Apparatus for an aerosol generating device

Abstract

To provide a device for an aerosol generation device.SOLUTION: A device for an aerosol generation device includes a first housing member for at least partially defining a chamber 160 for including a heater formation 23 for heating an aerosol generation material, and a second housing member 53 attached to the first housing member by a fitting tool. A passage 196 into the chamber 160 is defined between the first member and the second member 53. The passage 196 is configured so as to enable an electric connection member 73 for connecting to the heater formation 23 to extend passing the passage. The device includes a sealing formation 15 arranged so as to seal the passage 196. The attachment tool between the first housing member and the second housing member 53 is configured to hold the first housing member and the second housing member 53 in a manner that the sealing formation 15 seals the passage 196.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for use with an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device being for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning the tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products include so-called "non-combustion heating" products, or tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products, which release compounds by heating rather than burning the material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for an aerosol generating device, comprising a first housing member for at least partially defining a chamber for accommodating a heater construct (also referred to as a "heating construct") for heating an aerosol generating material, a second housing member attached to the first housing member by a fixture, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member define a passage therebetween into the chamber, the passage being configured to allow an electrical connection member for connecting to the heater construct to extend through the passage, and a sealing construct arranged to seal the passage, wherein the fixture between the first housing member and the second housing member is configured to hold the first housing member and the second housing member in a manner that causes the sealing construct to seal the passage.

[0004] The passageway may be disposed between a first end portion of a first housing member and a second end portion of a second housing member positioned adjacent to the first end portion of the first housing member, and the fixture may attach the first end portion of the first housing member to the second end portion of the second housing member.

[0005] The fixture between the second housing member and the first housing member may be a detachable fixture and / or a fixture configured to enable movement of the second housing member relative to the first housing member to relieve the seal of the passageway.

[0006] The fixture may include one or more threaded attachment members, such as one or more screws, or one or more nut and bolt pairs.

[0007] The one or more threaded attachment members may be tightened to a predetermined torque such that the sealing assembly effects an airtight seal of the passageway.

[0008] The sealing assembly may include a first sealing member and a second sealing member, and the fixture between the first housing member and the second housing member is configured to hold the first and second sealing members in contact with each other to airtight seal the passageway between the first housing member and the second housing member, and the sealing assembly is arranged in use to enable an electrical connection member to extend through the passageway between the first sealing member and the second sealing member.

[0009] The fixture may be configured to supply a compressive force to an electrical connection member located between the two sealing members to seal the passageway.

[0010] Each of the sealing members may be configured to contact the electrical connection member and include a surface configured to conform to the outer profile of the surface of the electrical connection member. The surface of the sealing member may be a substantially flat surface configured to abut the substantially flat surface of the electrical connection member.

[0011] One of the sealing members may include a hole configured to allow an electrical connection member to extend therethrough and connect to a heater assembly within the chamber while the passageway is sealed.

[0012] The first housing member may define an elongated chamber for receiving a heating assembly, and the passageway may extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

[0013] The sealing assembly may include at least one elastic sealing member.

[0014] The sealing assembly may include at least one elastic member including silicone.

[0015] The sealing assembly may include two elastic sealing members including silicone, for example, the sealing assembly may include two silicone gaskets.

[0016] The sealing assembly may be configured to seal the passageway when a portion of the electrical connection member, which is substantially formed as a sheet, extends through the passageway.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for an aerosol generating device, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present disclosure; a heater assembly for being received in a chamber defined by the first housing member; and an electrical connection member extending into the chamber through a passageway and connecting to the heating assembly.

[0018] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating device comprising the apparatus according to the first aspect of the present disclosure or the apparatus according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a housing module for being received in an aerosol generating device, the housing module being for accommodating a heater construct for heating an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating device, the housing module being a housing that at least partially defines a chamber for accommodating a heater construct for heating the aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol, the housing comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a passageway into the chamber through the housing, the passageway being configured such that an electrical connection member for connection to the heater construct can pass through the passageway and out of the chamber, wherein the passageway is located away from both the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the housing, and the housing module is provided.

[0020] The passageway may be oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing module and extend between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the housing module.

[0021] The passageway may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

[0022] The housing module may comprise a sealing construct arranged to seal the passageway while allowing the electrical connection member to pass through the passageway.

[0023] The housing module may comprise an apparatus according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0024] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a housing module according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a heating construct arranged in the chamber defined by the housing module, and an electrical connection member, wherein a first portion of the electrical connection member extends into the chamber through the passageway such that the first portion of the electrical connection member can be connected to the heating construct, and a second portion of the electrical connection member is outside the housing module and arranged to be connected to an electrical component of the device.

[0025] The electrical connection member may exit a passage in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing module extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and the second portion of the electrical connection member may be aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

[0026] The second portion of the electrical connection member may be configured to connect to an electrical component of a device, such as a printed circuit board, that is disposed adjacent to the housing module and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

[0027] The electrical connection member may include only one curved portion between a portion of the electrical connection member that exits a passage in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing module and a second portion of the electrical connection member that is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

[0028] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating system comprising a device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure or a device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, and an article comprising an aerosol-forming material arranged to be heated by the device.

