Aerosol generating device

Abstract

To provide an assembly for use in a device for generating an inhalable aerosol by heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material.SOLUTION: The assembly 80 has a structure defining an opening 20 through which aerosolizable material can be removably inserted into the device, a lid 4 coupled to the structure and movable between an open position in which access to the opening is unrestricted and a closed position in which access to the opening is restricted, and a latch arrangement configured to retain the lid in at least one of the open and closed positions when the lid is located in the one of the open and closed positions until an external force is applied, in use, to release the latch arrangement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a system comprising a device for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these tobacco-burning articles by creating products that release compounds without combustion. An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating a material rather than burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A first aspect of the present invention provides an assembly for use in a device for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material to generate an inhalable aerosol, the assembly comprising: a structure defining an opening through which the aerosolizable material can be removably inserted into the device; a lid coupled to the structure and movable between an open position in which access to the opening is unrestricted and a closed position in which access to the opening is restricted; and a latch arrangement configured to hold the lid in at least one of the open and closed positions when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions until an external force is applied during use to release the latch arrangement.

[0004] In an exemplary embodiment, the latch arrangement comprises a first portion within the structure and a second separate portion within the lid, the first portion configured to interact with the second portion to hold the lid in one of the open and closed positions when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions.

[0005] In an exemplary embodiment, the latch arrangement is configured to bias the lid toward one of the open and closed positions when the lid is between one of the open and closed positions and an intermediate position between the open and closed positions.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly further comprises at least one guide for guiding movement of the lid relative to the structure.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the guide comprises at least one male or female member for engaging with a corresponding other male or female member of the structure.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the latch arrangement is a mechanical latch arrangement.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the mechanical latch arrangement includes a cam, the cam including a cam element disposed on one of the lid and the structure, and at least one follower disposed on the other of the lid and the structure.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid defines a cam element having one or more detents, and at least one follower configured to engage the one or more detents when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions to retain the lid in the open or closed position, respectively.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly is configured such that at least one follower is biased toward the cam element.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one follower is biased toward the cam element by a spring.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the surface of the cam element is configured to engage and depress the at least one follower when the lid is between the open and closed positions.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly includes a spring plunger, the spring plunger being movably maintained within the housing and including a depressible member biased toward the cam element, and at least one follower being the depressible member.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the depressible member is configured to roll against the cam element when the lid is moved relative to the structure.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the depressible member is spherical or cylindrical.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more detents comprise at least two detents located at opposite end portions of the lid in the direction of movement of the lid.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the latch arrangement is a magnetic latch arrangement.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic latch arrangement includes at least one stationary magnet disposed within the structure and at least one lid magnet disposed within the lid, and the latch arrangement is configured to magnetically hold the lid in one of the open or closed positions when the lid is in the open or closed position.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic latch arrangement is configured to magnetically hold the lid in the open position when the lid is in the open position, and to magnetically hold the lid in the closed position when the lid is in the closed position.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one lid magnet has first and second magnetic poles, and at least one stationary magnet has first and second magnetic poles, the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet having opposite polarities, the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet being oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of lid movement, and the first pole of the lid magnet and the first pole of the stationary magnet facing in substantially opposite directions and of the same polarity.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one lid magnet has first and second magnetic poles, and at least one stationary magnet has first and second magnetic poles, the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet having opposite polarities, the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet being oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of lid movement, and the first pole of the lid magnet and the first pole of the stationary magnet facing in substantially opposite directions and of the same polarity.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one lid magnet and the at least one stationary magnet are substantially cubic, each with a long side in the direction of movement, the center of gravity of the at least one lid magnet being equidistant in the direction of movement from the edge of the lid, and the center of gravity of the at least one stationary magnet being equidistant in the direction of movement from the open position and the closed position.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid has a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface of the structure, at least one lid magnet is disposed within a corresponding recess in the lower surface of the lid so as to be invisible during use, and at least one stationary magnet is located directly below the upper surface of the structure so as to be invisible during use.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid is substantially flat and elongated in the direction of movement.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the lid is preferably 14 mm to 15 mm long in the direction parallel to the sliding direction, preferably 11 mm to 12 mm long perpendicular to the direction of movement, and preferably 1 mm to 2 mm thick.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the structure comprises a recessed portion having a complementary shape and size to the lid, the recessed portion configured to receive the lid during use and allow movement of the lid between open and closed positions.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, a surface, such as a top surface, of the recessed portion further comprises an opening, the opening being located toward the end of the recessed portion that corresponds to the closed position.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the structure and lid material is polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS).

[0030] In exemplary embodiments, the aerosolizable material comprises tobacco, and / or is reconstituted, and / or is in gel form, and / or comprises an amorphous material.

[0031] A second aspect of the present invention provides a system comprising a heating device arranged to heat an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and an assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention for use with the heating device, wherein the heating device comprises at least one heater element arranged within a heater housing, the at least one heater element being configured to heat the aerosolizable material during use.

[0032] In exemplary embodiments, the aerosolizable material comprises tobacco, and / or is reconstituted, and / or is in gel form, and / or comprises an amorphous material.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the apparatus being shown with a consumable containing the aerosolizable material inserted therein. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic front view of the exemplary device of FIG. 1 with a consumable inserted. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of the exemplary device of FIG. 1 with a consumable inserted. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic left side view of the exemplary device of FIG. 1 with a consumable inserted. [Figure 5] 5 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the exemplary device of FIG. 1 with a consumable inserted, taken along line AA shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the exemplary device of FIG. 1 without a consumable inserted. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a lid assembly for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable material, the lid assembly including a latch arrangement, the lid shown in an open position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 7, with the lid shown in a closed position. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 7, wherein the lid assembly includes a mechanical latch arrangement. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary lid assembly for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable material, with the lid shown in a closed position. [Figure 11] 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 10 taken along line TT, the lid assembly including a mechanical latch arrangement, and the lid shown in an open position. [Figure 12] 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 11, with the lid shown in a closed position. [Figure 13]1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a lid assembly for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable material, the lid assembly including a magnetic latch arrangement, the lid shown in an open position. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 13, with the lid shown in a closed position. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the underside of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the upper panel structure of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 13. [Figure 17] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the underside of the lid of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 13. [Figure 18] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the underside of the lid of FIG. 13, the lid including a lid magnet and track assembly. [Figure 19] 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 10 in a closed position along line TT, the lid assembly including a magnetic latch arrangement. [Figure 20] 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 10 in a closed position along line TT, where the lid assembly includes a magnetic latch arrangement. [Figure 21] 20 is a simplified schematic side cross-sectional view of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 19 in a closed position. [Figure 22] 14A-14C are simplified schematic plan views of the exemplary lid assembly of FIG. 13, with the lid shown in closed, intermediate, and open positions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] As used herein, the term "aerosolizable material" includes materials that, upon heating, provide volatilized components, typically in the form of a vapor or aerosol. "Aerosolizable material" can be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. "Aerosolizable material" can include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. "Aerosolizable material" can be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted aerosolizable material, liquid, gel, amorphous, gelled sheet, powder, or mass, etc. "Aerosolizable material" can also include other non-tobacco products and, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. "Aerosolizable material" can also include one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol. The term "aerosol-generating material" can also be used interchangeably herein with the term "aerosolizable material."

[0037] As noted above, the aerosolizable material can comprise an "amorphous material," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous) or a "dry gel." An amorphous material is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some cases, the aerosolizable material comprises about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous material to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous material. In some cases, the aerosolizable material consists of amorphous material.

