Aerosol generating device having movable panels to hide the interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device having a panel for concealing one or more interfaces of the device, the panel being movable and / or removable to expose the one or more interfaces. The aerosol generating device includes a housing forming an exterior surface of the device, one or more interfaces, and a panel attached to the housing in a fixed position to conceal the one or more interfaces and movable from the fixed position to thereby expose the one or more interfaces to the exterior of the device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, in particular an aerosol generating device having a panel for concealing one or more interfaces of the device, the panel being movable and / or removable to expose the one or more interfaces. [Background technology]

[0002] An aerosol generating device generally has a device housing with one or more interfaces for interacting with the exterior of the device, such as, inter alia, a charging port for a power source for the device, a data communication port for transferring and receiving data with the device, or an access port for accessing the interior of the device, e.g., for cleaning purposes.

[0003] The aerosol generating device is typically a mobile device that is carried by a user in the user's hand, bag, shirt pocket, pants pocket, jacket pocket, or similar transport situation, and in the process is subjected to dust, debris, liquids, and external forces that may damage the device or unintentionally cause the device to operate incorrectly.

[0004] If such interfaces are exposed to the outside world and external influences without any protection and left unprotected, these interfaces may become contaminated or damaged, which may lead to malfunction of the device or irreversible damage to the device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a device housing that provides improved protection for the interface from harmful external influences while providing secure and convenient access to the interface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above object is solved by the present invention as defined by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention is an aerosol generating device comprising a housing forming an exterior surface of the device, one or more interfaces, and a panel attached in a fixed position relative to the housing, hiding the one or more interfaces, and movable from the fixed position, thereby exposing the one or more interfaces to the exterior of the device. Hiding the one or more interfaces with the panel provides increased protection from harmful external influences. It is noted that hiding means that the one or more interfaces are not visible from the exterior of the housing of the aerosol generating device. Providing the panel to be movable to expose the interfaces provides easy and convenient access to the interfaces.

[0008] According to a second aspect, in the previous aspect, the panel is guided for sliding and / or rotational movement between a fixed position and a second position different from the fixed position, which provides a reliable, repeatable, predictable and well-defined movement, and thus behavior, of the movable panel, contributing to facilitating accurate operation of the movable panel by a user.

[0009] According to a third aspect, in the previous aspects, the panel and / or housing are provided with a first magnet configured to engage with the housing and / or panel, respectively, to define a fixed position, and / or a second magnet configured to engage with the housing and / or panel, respectively, to define a second position. The use of magnets is less subject to wear and tear due to excessive or erroneous operation of the panel than the use of mechanical elements on the housing and panel, for example, configured to mechanically engage with each other.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, in either one of the second or third aspects, the panel is detachable from the housing when in the second position, but not detachable from the housing when in the fixed position. Allowing the panel to be detachable from the housing aids in repair or cleaning of the panel and the housing. Allowing it to be detachable only in the second position prevents the panel from being unintentionally removed when the interface is hidden in the fixed position, ensuring correct operation of the device and the panel.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect, in any one of the second or third aspects, the panel is movable to a third position.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect, in the previous aspects, the panel is detachable from the housing when in the third position, but is not detachable from the housing when in the fixed position and when in the second position. The fifth and sixth aspects further improve the safe and correct operation of the panel by separating the position for exposing the interface and the position for detaching the panel, thus preventing unintentional detachment of the panel.

[0013] According to a seventh aspect, in any one of the fifth or sixth aspects, the panel and / or the housing are provided with a third magnet configured to engage with the housing and / or the panel, respectively, to define the third position, providing the same advantages as detailed for the third aspect.

[0014] According to an eighth aspect, in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the panel is movable from the fixed position to the third position.

[0015] According to a ninth aspect, in the previous aspects, the panel is movable to the third position by sliding and / or rotating the panel in a direction opposite to the direction of moving the panel from the fixed position to the second position. This mode of operation of the panel to expose the interface or to detach the panel prevents unintentional detachment of the panel and improves safe and correct operation of the device and the panel.