[0029] The aerosol-forming material may comprise tobacco, and the device may be a tobacco heating product, also known as a non-combustion heating device.

[0030] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, provided by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 11

Figure 12

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Figure 14

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] As used herein, the term "aerosolizable material" includes materials that, when heated, provide volatilized components, typically in the form of vapor or aerosol. An "aerosolizable material" can be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. An "aerosolizable material" can include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extracts, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. An "aerosolizable material" can be in the form of, for example, shredded tobacco, cut-rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted aerosolizable material, liquid, gel, amorphous, gelled sheet, powder, or mass. An "aerosolizable material" can also include other non-tobacco products and may or may not contain nicotine depending on the product. An "aerosolizable material" can include one or more humectants such as glycerol or propylene glycol. The term "aerosol-forming material" can also be used herein with the same meaning as the term "aerosolizable material".

[0033] As noted above, an aerosolizable material can alternatively include what is referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous) or an "amorphous" which in some cases is referred to as a "dry gel". An amorphous is a solid material that can hold some fluid such as a liquid within it. In some cases, an aerosolizable material includes from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous. In some cases, an aerosolizable material consists of amorphous.

[0034] As used herein, the term "sheet" means an element having a width and length that are substantially greater than its thickness. A sheet can be, for example, a strip.

[0035] Certain examples of the aerosol generation devices described herein heat the aerosol-forming material by resistive heating. Resistive heating involves using an electrical resistive heating element that becomes hot when an electric current is passed through one or more electrical resistive heating elements to heat the aerosol-forming material.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of an apparatus 1 (also referred to herein as aerosol generation device 1) according to an example of the present invention is shown. The apparatus 1 is for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. In this example, the aerosolizable material 72 includes tobacco, and the apparatus 1 is a tobacco heating product (also known in the art as a tobacco heating device or a non-combustion heating device). The exemplary apparatus 1 is a portable device.

[0037] The apparatus 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 mouth-side end or proximal end of the apparatus 1. The second end 5 may be referred to herein as the distal end of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 has an on / off button 7 to enable the apparatus 1 to be switched on and off as a whole when desired by the user of the apparatus 1.

[0038] Generally speaking, the apparatus 1 is configured to generate an aerosol that will be drawn by the user by heating an aerosol-forming material. In use, the user inserts an article 21 into the apparatus 1 and activates (operates) the apparatus 1, for example using the button 7, to cause the apparatus 1 to start heating the aerosol-forming material. The user then sucks on the article 21 near the first end 3 of the apparatus 1 to draw the aerosol generated by the apparatus 1. When the user sucks on the article 21, the generated aerosol flows through the apparatus 1 along the flow path towards the proximal end 3 of the apparatus 1.

[0039] In the example, steam is generated, and then this steam at least partially condenses to form an aerosol before exiting the device 1 so as to be aspirated by the user.

[0040] In this regard, first, generally, steam is a gaseous substance at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means, for example, that the steam can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without lowering the temperature. On the other hand, generally, an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or droplets in air or another gas. A "colloid" is a substance in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance.

[0041] For reasons of simplicity, when used in this specification, the term aerosol should be taken to mean an aerosol, steam, or a combination of an aerosol and steam.

[0042] The device 1 comprises a casing 9 for arranging and protecting the various internal components of the device 1. Thus, the casing 9 is an outer housing for accommodating the internal components. In the illustrated example, the casing 9 comprises a sleeve 11 that surrounds the device 1 and is covered with an upper panel 17 at a first end 3 that generally defines the "upper part" of the device 1 and a bottom panel 19 at a second end 5 (see FIGS. 2 - 5) that generally defines the "bottom part" of the device 1.

[0043] The sleeve 11 comprises a first sleeve 11a and a second sleeve 11b. The first sleeve 11a is provided on the upper part of the device 1 and extends away from the first end 3. The second sleeve 11b is provided on the bottom part of the device 1 and extends away from the second end 5. The first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b each surround the device 1. That is, the device 1 includes a longitudinal axis along the Y direction, and the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b each surround the internal components in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis.

[0044] In this example, the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b are removably engaged with each other. In this example, the first sleeve 11a is engaged with the second sleeve 11b in a snap-fit configuration with grooves and recesses.

[0045] In some examples, the top panel 17 and / or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the corresponding first and second sleeves 11a, 11b, respectively, to allow easy access to the interior of the device 1. In some examples, the sleeve 11 may be "permanently" fixed to the top panel 17 and / or the bottom panel 19, for example, to prevent a user from accessing the interior of the device 1. In one example, the panels 17 and 19 are made of a flexible material, including, for example, glass-filled nylon formed by injection molding, and the sleeve 11 is made of aluminum, although other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.

[0046] The top panel 17 of the device 1 has an opening 20 at the mouth-side end 3 of the device 1, through which, during use, an article 21 containing an aerosolizable material is inserted into and removed from the device 1 by the user. The opening 20 is opened and closed by a lid 4 in this example. In the example shown, the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position to allow insertion of the article 21 into the device 1. The lid 4 is configured to move bidirectionally parallel to the X direction.