[0038] As used herein, the term "sheet" means an element having a width and length that is substantially greater than its thickness. A sheet can be, for example, a strip.

[0039] As used herein, the term "heating material" or "heater material" refers, in some instances, to a material that is heatable by penetration by a varying magnetic field, for example, when an aerosolizable material is heated by an induction heating arrangement.

[0040] Other forms of heating the heating material include resistive heating, which involves an electrical resistive heating element that heats up when an electric current is applied to the electrical resistive heating element, thereby transferring heat by conduction to the heating material.

[0041] As used herein, the term "centroid" refers to the geometric center of a three-dimensional shape.

[0042] Referring to Figure 1, a schematic perspective view of a device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Device 1 is for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user. In this embodiment, the aerosolizable material includes tobacco, and device 1 is a tobacco heating product (also known in the art as a tobacco heating device or a non-combustion heating device). Device 1 is a handheld device for inhalation of the aerosolizable material by a user of the handheld device.

[0043] The device 1 comprises a first end 3 and a second end 5 opposite the first end 3. The first end 3 may be referred to herein as the oral or proximal end of the device 1. The second end 5 may be referred to herein as the distal end of the device 1. The device 1 has an on / off button 7 to allow the device 1, as a whole, to be turned on and off as desired by a user of the device 1.

[0044] Generally speaking, device 1 is configured to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by a user by heating an aerosol-generating material. In use, a user inserts an article 21 into device 1 and activates (operates) device 1, for example, using button 7, causing device 1 to begin heating the aerosol-generating material. The user then inhales the aerosol generated by device 1 by sucking on mouthpiece 21b of article 21 near first end 3 of device 1. As the user inhales article 21, the generated aerosol flows through device 1 along a flow path toward proximal end 3 of device 1.

[0045] In examples, vapor is generated which then at least partially condenses to form an aerosol before exiting the device 1 to be inhaled by the user.

[0046] In this regard, it should first be noted that, in general, a vapor is a substance in the gas phase that is below its critical temperature, meaning, for example, that the vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without decreasing its temperature. On the other hand, in general, an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas. A "colloid" is a substance in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance.

[0047] For reasons of convenience, the term aerosol, as used herein, should be taken to mean an aerosol, a vapor, or a combination of an aerosol and a vapor.

[0048] The device 1 includes a casing 9 for arranging and protecting the various internal components of the device 1. The casing 9 is thus an outer housing for containing the internal components. In the illustrated embodiment, the casing 9 includes a sleeve 11 that surrounds the device 1 and is closed by a structure, preferably an upper panel structure 17, at the first end 3 that generally defines the "top" of the device 1, and a bottom panel 19 at the second end 5 (see FIGS. 2-5 ) that generally defines the "bottom" of the device 1.

[0049] The sleeve 11 comprises a first sleeve 11a and a second sleeve 11b. The first sleeve 11a is provided on an upper portion of the device 1, shown as the upper portion of the device 1, and extends away from the first end 3. The second sleeve 11b is provided on a lower portion of the device 1, shown as the lower portion of the device 1, and extends away from the second end 5. The first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b each surround the periphery of the device 1. That is, the device 1 includes a longitudinal axis in the Y-axis direction, and the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b each surround internal components in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis.

[0050] In this embodiment, the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b are removably engaged with one another. In this embodiment, the first sleeve 11a is engaged with the second sleeve 11b in a snap-fit ​​arrangement comprising a groove and a recess.

[0051] In some embodiments, top panel structure 17 and / or bottom panel 19 may be removably secured to corresponding first and second sleeves 11 a, 11 b, respectively, to allow easy access to the interior of device 1. In some embodiments, sleeve 11 may be “permanently” secured to top panel structure 17 and / or bottom panel 19, for example, to prevent a user from accessing the interior of device 1. In one embodiment, panels 17 and 19 are made of a flexible material, including, for example, glass-filled nylon formed by injection molding, and sleeve 11 is made of aluminum, although other materials and manufacturing processes may be used.

[0052] The upper panel structure 17 of the device 1 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 3 of the device 1 through which a consumable 21 containing an aerosolizable material is inserted into and removed from the device 1 by a user during use. In this embodiment, the consumable 21 functions as a mouthpiece for a user to place between the user's lips. In other embodiments, an external mouthpiece can be provided through which at least one volatile component of the aerosolizable material is inhaled. When the external mouthpiece is used, the aerosolizable material is not placed within the external mouthpiece.

[0053] In this embodiment, the opening 20 is opened and closed by a lid 4. In the embodiment shown, the lid 4 is movable between a closed position and an open position, and when in the open position allows for the insertion of a consumable 21 into the device 1. The lid 4 is configured to move bidirectionally along the X-axis.

[0054] A connection port 6 is shown at the second end 5 of the device 1. The connection port 6 is for connection to a cable and power source 27 (shown in FIG. 6) for charging the power source 27 of the device 1. The connection port 6 extends in the Z-axis direction from the front side of the device 1 to the rear side of the device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the connection port 6 is accessible on the right side of the device 1 at the second end 5 of the device 1. Advantageously, the device 1 can be stood up on the second end 5 while charging or to enable a data connection through the connection port 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection port 6 is a USB socket.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 2, the first sleeve 11a includes a tapered surface at the first end 3 of the device 1. The tapered surface is at a first angle α relative to the surface of the second sleeve 11b at the second end 5. In this embodiment, the surface of the second sleeve 11b at the second end 5 is substantially parallel to the X-axis. Thus, as shown, the consumable 21 is insertable through the opening 20 (shown in FIG. 1) at the proximal portion of the first end 3. Where the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b meet at junction 11c, a second angle β is formed with respect to the X-axis. The second angle β is shown to be greater than the first angle α.

[0056] 3 and 4 show the right and left sides, respectively, of the device 1. Here, the consumable 21 is shown in a laterally centered position because the opening 20 through which the consumable 21 is inserted is located midway along the Z axis of the device 1 and off-center along the X axis.

[0057] 5 and 6 show schematic cross-sectional views from the front of the device 1 as shown in FIG. 4 through line AA with the consumable inserted and withdrawn, respectively.

[0058] As shown in Figure 6, heater arrangement 23, control circuitry 25, and power supply 27 are disposed or fixed within casing 9. In this embodiment, control circuit 25 is part of the electronics compartment and comprises two printed circuit boards (PCBs) 25a, 25b. In this embodiment, control circuitry 25 and power supply 27 are laterally adjacent (i.e., adjacent when viewed from the end) to heater arrangement 23, with control circuit 25 located below power supply 27. This advantageously allows device 1 to be compact in the lateral direction corresponding to the X-axis direction.

[0059] In this embodiment, control circuitry 25 includes a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, constructed and arranged to control the heating of aerosolizable material within consumable 21, as discussed further below.

[0060] In this embodiment, power source 27 is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, or a battery-capacitor hybrid may be used, or a connection to an electrical mains supply may be used. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and / or the like. Battery 27 is electrically connected to heater arrangement 23 to provide power when needed and heat the aerosolizable material in the consumable under the control of control circuitry 25 (to volatilize the aerosolizable material without burning it, as discussed).

[0061] An advantage of locating the power supply 27 laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement 23 is that a physically larger power supply 27 can be used without the device 1 as a whole becoming too long. As will be appreciated, a physically larger power supply 27 will have a higher capacity (i.e., total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in ampere-hours or the like) and therefore the battery life of the device 1 may be longer.