[0016] According to a tenth aspect, in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the panel is movable from the second position to the third position. By limiting the movement to the third position starting from the fixed position or the second position, a more clearly defined movement and thus behavior of the panel for exposing the interface or detaching the panel is provided, thus further preventing unintentional detachment of the panel and improving safe and correct operation of the device and the panel.

[0017] According to an eleventh aspect, in the first aspect, the panel is detachable from the housing in a fixed position, which provides simplicity and cost-effectiveness in exposing the interface.

[0018] According to a twelfth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the aerosol generating device comprises a luminous indicator concealed by the panel in the fixed position.

[0019] According to a thirteenth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects and aspects 2 to 10, the light-emitting indicator is exposed to the exterior of the device in the second position and / or when the panel is detached from the housing from the second position. The light-emitting indicator may function to provide information about an operational or functional state of the device and / or to indicate correct positioning of the panel in the second position and ensure safe and correct operation of the movable panel.

[0020] According to a fourteenth aspect, in the eleventh or twelfth aspect, the light-emitting indicator is exposed to the outside of the device when the panel is detached from the housing.

[0021] According to a fifteenth aspect, in any one of the twelfth to fourteenth aspects, a light guide or a transparent or translucent element is provided on the panel in a position corresponding to the luminous indicator when the panel is in the fixed position, thereby making the luminous indicator visible from outside the device while providing an element of protection for the luminous indicator from external influences.

[0022] According to a sixteenth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the housing is provided with a safety vent for a battery provided within the housing, the safety vent being concealed by the panel in the fixed position.

[0023] According to a seventeenth aspect, in any one of the preceding and second to tenth aspects, the safety vent is exposed to the outside of the device at the second position.

[0024] According to an eighteenth aspect, in the eleventh and sixteenth aspects, when the panel is detached from the housing, the safety vent is exposed to the outside of the device.

[0025] Providing a safety vent according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects enhances safety for the user in the event that a battery, particularly a lithium ion battery, which may provide a power source for the aerosol generating device, malfunctions.

[0026] According to a nineteenth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the only interfaces on the housing that can interface with the outside of the device are the one or more interfaces. This ensures that all interfaces provided to the device are protected by the panel.

[0027] According to a twentieth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the one or more interfaces include an electrical interface for charging a battery of the device and / or a communication interface for data transmission.

[0028] According to a twenty-first aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the one or more interfaces include an access port that allows access to an internal structure of the housing. Providing access to the internal structure of the housing aids in any maintenance or repair of the device.

[0029] According to a twenty-second aspect, in the previous aspect, the internal structure is a chamber for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate, and the access port is adapted to allow the chamber to be cleaned. Allowing the chamber to be cleaned and maintained ensures proper functioning of the aerosol generating device.

[0030] According to a twenty-third aspect, in the previous aspect, the access port functions as an air inlet for the chamber during use. This reduces manufacturing costs and complexity as it removes the need for an additional air inlet.

[0031] According to a twenty-fourth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, the housing is provided with an opening for discharging the generated aerosol to the outside of the device and an associated closing mechanism for the opening, and the housing and the panel form a seamless exterior of the device, except for the interface between the housing and the panel, the opening, and the associated opening mechanism. The closing mechanism for the opening for discharging the generated aerosol prevents any unwanted particles and substances from entering the device when not in use, thereby further protecting the device from harmful external influences. By reducing the amount of seams between different parts of the device and the device housing, the amount of entry points can be minimized, thereby further improving the protection of the device.

[0032] According to a twenty-fifth aspect, in any one of the previous aspects, a shape of the panel essentially corresponds to a shape of a surface of the housing on one side of the housing.

[0033] According to a twenty-sixth aspect, in the previous aspect, the size of the panel essentially corresponds to the size of a surface of the housing on one side of the housing.