[0047] The 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 a power source to charge the device 1. The connection port 6 extends in the Z direction from the front side 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. It is advantageous that the device 1 can stand at the second end 5 while charging or while making a data connection through the connection port 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection port 6 is a USB socket.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, the first sleeve 11a comprises a tapered surface at the first end 3 of the device 1. The tapered surface has a first angle α with respect to the surface of the second sleeve 11b at the second end 5. In this example, the surface of the second sleeve 11b at the second end 5 is substantially parallel to the X direction. Thus, as shown, the article 21 is insertable through the opening 20 at the proximal portion of the first end 3. At the portion where the first sleeve 11a and the second sleeve 11b meet at the joint 11c, a second angle β is formed with respect to the X direction. The second angle β is shown to be larger than the first angle α.

[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the right and left sides of the device 1 respectively. Here, the article 21 is shown to be in a central position in the lateral direction. This is because the opening 20 into which the article 21 is inserted is positioned at an intermediate point along the X and Z directions.

[0050] FIGS. 5 and 6 show schematic cross-sectional views from the front of the device 1 with the article inserted and withdrawn, respectively, through line 44 of the device 1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, within the casing 9, a heater arrangement 23, a control circuit 25, and a power supply 27 are disposed or fixed. The heater arrangement 23 in this example is housed within a housing module 50, which will be described in more detail below. In this example, the control circuit 25 is part of the electronics compartment and comprises two printed circuit boards (PCBs) 25a, 25b. In this example, the control circuit 25 and the power supply 27 are laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement 23 (i.e., adjacent when viewed from the end), and the control circuit 25 is positioned below the power supply 27. This enables the device 1 to be compact and effective in the lateral direction corresponding to the X direction.

[0052] In this example, the control circuit 25 includes a controller such as a microprocessor configuration that is configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosolizable material within the article 21, as further discussed below.

[0053] In this example, the power source 27 is a rechargeable battery. In other examples, a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, or a hybrid of a battery and a capacitor 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. The battery 27 supplies power when needed and is electrically connected to the heater configuration 23 to heat the aerosolizable material within the consumable (to volatilize the aerosolizable material without burning the aerosolizable material, as discussed).

[0054] The advantage of arranging the power source 27 adjacent to the heater configuration 23 laterally is that a physically large power source 27 can be used without the device 1 becoming overly long as a whole. As will be appreciated, a physically large power source 27 has a higher capacity (i.e., the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in ampere-hours or the like), and thus the battery life of the device 1 can be longer.

[0055] In one example, the heater assembly 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow inner heating chamber 29 into which an article 21 containing an aerosolizable material is inserted for heating during use. Generally speaking, the heating chamber 29 is a heating zone for receiving the article 21. Different configurations for the heater assembly 23 are possible. In some examples, the heater assembly 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of a plurality of heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater assembly 23. The heating element or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least partially annular or partially tubular, at its outer periphery. In one example, the heating element or each heating element may be a thin film heater. In another example, the heating element or each heating element may be made of a ceramic material. Examples of suitable ceramic materials include alumina, aluminum nitride, and silicon nitride ceramics that can be laminated and sintered. Other heater components are possible, including induction heating, infrared heater elements that heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed, for example, by resistive electrical windings.

[0056] In this example, the heater assembly 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube 75 and includes a heater 71. In one example, the heater 71 comprises a substrate on which at least one conductive element is formed. The substrate may be in the form of a sheet and may, for example, comprise a flexible layer. In a particular example, this layer is a polyimide layer. The one or more conductive elements may be printed on the substrate layer or may be separately attached. The one or more conductive elements may be encapsulated within the substrate or may be coated with the substrate.

[0057] The support tube 75 is a heating element that transfers heat generated by the heater 71 to the article 21. The heater assembly 23 is dimensioned such that substantially the entire aerosolizable material is heated during use when the article 21 is inserted into the device 1. In other examples, other heat conductive materials may be used for the support tube 75. For example, the support tube 75 may include a metal or metal alloy. In some examples, the support tube 75 may include graphite or another conductive carbon material.

[0058] In some examples, the heating element or each heating element may be arranged such that a selected zone of the aerosolizable material is heated independently, e.g., in sequence (over time) or together (simultaneously) as desired.

[0059] In this example, the heater assembly 23 is surrounded along at least a portion of its length by a vacuum region 31. The vacuum region 31 helps reduce heat transfer from the heater assembly 23 to the outside of the device 1. Since this reduces the overall heat loss, it thereby helps keep the power requirements of the heater assembly 23 low. The vacuum region 31 also helps keep the outside of the device 1 cool during operation of the heater assembly 23. In some examples, the vacuum region 31 may be surrounded by a double-walled sleeve, and the region between the two walls of the sleeve is evacuated to provide a low-pressure region so as to minimize heat transfer by conduction and / or convection. In other examples, in addition to or instead of the vacuum region, another insulation assembly may be used, for example, using a suitable foam-type material, such as an insulating material.