[0062] In one embodiment, the heater element 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow inner heating chamber 29 into which the consumable 21, including the aerosolizable material, is inserted for heating during use. Generally speaking, the heating chamber 29 is a heating zone for receiving the consumable 21. Different configurations for the heater element 23 are possible. In some embodiments, the heater element 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of multiple heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater element 23. The or each heating element may be annular or tubular around its periphery, or at least partially annular or partially tubular. In one embodiment, the or each heating element may be a thin-film heater. In another embodiment, the or each heating element may be made of a ceramic material. Examples of suitable ceramic materials include alumina, aluminum nitride, and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be layered and sintered. Other heater components are also possible, including induction heating, infrared heater elements that heat by radiating infrared light, or resistive heating elements formed, for example, by resistive electrical windings.

[0063] In this embodiment, heater structure 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube 75 and comprises a heater 71. In one embodiment, heater 71 comprises a substrate on which at least one conductive element is formed. The substrate may be in sheet form and may comprise, for example, a flexible layer. In a preferred embodiment, this layer is a polyimide layer. The conductive element(s) may be printed onto the substrate layer or may be separately applied. The conductive element(s) may be encapsulated within the substrate or may be coated by the substrate.

[0064] The support tube 75 is a heating element that transfers heat to the consumable 21. Therefore, the support tube 75 is made of a heating material. In this embodiment, the heater material is stainless steel. In other embodiments, other metallic materials may be used as the heating material. For example, the heating material may include a metal or a metal alloy. The heating material may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, ferritic stainless steel, molybdenum, silicon carbide, copper, and bronze.

[0065] The heater arrangement 23 is dimensioned so that when the consumable 21 is inserted into the device 1, substantially the entire aerosolizable material is heated in use.

[0066] In some embodiments, the or each heating element may be arranged so that selected zones of aerosolizable material are heated independently, e.g., sequentially (over time), or together (simultaneously), as desired.

[0067] In this embodiment, the heater element 23 is surrounded by a vacuum region 31 along at least a portion of its length. The vacuum region 31 helps reduce heat transfer from the heater element 23 to the outside of the device 1, thereby helping to keep the power requirements of the heater element 23 low because it reduces heat loss overall. The vacuum region 31 also helps keep the outside of the device 1 cool during operation of the heater element 23. In some embodiments, the vacuum region 31 may be surrounded by a double-walled sleeve, with the region between the two walls of the sleeve evacuated to provide a low-pressure region to minimize heat transfer by conduction and / or convection. In other embodiments, a different insulating element may be used in addition to or instead of the vacuum region, e.g., using a thermal insulating material, including, e.g., a suitable foam-type material.

[0068] The casing 9, which may also be referred to as a housing, may further include an internal support structure 37 (best seen in FIG. 6) for supporting all internal components and the heater assembly 23.

[0069] The device 1 further comprises a collar 33 that extends around the opening 20 and protrudes from the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 9, and an expansion element 35 located between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum region 31. The expansion element 35 is funnel-shaped and forms an expansion chamber 40 at the mouth end 3 of the device 1. The collar 33 is a retainer for holding the consumable 21 (best seen in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the retainer is removably removable from the device 1.

[0070] One end of the expansion element 35 connects to and is supported by the first sleeve 11a, and the other end of the expansion element 35 connects to and is supported by one end of the cassette 51. A first sealing element 55, shown as an O-ring, is disposed between the expansion element 35 and the first sleeve 11a, and a second sealing element 57, also shown as an O-ring, is disposed between the expansion element 35 and the cassette 51. Each O-ring is made of silicone, although other elastomeric materials may be used to provide a seal. The first and second sealing elements 55, 57 prevent gas migration into surrounding components of the device 1. A sealing element is also provided at the distal end to prevent fluid ingress and egress at the distal end.

[0071] As best shown in FIG. 6, the collar 33, extension element 35 and vacuum region 31 / heater assembly 23 are coaxially arranged such that when the consumable 21 is inserted into the device 1, the consumable 21 extends through the collar 33 and extension element 35 into the heating chamber 29, as best shown in FIG.

[0072] As noted above, in this embodiment, the heater structure 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube. The heating chamber 29 formed by this tube is in fluid communication with the opening 20 at the mouth end 3 of the device 1 via an expansion chamber 40.

[0073] In this embodiment, the expansion element 35 comprises a tubular body having a first open end adjacent the opening 20 and a second open end adjacent the heating chamber 29. The tubular body comprises a first section extending approximately halfway along the tubular body from the first open end and a second section extending approximately halfway along the tubular body to the second open end. The first section comprises a flared portion that widens away from the second section. Thus, the first section has an inner diameter that narrows outward toward the open first end. The second section has a substantially constant inner diameter.

[0074] As best seen in FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the extension element 35 is positioned within the housing 9 between the collar 33 and the vacuum region 31 / heater assembly 23. More specifically, at the second open end of the extension element 35, the extension element 35 is positioned between an end portion of the support tube 75 of the heater assembly 23 and the inside of the vacuum region 31, such that the second open end engages the inside of the support tube 75 and the vacuum region 31. At the first open end, the extension element 35 receives the collar 33 such that the legs 59 of the collar 33 protrude into the expansion chamber 40. Thus, the inner diameter of the first section of the extension element 35 is larger than the outer diameter of the legs when the consumable 21 is received within the device 1 (see FIG. 5 ) and when the consumable 21 is not present.

[0075] As best seen in Figure 5, the inner diameter of the first section of the expansion element 35 is larger than the outer diameter of the consumable 21. Thus, when the consumable 21 is inserted into the device 1 over at least a portion of the length of the expansion element 35, a gap 36 exists between the expansion element 35 and the consumable 21. The gap 36 is around the entire circumference of the consumable 21 in that region.

[0076] As best seen in FIG. 6 , the collar 33 includes a plurality of legs 59. In this embodiment, there are four legs 59, with only three visible from the perspective of FIG. 6 . However, in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer than four legs 59. The legs 59 are equally spaced circumferentially on the inner surface of the collar 33 and are disposed within the expansion chamber 40 when the device 1 is assembled. In this embodiment, when installed in the device 1, the legs 59 are equally spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the opening 20. In one embodiment, there are four legs 59, while in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer than four legs 59. Each of the legs 59 extends in the Y-axis direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the expansion chamber 40, and protrudes into the opening 20. The legs 59 also extend radially at their tips 59 a toward the expansion element 35, such that the tips 59 a are angled away from each other. The tip 59a of each leg 59 allows for better passage of the consumable 21 to avoid damage to the consumable 21 when inserting and / or removing it from the device 1. Collectively, the legs 59 provide a gripping section that grips the consumable 21 to properly position and hold the consumable 21 within the expansion chamber 40 when the consumable 21 is in the device 1. Between them, the legs 59 lightly squeeze or clamp the consumable 21 in the area of ​​the consumable contacted by the legs 59.

[0077] The legs 59 may be made of an elastic material (or may be elastic in some other way), so that when the consumable 21 is inserted into the device 1, they slightly deform (e.g., compress) to better grip the consumable 21, but then regain their original shape when the consumable 21 is removed from the device 1, as the legs 59 are biased to the rest position shown in FIG. 6 . Thus, the legs 59 are reversibly movable from a first position, which is the rest position, to a second position, which is the deformed position shown in FIG. 5 , thereby gripping the consumable 21. In this embodiment, the legs 59 are integrally formed with the main body of the collar 33. However, in some embodiments, the legs 59 may be separate components attached to the body of the collar 33. The inner diameter of the space formed between the legs 59 in the first rest position is, for example, 4.8 mm to 5 mm, preferably 4.9 mm. The legs 59 occupy space within the opening 20 such that the open area of ​​the opening 20 with the legs 59 in place is less than the open area of ​​the opening 20 without the legs 59 .