[0034] According to the twenty-seventh aspect, in any one of the previous claims, the fixed position, the second position and / or the third position are predetermined positions. It should be noted that a predetermined position is a position that is defined in advance and in a clearly distinguishable manner prior to the use of the aerosol generating device. In other words, the predetermined position must be reproducible and cannot be the result of chance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] 1A and 1B show schematic front and top views, respectively, of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a fixed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] 1A and 1B show schematic front and top views, respectively, of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a fixed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3C] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 1A and 1B show schematic front views of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position and a third position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] 1A and 1B show schematic front views of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position and a third position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 1A and 1B show schematic front views of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position and a third position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] 1A and 1B show schematic front views of an aerosol generating device with a panel in a second position and a third position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A]1 shows a schematic diagram of a top view of an aerosol generating device having a closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a top view of an aerosol generating device having a closing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 shows a simplified diagram of a front view of an aerosol generation device having a light guide according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of an aerosol generating device with a magnet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a front view of an aerosol generating device with a magnet according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0037] 1 generally comprises a housing 200 having an opening 210 through which an aerosol-generating substrate 110, such as a liquid or a tobacco stick, may be at least partially inserted into an aerosol-generating chamber 120 of the device. The device 100 further comprises a power source 130, which may be a rechargeable and / or replaceable power source, such as a battery, and circuitry 140 that controls the operation of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0038] 2A shows a front view of an aerosol generating device with a housing 200 and a panel 300 attached to the housing 200 in a fixed position. The panel 300 is shown to have substantially the same size as the front of the housing 200, but the panel 300 may be smaller in size such that it has only a portion of the size of the front of the housing 200. In the fixed position, all interfaces may be covered by the panel and therefore are not visible or accessible from the outside of the aerosol generating device. In FIG. 2B, which shows a top view of the aerosol generating device, it can be seen that the seam extends only between the housing 200 and the panel 300.

[0039] FIG. 3A shows the aerosol generation with the housing 200 and the panel 300 in a second position where the panel 300 has been rotated from the fixed position shown in FIG. 2A. The rotational movement may be achieved, for example, by a swivel, a rotary joint, or a similar configuration. The rotation exposes the interface 230 to the exterior of the device for interaction with the device. Although the interface 230 is shown as a single element, it may include one or more of an electrical interface for charging the device's battery, a communication interface for data transmission, an access port allowing access to the interior structure of the housing, preferably an access port allowing cleaning of the internal aerosol generation chamber, and an air inlet. The housing 200 may also include a battery safety vent for releasing internal pressure in the event of a malfunction of a battery that may provide power to the aerosol generation device. The panel 300 may remain attached to the housing 200 in the second position, or alternatively, may be detachable from the housing 200 in the second position. Detaching and attaching the panel 300 may involve moving the panel in a particular direction or even rotating the panel 300 .

[0040] FIG. 3B shows an aerosol generating device, which may be the aerosol generating device described in the context of FIG. 3A. The panel 300 is in a second position in which the panel 300 has slid sideways instead of rotating. The sliding movement may be achieved by the panel 300 being movably attached to the housing 200 by engagement with one or more protrusions and corresponding one or more grooves provided on the housing and the panel, or vice versa and with each other. FIG. 3C shows an aerosol generating device, which may be the aerosol generating device described in the context of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. The panel 300 is in a second position in which the panel 300 has slid upward.

[0041] Figure 4A shows an aerosol generating device, which may be the aerosol generating device described in the context of Figure 3A. The panel 300 is in a second position, where the panel has been rotated from the fixed position shown in Figure 2A to the second position. In the second position, the interface 230 is exposed and the panel 300 may not be removable from the housing 200. Figure 4B shows the panel 300 in a third position, where the panel 300 has been further rotated from the second position in the same rotational direction as the panel's rotational movement from the fixed position to the second position. In the third position, the panel 300 may be removable from the housing 200.

[0042] FIG. 5A shows an aerosol generating device, which may be the aerosol generating device described in the context of FIG. 3B. The panel 300 is in a second position, where the panel has slid upward from the fixed position shown in FIG. 2A to the second position. In the second position, the interface 230 is exposed and the panel 300 may not be removable from the housing 200. FIG. 5B shows the panel 300 in a third position, where the panel has slid in the opposite direction to the direction in which the panel 300 slid from the fixed position to the second position. The panel 300 may be moved directly to the third position by a downward sliding movement from the fixed position, or it may be necessary to first move the panel 300 to the second position by performing an upward sliding movement. In the third position, the panel 300 may be removable from the housing 200, and in the third position, the interface 230 may or may not be exposed by the panel.