[0060] The housing 9 may further comprise an internal support structure 37 (shown explicitly in FIG. 6) for supporting the internal components of the device 1.

[0061] As described above, in this example, the heater assembly 23 and the vacuum region 31 are housed within a housing module 50, also referred to as a cassette 51. The housing module 50 defines a chamber 160 in which the heater assembly 23 and the vacuum region 31 are disposed. Thus, the heating chamber 29 is also within the chamber 160. In this example, the housing module 50 comprises a first housing member 51 and a second housing member 53. The first housing member 51 is an elongated member that defines the chamber 160 and houses the heater assembly 23. The second housing member 53 is disposed at the distal end of the first housing member 51 and closes the chamber 160, as will be described in more detail below. The first and second housing members 51, 53 may be formed of a suitable material, such as a plastic material, as will be described in more detail below in this example.

[0062] In this example, the housing module 50 enables the housing of the heater assembly 23. The housing module 50 can function to isolate the heater assembly 23, and associated components for receiving the article 21, from other components of the device 1, such as the control circuit 25. This can, for example, prevent steam or aerosol generated by the heater assembly 23, or air heated by the heater assembly 23, from coming into contact with other components of the device 1, such as the control circuit 25, or at least minimize the air flow or steam flow between the chamber 160 and the remainder of the device 1 outside of the housing module 50. Further, the vacuum region 31 is disposed within the housing module 50 to insulate the chamber 160 and the heater assembly 23 contained therein from the portion of the device 1 outside of the housing module 50.

[0063] The device 1 further comprises a collar 33 extending around the opening 20 and protruding from the opening 20 into the inside of the housing 9, and an expansion element 35 positioned between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum region 31. The expansion element 35 is bell-shaped and forms an expansion chamber 40 at the mouth-side end 3 of the device 1. The collar 33 is a holder for holding the article 21 (as shown explicitly in Fig. 5). In this example, the holder can be removably detached from the device 1 in a recoverable manner.

[0064] One end of the expansion element 35 is connected to and supported by the first sleeve 11a, and the other end of the expansion element 35 is connected to and supported by one end of the housing module 50, in this example, the first housing member 51. The first sealing element 55 shown as an O-ring is disposed between the expansion element 35 and the first sleeve 11a, and the second sealing element 57 shown as an O-ring is disposed between the expansion element 35 and the inner surface of the first housing member 51. Each O-ring is made of silicone, although other elastomeric materials may be used to enable sealing. The first and second sealing elements 55, 57 prevent the movement of gas into the surrounding components of the device 1.

[0065] As shown explicitly in Fig. 6, the collar 33, the expansion element 35 and the vacuum region 31 / heater assembly 23 are coaxially arranged such that when the article 21 is inserted into the device 1, as shown explicitly in Fig. 5, the article 21 extends through the collar 33 and the expansion element 35 into the heating chamber 29.

[0066] As described above, in this example, the heater assembly 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-side end 3 of the device 1 via the expansion chamber 40.

[0067] In this example, the extension element 35 comprises a tubular body having a first opening end adjacent to the opening 20 and a second opening end adjacent to the heating chamber 29. The tubular body comprises a first section extending from the first opening end along the tubular body to approximately the midpoint, and a second section extending from approximately the midpoint along the tubular body to the second opening end. The first section comprises a flared portion that widens as it moves away from the second section. Thus, the first section has an inner diameter that tapers outwardly towards the open first opening end. The second section has a substantially constant inner diameter.

[0068] As shown explicitly in FIG. 6, in this example, the extension element 35 is disposed within the housing 9 between the collar 33 and the vacuum region 31 / heater assembly 23. More specifically, at the second opening end of the extension element 35, the extension element 35 is disposed between the end portion of the support tube 75 of the heater assembly 23 and the inside of the vacuum region 31 such that the second opening end engages with the inside of the support tube 75 and the vacuum region 31. At the first opening end, the extension element 35 receives the collar 33 such that the leg 59 of the collar 33 projects into the expansion chamber 40. Thus, the inner diameter of the first section of the extension element 35 is greater than the outer diameter of the leg when the article 21 is received within the apparatus 1 (see FIG. 5) and when the article 21 is not present.

[0069] As best understood from FIG. 5, the inner diameter of the first section of the extension element 35 is greater than the outer diameter of the article 21. Thus, when the article 21 is inserted into the apparatus 1 over at least a portion of the length of the extension element 35, a gap 36 exists between the extension element 35 and the article 21. The gap 36 is around the entire circumference of the article 21 in that region.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, color 33 includes a plurality of legs 59. In this example, there are four legs 59, but only three can be seen from the perspective of FIG. 6. However, in other examples, there may be more or fewer than four legs 59. The legs 59 are equally circumferentially spaced on the inner surface of the color 33 and are disposed within the expansion chamber 40 when the device 1 is assembled. In this example, when installed in the device 1, the legs 59 are equally circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the opening 20. Each of the legs 59 extends in the Y direction and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 44 of the expansion chamber 40 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 6) and projects into the opening 20. The legs 59 also extend radially in a direction toward the expansion element 35 at the tips 59a of the legs 59, such that the tips 59a are angled away from each other. The tip 59a of each leg 59 facilitates the passage of the article 21 when inserting and / or removing the article 21 from the device 1 to avoid damaging the article 21. The legs 59 together provide a gripping section for gripping the article 21 to properly position and hold the article 21 within the expansion chamber 40 when the article 21 is within the device 1. Therebetween, the legs 59 lightly compress or clamp the article 21 in the area of the article 21 contacted by the legs 59.