[0078] For example, the expansion element 35 may be formed from a flexible material including, for example, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which has a relatively high melting point compared to most other thermoplastics and is highly resistant to thermal degradation.

[0079] 6, in this embodiment, the heating chamber 29 communicates with a region 38 of reduced inner diameter toward the distal end 5. This region 38 defines a cleaning chamber 39 formed by a cleaning tube 41. The cleaning tube 41 is a hollow tube that provides an end stop for the consumables 21 (see FIG. 5) that have passed through an opening at the mouth end 3. The cleaning tube 41 is configured to support and position the heater arrangement 23.

[0080] The device 1 further includes a lid 61 at the distal end 5 of the device 1, which opens and closes an opening in the bottom panel 19 to provide access to the heating chamber 29 so that it can be cleaned. The lid 61 pivots about a hinge 63. Such access through the lid 61 allows a user to, among other things, clean the heater assembly 23 and the interior of the heating chamber 29 at the distal end 5. When the lid 61 is open, a straight through-hole is provided through the entire device 1 between the opening 20 at the mouth end 3 and an opening at one end of the cleaning chamber at the distal end 5 of the device 1. Thus, a user can easily clean substantially the entire interior of the hollow heating chamber 29. Thus, a user can access the heating chamber 29 through either end of the device 1 as preferred. A user may use one or more various cleaning devices for this purpose, including, for example, a traditional pipe cleaner or a brush or the like.

[0081] As shown in Figure 6, the upper panel structure 17 generally forms the first end 3 of the housing 9 of the device 1. The upper panel structure 17 supports a collar 33 that defines an insertion point in the form of an opening 20 through which the consumable 21 is removably inserted into the device 1 during use.

[0082] The collar 33 extends around the opening 20 and projects therefrom into the interior of the housing 9. In this embodiment, the collar 33 is a separate element from the upper panel structure 17 and is attached to the upper panel structure 17 via a fastener such as a bayonet locking mechanism. In other embodiments, adhesive or screws may be used to join the collar 33 to the upper panel structure 17. In other embodiments, the collar 33 may be integral with the upper panel structure 17 of the housing 9, such that the collar 33 and the upper panel structure 17 form a single piece.

[0083] 5 and 6, the open space defined by adjacent pairs of legs 59 of the consumable 21 and collar 33 forms air passages 20a around the outside of the consumable 21. Such air passages 20a allow hot steam escaping from the consumable 21 to escape from the device 1 and also allow cool air to flow into the device 1 around the consumable 21. In this embodiment, four air passages 20a are located around the periphery of the consumable 21, which provides ventilation for the device 1. In other embodiments, more or fewer such air passages 20a may be provided.

[0084] Referring again specifically to FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the consumable 21 is in the form of a cylindrical rod that has or contains aerosolizable material 21a at its rear end within the section of the consumable 21 that resides within heater assembly 23 when the consumable 21 is inserted into device 1. The front end of the consumable 21 extends from device 1 and functions as mouthpiece 21b, an assembly that includes one or more of a filter for filtering the aerosol and / or a cooling element 21c for cooling the aerosol. Filter / cooling element 21c is spaced from the aerosolizable material 21a by space 21d and also from the tip of mouthpiece assembly 21b by additional space 21e. The consumable 21 is circumferentially coated with an outer layer (not shown). In this embodiment, the outer layer of consumable 21 is permeable to allow some heated volatile components from aerosolizable material 21a to escape from the consumable 21.

[0085] During operation, heater arrangement 23 heats consumable 21 to volatilize at least one component of aerosolizable material 21a.

[0086] The primary flow path for heated volatile components from aerosolizable material 21a is axially through consumable 21, through space 21d, filter / cooling element 21c, and further space 21e, before entering the user's mouth through the open end of mouthpiece assembly 21b. However, some of the volatile components may leak from consumable 21 through its permeable outer coating into space 36 surrounding consumable 21 within expansion chamber 40.

[0087] It is undesirable for the user to inhale volatile components that flow from the consumable 21 into the expansion chamber 40 because these components have not passed through the filter / cooling element 21c and are therefore not filtered or cooled.

[0088] Advantageously, the volume of air surrounding the consumable 21 within the expansion chamber 40 cools at least a portion of the volatile components that escape from the consumable 21 through its outer layer, causing them to condense on the interior walls of the expansion chamber 40 and prevent those volatile components from possibly being inhaled by the user.

[0089] This cooling effect may be facilitated by cooling air that can enter the space 36 surrounding the consumable 21 within the expansion chamber 40 from outside the device 1 via the ventilation passages 20a, which allow fluid to flow into and out of the device. A first ventilation passage is defined between a pair of adjacent legs 59 of the collar 33 to provide ventilation around the exterior of the consumable 21 at the insertion point. A second ventilation passage is provided between a second pair of adjacent legs 59 to allow at least one heated volatile component to flow from the consumable 21 at a second location. Thus, ventilation is provided around the exterior of the consumable 21 at the insertion point by the first and second ventilation passages. Furthermore, heated volatile components that escape from the consumable 21 through its outer coating can safely flow out of the device 1 via the ventilation passages 20a without condensing on the interior walls of the expansion chamber 40 and being inhaled by the user. Both the expansion chamber 40 and the vent help reduce the temperature and content of the water vapor composition released into the heated volatile components from the aerosolizable material.

[0090] The device 1 is fitted with a thermal liner 13 towards the first end 3 of the device 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal liner 13 is bonded to the first sleeve 11a. The thermal liner 13 is a heat diffuser that helps manage heat distribution and also helps protect the first sleeve 11a from thermal stress by distributing the internal heat generated by use of the device 1 over a larger area. The thermal liner 13 is made from a metallic material, such as aluminum, for lightweight and to dissipate heat well around the proximal end 3. This helps avoid localized hot spots and increases the lifespan of the first sleeve 11a. The liner 13 distributes heat by conduction. The liner 13 is not configured to insulate or reflect heat by radiation.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 6 , the support tube 75 is coated on the outside with a heater 71. In this example, the heater 71 is a thin-film heater comprising polyimide and a conductive element. The heater 71 can include multiple independently controlled heating zones and / or multiple simultaneously controlled heating zones. In this example, the heater 71 is formed as a single heater. However, in other embodiments, the heater 71 may be formed with multiple heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 29. In some embodiments, multiple temperature sensors may be used to detect the temperature of the heater 71 and / or the support tube. In this embodiment, the support tube 75 is made of stainless steel to conduct heat from the heater 71 to the consumable 21 when the consumable 21 is inserted into the heating zone (the heating zone is defined by the heat conduction area of ​​the support tube 75). In other embodiments, the support tube 75 may be made of a different material, as long as the support tube 75 is thermally conductive. Other heating elements 75 may be used in other embodiments. For example, the heating element may be an inductively heatable susceptor. In this embodiment, the support tube 75 acts as an elongated support for supporting the article 21 containing the aerosolizable material, in use.

[0092] In this embodiment, heater 71 is disposed outside support tube 75. However, in other embodiments, heater 71 may be disposed inside support tube 75. In this embodiment, heater 71 passes outside support tube 75 and includes a portion referred to herein as heater tail 73. Heater tail 73 extends beyond heating chamber 29 and is configured for electrical connection to control circuit 25. In the illustrated embodiment, heater tail 73 physically connects to one PCB 25a. Electrical current may be provided to heater 71 by power supply 27 via control circuit 25 and heater tail 73.

