap 1 Handle portion 2 Shaft portion 3 Spiral portion

Claims

1. a shaft-shaped handle portion, a shaft portion that extends axially from the handle portion and has a spiral portion with a shape approximating the crest of a course thread for wood around the shaft and has a smaller diameter than the shaft of the handle portion, and a heat stick remover comprising a main body having the above.

2. The heat stick remover according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that covers the shaft portion of the main body and is detachable from the main body.

3. The heat stick remover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pointed tip of the shaft portion is spherical.

4. The heat stick remover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body is made of a transparent resin.

5. The heat stick remover according to claim 2, wherein the cap is hollow and shaft-shaped and has a length not exceeding that of the heat stick when attached to the main body.

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