[0071] The feet 59 may be made of an elastic material (or may be elastic in some other way), so that as a result, they deform slightly (e.g., compress) to better grip the article 21 when the article 21 is inserted into the device 1. However, when the article 21 is removed from the device 1, the feet 59 are biased to the rest position shown in FIG. 6, so they return to their original shape. Thus, the feet 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, whereby the article 21 is gripped. In this embodiment, the feet 59 are formed integrally with the main body of the collar 33. However, in some embodiments, the feet 59 may be separate components attached to the body of the collar 33. The inner diameter of the space formed between the feet 59 in the rest position, which is the first position, is, for example, 4.8 mm to 5 mm, preferably 4.9 mm. The feet 59 occupy the space within the opening 20 such that the opening range of the opening 20 at the position of the feet 59 is smaller than the opening range of the opening 20 at the position without the ridges 59.

[0072] For example, the expansion element 35 may be formed of a flexible material including, for example, polyetheretherketone (PEEK). PEEK has a relatively high melting point compared to most other thermoplastics and is highly resistant to thermal degradation.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 6, in this example, the heating chamber 29 communicates with a region 38 of reduced inner diameter leading towards the distal end 5. This region 38 defines a cleaning chamber 39 formed by the cleaning tube 41. In some examples, the cleaning tube 41 is a hollow tube that provides an end stop for the article 21 (see FIG. 5) that has passed through the opening at the mouth side end 3. The cleaning tube 41 is configured to support and position the heater assembly 23 within the chamber 160.

[0074] The device 1 further comprises a lid 61 at the distal end 5 of the device 1, and this lid 61 opens and closes an opening in the bottom panel 19 to enable access to the heating chamber 29 so that the heating chamber 29 can be cleaned. The lid 61 pivots about a hinge 63. Such access through the lid 61 enables, in particular, the user to clean the heater assembly 23 and the inside 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-side end 3 and the opening at one end of the cleaning chamber at the distal end 5 of the device 1. Thus, the user can easily clean substantially the entire interior of the hollow heating chamber 29. For this purpose, the user can access the heating chamber 29 through either end of the device 1 as desired. The user can use one or a plurality of various cleaning devices for this purpose, including, for example, an old-fashioned pipe cleaner or brush or the like.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 6, the upper panel 17 entirely forms the first end 3 of the housing 9 of the device 1. The upper panel 17 supports a collar 33 that defines an insertion point in the form of the opening 20, through which the article 21 is removably inserted into the device 1 during use.

[0076] The collar 33 extends around the opening 20 and projects from there into the interior of the housing 9. In this example, the collar 33 is a separate element from the upper panel 17 and is attached to the upper panel 17 through a fixture such as a bayonet locking mechanism. In other examples, an adhesive or screws can be used to couple the collar 33 to the upper panel 17. In other examples, the collar 33 may be integral with the upper panel 17 of the housing 9, so that the collar 33 and the upper panel 17 form a single piece.

[0077] As best understood from FIGS. 5 and 6, the open space defined by adjacent pairs of legs 59 of article 21 and color 33 forms a ventilation passage 61 around the outside of article 21. Such a ventilation passage 61 allows hot vapor leaking from article 21 to flow out of device 1 and also allows cool air to flow into device 1 around article 21. In this example, four ventilation passages are located around the periphery of article 21, which provides ventilation for device 1. In other examples, more or fewer such ventilation passages 61 may be provided.

[0078] Referring again particularly to FIG. 5, in this example, article 21 is in the form of a cylindrical rod, which has or contains aerosolizable material 21a at the rear end within the section of article 21 that is within heater assembly 23 when article 21 is inserted into device 1. The front end of article 21 extends from device 1 and functions as a mouthpiece assembly 21b that includes one or more of a filter for filtering the aerosol and / or a cooling element 21c for cooling the aerosol. The filter / cooling element 21c is spaced from the aerosolizable material 21a by space 21d and is also spaced from the tip of the mouthpiece assembly 21b by additional space 21e. Article 21 is circumferentially coated with an outer layer (not shown). In this example, the outer layer of article 21 is permeable to allow some of the heated volatile components from the aerosolizable material 21a to leak out of article 21.

[0079] During operation, heater assembly 23 heats article 21 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material 21a.

[0080] The main flow path of the heated volatile components from the aerosolizable material 21a passes axially through article 21, through space 21d, the filter / cooling element 21c, and additional space 21e, and then through the open end of the mouthpiece assembly 21b into the user's mouth. However, some of the volatile components may also leak from article 21 through its permeable outer covering into the space 36 surrounding article 21 within the expansion chamber 40.