[0093] Because a connection is required between the heating chamber 29 and the control circuitry 25, it can be difficult to prevent airflow (or any other fluid flow) between the heating chamber 29 and the electronics compartment. In this embodiment, a gasket 15 is used to prevent such fluid flow, as shown in FIG. 6 . The gasket 15 includes a first seal 15a and a second seal 15b. The gasket 15 surrounds the heater tail 73 and is clamped together by the base 53 and the cassette 51. In the illustrated embodiment, four fasteners 43 are used to provide sufficient force to clamp the base 53 and the cassette 51 together, sealing access to and from the chamber 29 at this point. The fasteners 43 are screws that are tightened to a predetermined torque. In other embodiments, different fasteners 43, such as bolts, may be used.

[0094] 7-9, an exemplary lid assembly 80 for use with the apparatus 1 is shown. The assembly 80 includes the upper panel structure 17 of the apparatus 1 and the lid 4. The upper panel structure 17 defines an aperture 22 for receiving a collar 33 that together form at least a portion of an opening 20 through which a consumable item 21 can be removably inserted into the apparatus 1. The lid 4 is movable between a first open position, as shown in FIG. 7, that does not restrict access to the opening 20, and a second closed position, as shown in FIG. 8, that completely restricts access to the opening 20. In the open position, the lid 4 is at a first end 83 of the upper panel structure 17. In the closed position, the lid 4 is at a second end 84 of the upper panel structure 17. The aperture 22 is located at the second end 84 of the upper panel structure 17. In this embodiment, the opening 20 is completely covered when the lid 4 is in the closed position. In other embodiments, the opening 20 may be only partially covered by the lid 4 in the closed position.

[0095] The upper panel structure 17 includes a recessed portion 81 configured to accommodate the lid 4 and allow movement of the lid 4 between the open and closed positions. The recessed portion 81 can prevent the lid 4 from being damaged. In this embodiment, the upper panel structure 17 is further configured to accommodate a panel 82 that defines an upper surface of the upper panel structure 17. The panel 82 defines a hole 22a that forms at least a portion of the opening 20, as best seen in FIG. 9 . In some embodiments, the panel 82 can have a low-resistance surface along which the lid 4 can slide. In this aspect, the lid 4 can be less likely to scratch the panel 82 during use. The shape of the panel 82 corresponds to the shape of the recessed portion 81, and the panel 82 is secured to the upper panel structure 17 by a layer of adhesive 50. In other examples, the shape of the panel 82 may not correspond to the shape of the recessed portion 81, and / or the adhesive layer 50 may not be present, and the panel 82 may be secured to the upper panel structure by any other suitable means. In other embodiments, the upper panel structure 17 may not be configured to receive the panel 82, or the panel 82 may not be present. In such embodiments, the recessed portion 81 defines the upper surface of the upper panel structure 17 along or over which the lid 4 may slide. The lid 4 is substantially elongated in the direction of its movement. The surface of the lid facing the upper panel 82 or recessed portion 81 is substantially flat. In other examples, the lid 4 may not be elongated, and the surface facing the panel 82 or recessed portion 81 may not be flat.

[0096] A plurality of ridges protrude from the underside of the upper panel structure 17 into the device 1 around the hole 22. In this embodiment, the ridges are part of a bayonet mechanism for removably retaining the collar 33 within the hole 22. In some embodiments, the ridges may also serve to help retain the upper panel structure 17 on the first sleeve 11a. In some examples, the upper panel structure 17 may be removably secured to the first sleeve 11a and / or another portion of the device 1 using a suitable retaining means, such as using clips. In other examples, the upper panel structure 17 may be secured to the device 1 by any other suitable means, such as using adhesive or screws. In some examples, the upper panel structure 17 may not be removable. The device 1 may include a gasket (not shown) to provide a seal between the upper panel structure 17 and the interior of the device 1.

[0097] In this embodiment, the lid 4 is supported on the panel 82 within the recessed portion 81 by a guide formed at least in part by the male portion 24 connected to the lid 4 and the female portion 18 on the structure. The guide is intended to guide movement of the lid relative to the structure, such that the male portion 24 moves along and within the female portion 18, along with the lid 4. The female portion 18 may define a boundary within which the lid movement is limited. In this embodiment, the male portion 24 is initially provided on the lid 4 as a separate part and is inserted through the female portion 18 to connect to the lid 4. In this manner, the male portion 24 can be detached to easily remove the lid 4 without risk of damaging the lid 4. The male portion 24 is aligned with and retained in the opening 26 of the tab 28 protruding from the lid 4. In other examples, the male portion 24 may be connected to the lid 4 in other ways, such as by mating a male connector protruding from the lid 4 with a female connector within the male portion 24. Alternatively, the male portion 24 may not be a separate portion, but instead may be formed by a tab, handle, or other protrusion on the lid 4. The male portion 24 and / or the female portion 18 may comprise a low-resistance surface to allow the lid 4 to slide smoothly within the upper panel structure 17 and reduce the risk of the lid getting caught or otherwise damaged during operation. In other examples, movement of the lid 4 relative to the upper panel structure 17 may be guided in other manners, such as by providing a female member in the lid 4 and a corresponding male track in the upper panel structure 17. In other examples, the lid 4 may not be supported on the panel 82, but instead may slide or roll along the panel 82 or recessed portion 81.

[0098] FIG. 9 further illustrates a spring plunger 45 of the mechanical latch arrangement, which will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 10-12 . The spring plunger 45 is disposed in the upper panel structure 17 and protrudes through a hole 46 in the panel 82. The spring plunger 45 is disposed in the upper panel structure 17 through an opening or recess 47 in the upper panel structure 17, although in other examples, the spring plunger 45 may be disposed or secured to the structure in any other manner. In this embodiment comprising the mechanical latch arrangement, the surface of the lid 4 adjacent the panel 82 defines a linear cam element 42 for interfacing with the spring plunger 45 in the linear cam arrangement to latch, maintain, or hold the lid 4 in the open position when the lid 4 is in the open position, and to latch, maintain, or hold the lid 4 in the closed position when the lid 4 is in the closed position. The linear cam element 42 may be formed from the body of the lid 4 or may be a separate element disposed in or on the lid 4. The spring plunger comprises a depressible member 48 that defines a follower of a linear cam arrangement. The mechanical latch arrangement thereby comprises a first portion in the form of the spring plunger 45 or depressible member 48 that is disposed in the upper panel structure 17, and a second portion in the form of a linear cam element that is defined by or disposed in or on the lid 4. The first portion is configured to interact with the second portion when the lid 4 is moved between the open and closed positions by the application of an external force. In other words, there is some interaction between the first portion of the latch arrangement in the upper panel structure 17 and the second portion of the latch arrangement in the lid 4, and the first and second portions cooperate to latch, maintain, or hold the lid 4 in the open and / or closed positions.

[0099] In this example, the depressible member 48 within the spring plunger 45 defines a follower of a linear cam structure. In other examples, the spring plunger 45 may not be present, and the follower may instead be defined by a different component, such as a flexible element, a ball, or a spring-loaded roller. In other examples, the lid may be rotated, translated, or a combination of both, to move the lid between the open and closed positions. In this case, the cam structure may be some other form of cam structure, such as a front cam. In other examples, the lid may be held in the open or closed position by other retention means. More than one cam structure may be present. For example, more than one follower and / or more than one cam element may be present.