[0043] Although the panel 300 has been described in the above embodiments as being configured to perform either a rotational or a sliding movement, it should be noted that the panel 300 may be configured to perform a combination of a sliding movement and a rotational movement. For example, the panel 300 may move to a second position by performing a sliding movement and move from either the second position or the fixed position to a third position by performing a rotational movement. Alternatively, the movement may consist of simultaneous rotation and translation (sliding).

[0044] 6A and 6B show top views of an aerosol generating device, in which a housing 200 includes an opening 210 for discharging an aerosol generated in the aerosol generating device using an aerosol-generating substrate. The opening 210 may be provided with an opening / closing mechanism 220 for closing and protecting the opening 210 when the aerosol generating device is not in use. The partition mechanism 220 may be movable by a sliding movement, a rotational movement, or a combination thereof. As further shown, the aerosol generating device has seams only between the housing 200, the opening 210, the opening / closing mechanism 220, and the panel 300.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows an aerosol generating device, which may be the aerosol generation described in the context of any one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Although the aerosol generating device is shown with the panel 300 in a second position relative to the housing 200 by performing a rotational movement from a fixed position in which the interface 230 is hidden, the panel may be configured to perform a sliding movement or a combination of rotational and sliding movements, and the panel may be further moved to a third position. The panel 300 may comprise a light guide 320 provided on an outer surface of the panel 300. The housing may be provided with a light-emitting indicator that may be visible only by illuminating the light guide 320 when the panel is in the second position as shown in FIG. 7. The light-emitting indicator may be configured to indicate a technical status of the aerosol generating device, such as a charging station or a power level of the aerosol generating device. The light-emitting indicator may additionally or alternatively indicate that the panel 300 has been correctly moved to the second position. Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be provided with another light-emitting indicator that may be visible only by illuminating the light guide 320 when the panel 300 is in a third position different from the second position.

[0046] In any embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the aerosol generating device may have one or more magnets or magnetic elements 310 provided on the housing 200 and / or the panel 300 to define the fixed position and the second position of the panel. In the fixed position shown in Figure 8A, the magnet 310 marked "1" provided on the panel 300 couples with a metal or magnetic positioning element provided on the housing 200 at a location corresponding to the location of the magnet 310 marked "1". When the panel 300 moves towards the second position, the magnet 310 marked "2" engages with a metal or magnetic positioning element provided on the housing. The panel 300 may be provided with further magnets or magnetic elements to define the location of the third position of the panel 300 to which the panel 300 can move. Alternatively, the housing 200 may be provided with a magnetic positioning element and the panel 300 may be provided with one or more metal elements, instead of the magnet 310, that may engage with the magnetic positioning element provided on the housing to define the fixed position, the second position, and / or the third position.

[0047] It should be noted that in any of the embodiments described in the context of Figures 1-8B, the fixed position, the second position, and / or the third position may be predetermined positions. A predetermined position is a position that is clearly and distinctly defined in advance, typically during the manufacture and / or assembly of the aerosol generating device, typically prior to the use of the aerosol generating device. In other words, the predetermined position is reliably reproducible and is not the result of chance. For example, in the case of a rotational or sliding movement of the cover 300, the predetermined position may be defined by a maximum rotation angle or a maximum sliding distance of the cover 300. For example, the sliding or rotating mechanism may be configured to allow a maximum sliding distance or a maximum rotation angle in a first sliding and / or rotating direction and / or a second sliding and / or rotating direction opposite to the first sliding and / or rotating direction. Such a maximum sliding distance or maximum rotation angle may be inherently defined by the sliding or rotating mechanism provided or may be achieved by a stop or limiting element. Additionally or alternatively, the predetermined position may be a position defined by an attractive force at the predetermined position that causes the cover 300 to remain in place once the cover 300 is in place. In other words, the force required to cause the cover 300 to remain in place is much greater than the force required to cause the cover 300 to move once the cover 300 leaves the predetermined position. For example, the predetermined position may be defined by an attractive or restrictive element provided on the housing 200 that cooperates with a respective cooperating element provided on the cover 300. As a non-limiting example, the housing 200 may be provided with a magnetic coupling element and the cover 300 may be provided with a mating magnetic coupling element, and the predetermined position is defined as the position where the magnetic coupling element interacts in an attractive coupling with the mating magnetic coupling element. As another non-limiting example, the housing 200 may be provided with a groove, recess, or similar element and the cover 300 may be provided with a cooperating protrusion or similar element, or vice versa, and the predetermined position is defined as the position where the cooperating protrusion interacts with the groove or recess. The interaction of the cooperating protrusion with the groove or recess may include the cooperating protrusion being positioned within the groove or recess. It should be noted that any combination of two or more of the above mentioned means for defining the predetermined position may be employed.