[0081] It is undesirable for the volatile components flowing from article 21 into the expansion chamber 40 to be drawn in by the user, since these components have not passed through the filter / cooling element 21c and are thus neither filtered nor cooled.

[0082] The volume of air surrounding article 21 within the expansion chamber 40 advantageously cools at least some of the volatile components leaking out from article 21 through its outer layer and condenses them on the inner wall of the expansion chamber 40, preventing these volatile components from probably being drawn in by the user.

[0083] This cooling effect can be promoted by cooling air that can enter through a ventilation passage that enables fluid to flow into and out of the device, into the space 36 surrounding article 21 within the expansion chamber 40 from outside the device 1. The first ventilation passage is defined between pairs of a plurality of adjacent legs 59 of the collar 33 so as to provide ventilation around the outside of article 21 at the insertion point. The second ventilation passage is provided between a second pair of adjacent legs 59 such that at least one heated volatile component flows from article 21 at a second position. Thus, ventilation is provided around the outside of article 21 at the insertion point by the first and second ventilation passages. Furthermore, the heated volatile components leaking out from article 21 through its outer covering can flow safely out of the device 1 through the ventilation passage 61a without condensing on the inner wall of the expansion chamber 40 and without being drawn in by the user. Both the expansion chamber 40 and the ventilation help reduce the temperature and content of the water vapor composition released by the heated volatile components from the aerosolizable material.

[0084] A thermal liner 13 is attached to the device 1 and is directed towards the first end 3 of the device 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal liner 13 is coupled to the first sleeve 11a. The thermal liner 13 helps protect the first sleeve 11a from thermal stress by distributing the internal heat generated by the use of the device 1 over a larger area. The thermal liner 13 is made of a metallic material such as aluminum in order to be lightweight and to dissipate heat sufficiently around the proximal end 3. This helps avoid local 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.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 6, the support tube 75 is coated on the outside by the heater 71. In one example, the heater 71 is a thin film heater comprising, for example, polyimide and a conductive element as described above. The heater 71 can comprise a plurality of heating regions that are controlled independently and / or a plurality of heating regions that are controlled simultaneously. In this example, the heater 71 is formed as a single heater. However, in other examples, the heater 71 may be formed of a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 29. In some examples, a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown) may be used to detect the temperature of the heater 71 and / or the support tube 75. In this example, the support tube 75 is made of stainless steel to conduct heat from the heater 71 towards the article 21 when the article 21 is inserted into the heating zone (the heating zone is defined by the heat conduction region of the support tube 75). In other examples, the support tube 75 may be made of a different heat conductive material. Other heating elements 75 may be used in other examples. For example, the heating element may be a susceptor that can be heated by induction. In this example, the support tube 75 functions as an elongated support for supporting the article 21 containing an aerosolizable material during use.

[0086] In this example, the heater 71 is disposed outside the support tube 75. However, in other examples, the heater 71 may be disposed inside the support tube 75. The heater 71, in this example, passes outside the support tube 75 and includes a portion herein referred to as the heater tail 73. The heater tail 73 is defined by the housing module 50 and extends out of the chamber 160 that houses the heater assembly 23. The heater tail 73 is an electrical connection member configured to enable electrical connection of the heater assembly 23 to the control circuit 25. In the illustrated example, the heater tail 73 physically connects the heater 71 to one PCB 25a. Current can be provided to the heater 71 by the power supply 27 via the control circuit 25 and the heater tail 73. In an example, the heater tail 73 also connects to one or more temperature sensors (not shown) disposed within the chamber 160 that houses the heater assembly 23. In an example, the one or more temperature sensors comprise one or more resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). In another example, the one or more temperature sensors may comprise one or more thermocouples. The one or more temperature sensors are arranged to detect the temperature of the heater assembly 23. The heater tail 73 is configured, in an example, to electrically connect the one or more temperature sensors to the control circuit 25, for example, by conductive elements.

[0087] A passage 196 is provided that enables the heater tail 73 to exit the chamber 160 defined by the housing module 50 and connect to the control circuit 25. The heater tail 73, in this example, comprises a polyimide sheet similar to that forming the heater 71. The heater tail 73 has a width (the Z direction shown in the figure when disposed within the housing module 50) that is significantly larger than its thickness (the Y direction in the passage 196). In the aspect described above for the heater 71, the heater tail 73 comprises conductive elements formed within a polyimide substrate.

[0088] Figure 7 is a side view of the distal portion of the housing module 50 and associated components. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the same portion of the housing module 50 shown in Figure 7.

[0089] The arrangement that enables the heater tail 73 to extend from the housing module 50 within the exemplary apparatus 1 will be understood with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows a passageway 196 provided between the distal end 51d of the first housing member 51 and the proximal end 53d of the second housing member 53. The sealing assembly 15 is provided to seal the passageway 196 to substantially prevent an air flow (or any other fluid flow) between the chamber 160 and, for example, the heating chamber 29 and the remainder of the interior of the apparatus 1. The sealing assembly 15 comprises a first sealing member 15a and a second sealing member 15b. The sealing members 15a, 15b may be elastic members. The sealing members 15a, 15b may be elastomeric members. For example, the sealing members 15a, 15b may be made of one or more polymers such as silicone or rubber that may be injection molded, for example. In another example, one or more of the sealing members 15a, 15b may include overmolded polyurethane.