[0100] A plan view of assembly 80 with lid 4 in the closed position is shown in FIG. 10. In an alternative embodiment, assembly 80 of FIG. 10 may instead include a magnetic latch arrangement, as described hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 13-22. While the guide in FIG. 10 includes female member 18, in other examples, this may not be the case, and assembly 80 may include any other guide. A cross section TT of assembly 80, in which assembly 80 includes a mechanical latch arrangement, is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Spring plunger depressible member 48 is movably maintained within housing 49 and biased toward linear cam element 42, thereby urging depressible member 48 against linear cam element 42 during use. The spring plunger 45 may include a biasing element (not shown), such as a spring, e.g., a coil spring, or any other suitable flexible member or spring-loaded material, disposed within the housing 49 to bias the depressible member 48 toward the linear cam element 42. In some examples, there may be no separate biasing element, and the depressible member 48 may be a flexible member comprising, for example, an elastic material. In this embodiment, the depressible member 48 may deform during use. The depressible member 48 may be made from metal, plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material. In other examples, the housing 49 may be absent, and the depressible member 48 may be separately disposed within or on the top panel structure 17. For example, the depressible member 48 may be disposed in a recess or cavity in the top panel structure 17.

[0101] The linear cam element 42 of the lid 4 includes two flat surfaces, each inclined in a different direction relative to the plane of motion of the lid 4. Each flat surface includes a detent 44a, 44b configured to engage the depressible member 48 when the lid 4 is in the open or closed position to hold the lid 4 in the open or closed position, respectively, until an external force is applied in use to release the latch structure. FIG. 11 shows the lid 4 in the open position, with the depressible member 48 biased toward the linear cam element 42 such that the depressible member 48 engages with the detent 44a. FIG. 12 shows the lid 4 in the closed position, with the depressible member 48 biased toward the linear cam element 42 such that the depressible member 48 engages with the detent 44b. Thus, in each of FIGS. 11 and 12, the lid 4 is held in place by the linear cam structure.

[0102] When the lid 4 is moved from the open or closed position by the application of an external force and thus positioned between the open and closed positions, the depressible member 48 is pressed by each of the sloped flat surfaces of the linear cam element. For example, if the lid 4 is moved from right to left in FIG. 11 so that the lid is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the depressible member 48 will be pressed by the sloped flat surface shown on the leftmost side of the lid. Because the surfaces are sloped, their orientation is not in the direction of the force applied by the biasing element of the spring plunger 45. Therefore, the resulting force applied by the biased depressible member 48 to the linear cam element 42 will have a force component in the direction of movement of the lid 4. In this manner, the lid 4 will be biased toward the open position when the lid 4 is between the open position and an intermediate position between the open and closed positions. In a similar manner, the lid 4 will be biased toward the closed position when the lid 4 is between the closed and intermediate positions.

[0103] When the lid 4 is in an intermediate position (not shown), the point where the two inclined surfaces of the linear cam element 42 meet contacts the depressible member 48, causing the lid 4 to enter an unstable equilibrium state. In this position, the lid 4 is not biased, and the resulting force on the lid 4 is perpendicular to the direction of lid 4 movement. If the lid 4 is moved slightly from the intermediate position toward the open position, the lid 4 will be biased toward the open position. If the lid 4 is moved slightly from the intermediate position toward the closed position, the lid 4 will be biased toward the closed position. In other examples, the linear cam element 42 may include one or more flat surfaces that are oriented in the same direction. In some examples, the one or more flat surfaces may be parallel to the plane of motion, such that no biasing force is exerted on the lid 4. In other examples, the one or more flat surfaces may be angled in the same direction relative to the plane of motion so that the lid 4 is biased in only one direction, such as toward the closed position or toward the open position.

[0104] In this example, the depressible member 48 is spherical. In use, the depressible member rolls against the linear cam element 42, facilitating smooth movement of the lid 4. In other examples, the depressible member 48 may be any other suitable shape, such as cylindrical. In other examples, the depressible member 48 may not roll, and the linear cam element 42 may instead slide along the depressible member 48. In this example, the detents 44a, 44b have a shape corresponding to the shape of the depressible member 48 to help securely maintain the lid 4. However, in other examples, this may not be the case, and the detents may be any other suitable shape. The spring plunger 45 in this example is located in the center of the upper panel structure 17 corresponding to the intermediate position, and the detents 44a, 44b are located at opposite ends of the lid 4 in the direction of movement. In other examples, the spring plunger 45 may be offset from the center of the structure and / or two or more spring plungers 45 or followers may be provided. The detents 44a, 44b may be located on opposite ends of the lid 4 in a dimension perpendicular to the direction of motion. There may be three or more detents 44a, 44b, or only one detent 44a, 44b on the linear cam element 42. For example, there may be two spring plungers 45 on the upper panel structure 17 and one detent 44a, 44b on the linear cam element 42. Alternatively, one or more spring plungers 45 may be located in the lid 4, and the linear cam element may be disposed in or on the upper panel structure 17.

[0105] Further embodiments of the present invention comprising a magnetic latch arrangement will now be described herein with reference to FIGS. 13-22. As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the upper panel structure 17 of the assembly 80 further comprises a pair of magnets 85. The magnets 85 are positioned beneath the upper surface of the upper panel structure 17 so as to be concealed within the device 1 during use, as best seen in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, the magnets 85 are held to the underside of the upper panel structure 17 by ridges 95. In other embodiments, the magnets 85 may be housed in a receptacle or recess and / or glued to the underside of the upper panel structure 17. In other embodiments, one or more magnets 85 may be provided. The magnets 85 are fixed relative to the upper panel structure 17 during use and interact with a corresponding pair of magnets 87 (shown in FIG. 20) disposed within the lid 4 to form the magnetic latch arrangement. The lid magnets 87 are not visible from the perspective of FIGS. 13-15. The "fixed" magnets 85 are substantially cubic, with the center of gravity of each fixed magnet 85 being equidistant in the direction of motion from the end of structure 17 defined by recess 81. In some embodiments, fixed magnets 85 may be any shape other than cubic, such as cylindrical. In some embodiments, the centers of gravity of magnets 85 may not be equidistant in the direction of motion from the end of structure 17 defined by recess 81.

[0106] The magnetic latching arrangement of this embodiment is configured to magnetically hold the lid 4 in at least one of an open or closed position upon movement of the lid 4 toward the first end 83 or the second end 84, respectively. In some embodiments, the magnetic latching arrangement can be configured to magnetically hold the lid 4 in an open position when the lid 4 is moved toward the first end 83 and in a closed position when the lid 4 is moved toward the second end 84. The retention prevents the lid 4 from being unintentionally opened or closed, for example, during transport. A user can be assured that when the lid 4 is in the open or closed position, it will remain in the open or closed position until manually moved by the user. The magnetic latching arrangement is described in more detail later herein in connection with FIGS. 20-22.

[0107] FIG. 16 shows the upper panel structure 17 with the lid 4, the protective panel 82, and the fixed magnet 85 removed. In one embodiment, the lid 4 is coupled to and slidable relative to the upper panel structure 17 by a track formed at least in part by a male member 86. The male member 86 is secured to the upper panel structure 17 using a screw 89. In a preferred embodiment, the male member passes through an opening 94 in the upper panel structure 17 (and a corresponding opening 94a in the panel 82), engages with the female threads of the male member 86, and is retained by the screw 89 abutting the underside of the upper panel structure 17. The screw 89 can be seen on the underside of the upper panel structure 17 in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, the male member 86 is located substantially in the center of the upper surface of the upper panel structure 17. In other embodiments, the male member 86 may be offset from the center of the upper surface. The top of the male member 86 includes a ridge shaped to engage with a corresponding female member 88a on the underside of the lid 4 to form a track that acts as a guide for guiding the movement of the lid 4.