[0048] Although certain specific embodiments and generally related methods have been described in this disclosure, modifications and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the above description of exemplary embodiments does not define or limit the disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the independent and dependent claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 100 Aerosol Generator 110 Aerosol-generating substrate 120 Aerosol Generation Chamber 130 Power supply 140 circuits 200 Equipment housing 210 Opening 220 Opening and closing mechanism 230 Interface 300 Panels 310 Magnet 320 Light Guide

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a housing forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the device; one or more interfaces; a panel attached to the housing in a fixed position to conceal the one or more interfaces and movable from the fixed position to thereby expose the one or more interfaces to an exterior of the device; Equipped with The aerosol generating device, wherein the housing is provided with a safety vent for a battery provided within the housing, the safety vent being concealed by the panel in the fixed position.

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the panel is guided for sliding and / or rotational movement between the fixed position and a second position different from the fixed position.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the panel and / or the housing are provided with a first magnet configured to engage with the housing and / or the panel, respectively, to define the fixed position and / or a second magnet configured to engage with the housing and / or the panel, respectively, to define the second position.

4. 4. The aerosol generating device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the panel is movable to a third position.

5. the panel is removable from the housing when in the second position but is not removable from the housing when in the fixed position; or The aerosol generating device of claim 4 , wherein the panel is detachable from the housing when in the third position, but is not detachable from the housing when in the fixed position or the second position.

6. the panel is movable from the fixed position to the third position; or 6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein the panel is movable from the second position to the third position.

7. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the panel is movable to the third position by sliding and / or rotating the panel in a direction opposite to the direction that moves the panel from the fixed position to the second position.

8. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the panel is detachable from the housing at the fixed position.

9. 9. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a luminous indicator concealed by the panel in the fixed position.

10. The aerosol generating device of claim 9, which relies on claim 2, wherein the luminous indicator is exposed to the outside of the device in the second position and / or when the panel is detached from the housing from the second position.

11. 11. An aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein a light guide or a transparent or translucent element is provided on the panel at a position corresponding to the light emitting indicator when the panel is in the fixed position.

12. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the one or more interfaces include an electrical interface for charging a battery of the device and / or a communication interface for data transmission.

13. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the one or more interfaces include an access port providing access to an internal structure of the housing.

14. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the housing is provided with an opening for discharging the generated aerosol to the outside of the device and an associated closing mechanism for the opening, and the housing and the panel form a seamless outer surface of the device except for the interface between the housing and the panel and the associated closing mechanism when the opening is closed.

15. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a housing forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the device; one or more interfaces; a panel attached to the housing in a fixed position to conceal the one or more interfaces and movable from the fixed position to thereby expose the one or more interfaces to an exterior of the device; Equipped with the panel is guided for sliding and / or rotational movement between the fixed position and a second position different from the fixed position; the panel is movable to a third position; the panel is removable from the housing when in the second position but is not removable from the housing when in the fixed position; or An aerosol generating device, wherein the panel is detachable from the housing when in the third position, but is not detachable from the housing when in the fixed position or the second position.

16. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a housing forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the device; one or more interfaces; a panel attached to the housing in a fixed position to conceal the one or more interfaces and movable from the fixed position to thereby expose the one or more interfaces to an exterior of the device; a light emitting indicator concealed by the panel in the fixed position; Equipped with the panel is guided for sliding and / or rotational movement between the fixed position and a second position different from the fixed position; The aerosol generating device, wherein the light emitting indicator is exposed to an exterior of the device in the second position and / or when the panel is detached from the housing from the second position.

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