[0090] The first and second sealing members 15a, 15b are, in this example, silicone gaskets. The heater tail 73 exits between the silicone gaskets 15a, 15b, and the sealing assembly 15 is arranged to seal the passageway 196 by compressing the silicone gaskets 15a, 15b together between the distal end 51d of the first housing member 51 and the proximal end 53d of the second housing member 53.

[0091] The second housing member 53 is attached to the first housing member 51 by the attachment structure 42, and an example thereof will be described below. When the second housing member 53 is suitably attached to the first housing member 51, the first and second sealing members 15a, 15b are held in contact with each other by the first housing member 51 and the second housing member 53 with the heater tail 73 between the first sealing member 15a and the second sealing member 15b to seal the passage 196. The attachment structure 42 holds the first and second housing members 51, 53 together to provide a compressive force to the sealing structure 15 to seal the passage 196. In this example, the heater tail 73 is held substantially flat between the sealing members 15a, 15b by the compressive force exerted by the first and second housing members 51, 53. This is advantageous for providing a good seal of the passage 196. Further, the sealing members 15a, 15b are shaped to abut against the heater tail 73 to provide a good seal. That is, the heater tail 73 is a substantially flat sheet as described elsewhere in this specification. The proximal surface of the heater tail 73 is contacted by the distal surface of the first sealing member 15a, and the distal surface of the heater tail 73 is contacted by the proximal surface of the second sealing member 15b. Thus, by applying a compressive force to the sealing elements 15a, 15b with the heater tail 73 disposed therebetween, a good surface is created by the contact between the surfaces of the heater tail 73 and the sealing members 15a, 15b. For example, since the sealing members 15a, 15b are elastic, they can be slightly deformed around the heater tail 73. In other examples, the heater tail 73 may have a different shaped electrical connection member, for example, a circular outer shape having a longitudinal axis extending through the passage. In some examples, the sealing members may have different shapes to conform to the heater tails of different outer shapes and to enable a good seal therewith.

[0092] The first housing member 51 includes a tubular portion 51a toward its proximal end and a flange 51b toward its distal end 51d. The flange 51b facilitates the connection of the second housing member 53 to the first housing member 51. In this example, the attachment structure 42 includes a plurality of screws 43. The plurality of screws 43 are arranged in this example to provide a removable attachment structure between the first housing member 51 and the second housing member 53. In this example, the attachment structure 42 includes four screws 43 that extend through four corresponding holes parallel to the longitudinal axis 44 passing through the second housing member 53 so as to be received by a plurality of corresponding screw holes in the longitudinally extending corner portion 51e of the flange 51b. To attach the second housing member 53 to the first housing member 51, the screws 43 are inserted into the holes of the second housing member 53 so as to be threadedly received in the screw holes of the corner portion 51e of the first housing member 51.

[0093] In this example, when the screws 43 are tightened sufficiently, they fix the second housing member 53 to the first housing member 51 and seal the passage 196 by the sealing structure 15. The screws 43 may be tightened to a predetermined torque in order to preferably seal the passage 196 by the sealing structure 15.

[0094] In the example, the seal provided by this sealing structure 15 is a substantially airtight seal. The sealing structure 15 can minimize or prevent air or vapor from passing through the passage 196 into or out of the chamber 160. The airtight seal of the passage 196 is such that at most only a very small amount of air flows through the passage 196 into or out of the chamber 160.

[0095] In other examples, the fixture 42 between the first housing member 51 and the second housing member 53 may comprise a different number of fastening members, for example, a different number of screws 43, or may comprise one or more other types of connections. For example, the fixture 42 may comprise different types of screw connections, such as one or more corresponding nuts and one or more bolts that will each be fixed. In the example, the fixture 42 may be any suitable fixture 42 that allows the first housing member 51 to be attached to the second housing member 53 in order to fix the sealing structure 15 between the first housing member 51 and the second housing member 53. As described above, in examples such as those shown in the figures, the fixture 42 may be removable. In some examples, the fixture 42 may allow movement between the second housing member 53 and the first housing member 51 when the fixture 42 is in a particular configuration. For example, the fixture 42 may allow the second housing member 53 to move longitudinally away from the first housing member 51 while the second housing member 53 remains attached to the first housing member 51 by the fixture 42.

[0096] The fixture 42 may also, in the example, allow movement of the second housing member 53 relative to the first housing member 51 when the screws 43 are not tightened, for example, when the screws 43 are loosened or when the screws 43 are removed from their corresponding holes. This arrangement allows the housing module 50 to be assembled with the fixture 42 configured to seal the heater tail 73 and the passage 196 exiting therefrom. This allows for easy assembly for the device 1 and the assembled housing module 50 can be attached to the device 1.