[0108] 17 and 18 show the underside of the lid 4. The underside of the lid 4 includes a plurality of recesses 88, 90. The elongated central recess 88 includes a female member 88a configured and shaped to engage with the male member 86 to form a track. In this embodiment, the male member 86 includes a ridge that interfaces with the female member 88a to limit movement of the lid 4 in the Y direction. In other embodiments, the same effect can be achieved by providing a recess in the male member 86 and a correspondingly shaped protrusion or ridge in the female member 88a or the lid 4. In some embodiments, the female member 88a may be an overmolded portion such that the female member 88a is maintained within the elongated recess 88 of the lid 4 without the need for adhesives or other retention means. In other embodiments, the female member 88a may not be present, and the male member 86 may directly engage the recess 88, with the recess shaped to facilitate such engagement.

[0109] FIG. 18 shows the male member 86 engaged with the lid 4 by the female member 88a. The male member 86 is movable in the X direction along the female member 88a, thereby allowing relative movement of the lid 4 and the upper panel structure 17 in the X direction. In some embodiments, the female member 88a may be on the upper panel structure 17 and the male member 86 may be on the lid 4. In some embodiments, two or more male members 86 and two or more female members 88a may be provided. In some embodiments, a track may be formed by engaging one or more protrusions on the lid 4 with one or more corresponding recesses in the upper panel structure 17, or vice versa. In this embodiment, the lid 4 hides the track during use, ensuring that the male member 86 is protected from damage and cannot get caught or hit by external objects.

[0110] The cover further includes two recesses 90 for receiving two lid magnets 87. The lid magnets 87 are configured to interact with the fixed magnet 85 in a magnetic latch arrangement as described hereinabove. The lid magnets 87 are substantially cubic, with the center of gravity of each lid magnet 87 equidistant from the edge of the lid 4 in the direction of movement. In some embodiments, the lid magnets 87 may be any shape other than cubic, such as cylindrical. In some embodiments, the centers of gravity of the lid magnets 87 may not be equidistant from the edge of the cover 4 in the direction of movement.

[0111] 17 and 18 further includes four protrusions 91 for supporting the lid 4 on the upper surface of the upper panel structure 17. In some embodiments, the tips of the protrusions 91 may be configured to provide low friction resistance so that the lid 4 does not scratch the upper surface of the upper panel structure 17 during use.

[0112] FIG. 19 shows cross section TT of FIG. 10 when the assembly 80 includes a magnetic latching arrangement, and FIG. 20 shows cross section UU of FIG. 10 when the assembly 80 includes a magnetic latching arrangement. The assembly 80 of FIGS. 19 and 20 does not include the female portion 18 of the guide shown in FIG. 10. Instead, the assembly 80 of FIGS. 19 and 20 includes a male member 86 engaged with a female member 88a for guiding the lid 4 as described above. In this embodiment, the male member 86 passes through an opening 94 in the upper panel structure 17 (and an opening 94a in the panel 82). The male member 86 may then be secured to the upper panel structure 17 using a screw 89. The male member 86 extends into an elongated recess in the lid 4. In this embodiment, the male member 86 abuts against a first end of the lid 4 to hold the lid 4 in the closed position against the magnetic force generated by the magnetic latching arrangement. The male member abuts a second end of the lid 4 opposite the first end to hold the cover in the open position against the magnetic force generated by the magnetic latch arrangement.

[0113] The magnetic latch structure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 20-22. FIG. 20 shows a fixed magnet 85 disposed in the upper panel structure 17 and a lid magnet 87 disposed in the lid 4. FIG. 21 shows a schematic side view of FIG. 20, illustrating the lid 4, lid magnet 87, upper panel structure 17, fixed magnet 85, upper surface 82, and opening 20. In a preferred embodiment, the fixed magnet 85 and the lid magnet 87 are each polarized substantially vertically. That is, each magnet has a first magnetic pole P1 and a second magnetic pole P2, and the magnetic poles face each other substantially vertically, as shown in FIG. 21. The first magnetic pole P1 has an opposite polarity to the second magnetic pole P2. The first magnetic pole P1 of the lid magnet 87 faces the first magnetic pole P1 of the fixed magnet 85. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 21, when the lid 4 is in the closed position, a force 92 resulting from the repulsion of opposing like-polarity Pl holds the lid 4 in the closed position. Similarly, when the lid 4 is in the open position, a force 93 resulting from the repulsion of opposing like-polarity Pl holds the lid 4 in the open position.

[0114] In other embodiments, the fixed magnet 85 and the lid magnet 87 may be polarized in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of motion. That is, the first magnetic pole P1 and the second magnetic pole P2 face substantially horizontally. The magnets are arranged so that the first magnetic pole P1 of the lid magnet 87 faces the first magnetic pole P1 of the fixed magnet 85 when the lid 4 is in the closed position, and so that the second magnetic pole P2 of the lid magnet 87 faces the second magnetic pole P1 of the fixed magnet 85 when the lid 4 is in the open position. In this manner, the lid 4 may be held in the open or closed position by magnetic forces 92 or 93, respectively, resulting from the repulsion of opposing like poles in each position.

[0115] FIG. 22 is a schematic top view of a preferred magnetic latching arrangement. Visible in FIG. 22 are the lid 4, a pair of lid magnets 87, the upper panel structure 17, and a pair of stationary magnets 85. The lid 4 starts in the closed position, and as described herein above, a force 92 resulting from the repulsion of opposing like poles holds the lid 4 in the closed position. In this embodiment, the magnetic latching arrangement biases the lid 4 toward the closed position when the lid 4 is between the closed position and the intermediate position IP (illustrated in FIG. 21 ), and biases the lid 4 toward the open position when the lid 4 is between the open position and the intermediate position IP. When the lid 4 is in the intermediate position IP, there is no resulting force in the sliding direction, and the lid 4 is not biased. In some embodiments, the intermediate position IP is in the center of the upper panel structure 17, and as a result, the magnet 85 is aligned with the magnet 87 when the lid 4 is in the intermediate position IP. In a preferred embodiment, intermediate position IP is off-center so that magnet 85 is not aligned with magnet 87, as shown in FIG.

[0116] Returning to FIG. 22 , a user feels resistance due to magnetic force 92 when moving lid 4 from the open position to the intermediate position IP. Once lid 4 is moved past the intermediate position IP toward the open position, the user feels no resistance because magnetic force 93 biases lid 4 toward the open position. Alternatively, if a user moves lid 4 from the closed position to the intermediate IP position but releases lid 4 before reaching the intermediate IP position, magnetic force 92 biases lid 4 back toward the closed position. The same effect occurs when moving lid 4 from the open position to the intermediate IP and / or closed positions. In this way, the magnetic latch arrangement helps prevent the lid 4 from being unintentionally opened or closed, for example, during transport.

[0117] In each of the embodiments described herein above with respect to the magnetic configuration, the biasing force results from the repulsion of like poles of the fixed magnet 85 and the corresponding lid magnet 87. In an alternative embodiment not shown here, the biasing force results from the attraction of opposite poles of the fixed magnet 85 and the corresponding lid magnet 87. In such an embodiment, one or more fixed magnets 85 disposed at the first end 83 of the upper panel structure 17 and one or more fixed magnets 85 disposed at the second end 84 of the upper panel structure 17 may be provided. The poles of the first end 83 and the second end 84 of the fixed magnet 86 may be configured to generate an attractive force through interaction with corresponding opposite poles of one or more lid magnets 87 disposed at a central location of the lid 4. The attractive force biases the lid 4 to an open or closed position, as described herein above.

[0118] In another alternative embodiment, the first end 83 of the fixed magnet 86 interacts with one or more lid magnets 87 disposed at the first end 83 of the lid 4, and the second end 84 of the fixed magnet 86 interacts with one or more lid magnets 87 disposed at the second end 84 of the lid 4. In such an embodiment, the first end 83 of the fixed magnet 86 is configured to attract the first ends 83 of the lid magnets 87, and the second end 84 of the fixed magnet 86 is configured to attract the second ends 84 of the lid magnets 87, to bias the lid 4 toward the open and closed positions, respectively, as described herein above.

[0119] In this embodiment, the material of the lid 4 and upper panel structure 17 is polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS). In other embodiments, the material of the lid 4 and / or upper panel structure 17 may be other than PC / ABS, such as glass-filled nylon. In some embodiments, the lid is preferably 14 mm to 15 mm in length parallel to the sliding direction, preferably 11 mm to 12 mm in length perpendicular to the sliding direction, and preferably 1 mm to 2 mm in thickness.

[0120] In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material includes tobacco. However, in other embodiments, the aerosolizable material may consist of tobacco, consist substantially entirely of tobacco, include tobacco and aerosolizable materials other than tobacco, include aerosolizable materials other than tobacco, or may not include tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material may include a vapor, or an aerosol-forming agent, or a humectant such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

[0121] In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material is a non-flowable aerosolizable material and the device is for heating the non-flowable aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material.

[0122] Once all, or substantially all, of the one or more volatile components of the aerosolizable material in consumable item 21 have been consumed, the user may remove item 21 from device 1 and discard item 21. The user may subsequently reuse device 1 with another item 21. However, in other embodiments, the item may be non-consumable, and once the one or more volatile components of the aerosolizable material have been consumed, the device and item may be discarded together.

[0123] In the embodiment described herein, consumable 21 includes mouthpiece assembly 21b. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, exemplary devices as described herein may include a mouthpiece. For example, device 1 may include a mouthpiece that is integral with the device, or in other embodiments, the device may include a mouthpiece that is removably attached to device 1. In an example, device 1 may be configured to receive an aerosolizable material to be heated. The aerosolizable material may be included in a consumable that does not include a mouthpiece portion. A user can suck on the mouthpiece of device 1 to inhale the aerosol generated by the device by heating the aerosolizable material.

[0124] In some embodiments, article 21 is sold, supplied, or provided separately from the device 1 in which article 21 can be used. However, in some embodiments, device 1 and one or more of articles 21 may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or assembly, possibly with additional components such as cleaning implements.

[0125] To address various problems and advance the art, this entire disclosure illustrates, by way of illustrations and examples, various embodiments in which the claimed invention may be practiced and which provide a novel heating element for use with an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material, a method for forming a heating element for use with an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a system comprising an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a heating element heatable by such an apparatus. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely of a representative sample of embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented solely to aid in understanding and to teach the claimed and otherwise disclosed features. It is understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or on the equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The present disclosure may include other presently unclaimed inventions that may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. 1. An assembly for use in a device for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of said aerosolizable material to produce an inhalable aerosol, comprising: a structure defining an opening through which an aerosolizable material can be removably inserted into the device; a lid coupled to the structure, the lid being movable between an open position in which access to the opening is unrestricted and a closed position in which access to the opening is restricted; a latch arrangement configured to hold the lid in at least one of the open and closed positions when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions until an external force is applied in use to release the latch arrangement; An assembly comprising:

2. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch arrangement comprises a first portion within the structure and a separate second portion within the lid, the first portion configured to interact with the second portion to retain the lid in one of the open and closed positions when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions.

3. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch arrangement is further configured to bias the lid toward one of the open and closed positions when the lid is between one of the open and closed positions and an intermediate position between the open and closed positions.

4. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one guide for guiding movement of the lid relative to the structure.

5. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the guide comprises at least one of a male member or a female member, the at least one of the male member or the female member for engaging a corresponding other of the male member or the female member of the structure.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the latch arrangement is a mechanical latch arrangement.

7. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the mechanical latch arrangement comprises a cam, the cam comprising a cam element disposed on one of the lid and the structure and at least one follower disposed on the other of the lid and the structure.

8. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the lid defines the cam element, the cam element including one or more detents, and the at least one follower configured to engage the one or more detents when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions to retain the lid in the corresponding one of the open or closed positions.

9. 9. An assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the assembly is configured such that the at least one follower is biased towards the cam element.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one follower is biased toward the cam element by a spring.

11. 11. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a surface of the cam element is configured to engage with and depress the at least one follower when the lid is between the open and closed positions.

12. 12. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the assembly comprises a spring plunger, the spring plunger comprising a depressible member movably retained within a housing and biased towards the cam element, and the at least one follower is the depressible member.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the depressible member is configured to roll against the cam element when the lid is moved relative to the structure.

14. 14. An assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the depressible member is spherical or cylindrical.

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the one or more detents comprise at least two detents located at opposite end portions of the lid in the direction of movement of the lid.

16. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch arrangement is a magnetic latch arrangement.

17. 17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the magnetic latch arrangement comprises at least one stationary magnet disposed within the structure and at least one lid magnet disposed within the lid, the latch arrangement configured to magnetically hold the lid in one of the open and closed positions when the lid is in one of the open and closed positions.

18. The magnetic latch structure includes: When the lid is in the open position, magnetically holding the lid in the open position; When the lid is in the closed position, the lid is held in the closed position by magnetic force.

18. The assembly according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the assembly is configured as follows:

19. the at least one cover magnet has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, the at least one stationary magnet has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, the first pole and the second pole of each of the magnets have opposite polarities; the first pole and the second pole of each of the magnets are oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the lid; 19. The assembly of claim 17 or 18, wherein the first pole of the lid magnet and the first pole of the stationary magnet face in substantially opposite directions and are of the same polarity.

20. the at least one cover magnet has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, the at least one stationary magnet has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, the first pole and the second pole of each of the magnets have opposite polarities; the first pole and the second pole of each of the magnets are oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the lid; 20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first magnetic pole of the lid magnet and the first magnetic pole of the fixed magnet face in substantially opposite directions and are of the same polarity.

21. the at least one lid magnet and the at least one stationary magnet are substantially cubic, each having a long side in the direction of movement of the lid; the center of gravity of the at least one lid magnet is equidistant from an edge of the lid in a direction of movement of the lid; 21. An assembly according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the centre of gravity of the at least one fixed magnet is equidistant in the direction of movement of the lid from the open position and the closed position.

22. the lid having a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface of the structure; the at least one lid magnet is disposed within a corresponding recess in the underside of the lid so as to be invisible during use; An assembly according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the at least one fixed magnet is located just below the top surface of the structure so as not to be visible in use.

23. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid is substantially flat and elongated in the direction of movement of the lid.

24. 24. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid preferably has a length parallel to the sliding direction of 14mm to 15mm, preferably a length perpendicular to the direction of lid movement of 11mm to 12mm, and preferably a thickness of 1mm to 2mm.

25. 25. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the structure comprises a recessed portion having a complementary shape and size to the lid, the recessed portion configured to receive the lid in use and allow movement of the lid between the open and closed positions.

26. 26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein a surface of the recessed portion further comprises the opening, the opening being located toward an end of the recessed portion corresponding to the closed position.

27. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the structure and the lid is polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC / ABS).

28. 28. A system comprising: a heating device arranged to heat an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material; and an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 27 for use with the heating device, The system wherein the heating device comprises at least one heater element disposed within a heater housing, the at least one heater element configured to heat the aerosolizable material in use.

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