[0097] Further shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is end tube or end tube 41. End tube 41 extends into housing module 50 as described above with reference to the previous figures. Second housing member 53 includes a lip portion 53j configured such that the raised portion 41j of end tube 41 abuts against it. The raised portion 41j may include a protruding feature 41k (shown in FIG. 9) for interacting with a corresponding feature 53k of the lip portion 53j. This allows the end tube 41 and the second housing member 53 to be aligned. End tube 41 is inserted through a hole 53c passing through the second housing member 53 along the longitudinal axis 44 of the housing module 50. First end tube O-ring 41c seals between the end tube 41 and the wall of the hole 53c. Second end tube O-ring 41d seals between the end tube 41 and the internal support structure 37 when the device 1 is assembled to include the housing module 50 and associated components.

[0098] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of the housing module 50 and associated components shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the same portion of the housing module 50 shown by FIG. 9. Heater tail 73 includes a first portion 73a for connection to heater 71 and a second portion 73b for connection to PCB 25b as shown in FIG. 6, as can be understood from FIGS. 9 and 10. In this example, the second portion 73b has a width (in the Z direction shown in the figure) greater than the width of the first portion 73a. The second portion 73b of the heater tail 73 includes a plurality of connection features 73d, in this example holes, to enable the heater tail 73 to make electrical connection to a PCB 25b as also shown in FIG. 6.

[0099] A third portion 73e of the heater tail 73 extends through passageway 196 and is held between a first sealing member 15a and a second sealing member 15b. In this example, the passageway 196 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44 of the housing module 50 and the third portion 73e extends in the direction defined by the passageway 196.

[0100] The second portion 73b of the heater tail 73 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 44. In this example, the direction in which the second portion 73b extends is determined by the layout of the PCB 25b relative to the housing module 50. That is, the PCB 25b is arranged substantially parallel to and adjacent to the housing module 50. This can result in a layout for the components within the device 1 that efficiently uses the available space, as described above. A curved portion 73c of the heater tail 73 is provided so that the direction of the heater tail 73 after exiting the passage 196 can be changed. The curved portion 73c provides, in this example, a substantially 90° upward change in direction in the heater tail 73. The curved portion 73c also flares towards the second portion 73b of the heater tail 73. In this example, the curved portion 73c provides a single bend in the heater tail 73 after it exits the passage 196. The upward change in direction of the heater tail 73 enables the second portion 73b for connection to the PCB 25b that is laterally adjacent to the housing module 50.

[0101] The passageway 196 is disposed away from the longitudinal end 50d of the housing module 50. The passageway 196 is also disposed away from the proximal end of the housing module 50, i.e., the proximal end of the first housing member 51. In this example, as described above, the location of the passageway 196 enables the heater tail 73 to exit the chamber 160 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44 of the housing module 50. This can result in the advantage that there are fewer bends that need to be made in the heater tail 73 outside the housing module 50. For example, if the heater tail 73 exits the housing module 50 at the distal end 50d, two 90° bends or the equivalent may be required in order for the second portion 73c of the heater tail 73 to extend parallel and adjacent to the PCB 25b in the arrangement of the exemplary device 1. Minimizing the number of bends after the passageway 196 and the angle at which the heater tail 73 is bent can, for example, reduce the likelihood of damage to the heater tail 73 when the housing module 50 is attached to the device 1. For example, the bends in the heater tail 73 can introduce a relative weakness in that they are more susceptible to damage from mechanical stress than the non-bent portions in the vicinity.

[0102] Note that the first portion 73a of the heater tail 73 has an upward bend inside the chamber 160 defined by the housing module 50. This bend is fixed within the housing module 50 and the first portion 73a of the heater tail 73 is held in place between the silicon gaskets 15a, 15b when the screw 43 is suitably tightened. The bend in the third portion 73e is thus contained within the chamber 160, supported by the sealing assembly 15, and protected from damage due to mechanical stress.

[0103] Furthermore, an arrangement in which the heater tail 73 is configured to exit the housing module 50 from a side surface rather than from a proximal end or a distal end allows the heater tail 73 to exit at a point closer to the PCB 25b. This can enable the heater assembly 23 to be disposed closer to the PCB 25b and can contribute to more efficient performance of the heater assembly 23.

[0104] In this example, the passage 196 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44. However, in other examples, it should be understood that the passage 196 may be disposed away from the proximal and distal ends of the housing module 50, but may extend in a different direction other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44. For example, the passage 196 may extend laterally, but not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44, and may extend at an angle not equal to, for example, 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis 44. In an example, the passage 196 may be disposed at any point along the housing module 50, away from the distal and proximal ends of the housing module 50.

[0105] FIG. 11 separately shows a perspective view of the first housing member 51.

[0106] FIG. 12 separately shows the second housing member 53 as viewed from the proximal end 53d.

[0107] As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12, the flange 51b and the second housing member 53 have corresponding cross-sections parallel to the X-plane and the Z-plane. The first side surfaces 51f, 53f of the flange 51b and the second housing member 53 are substantially straight, and the passage 196 is provided between these first side surfaces 51f, 53f when the first and second housing members 51, 53 are attached to each other. The second side surfaces 51g, 53g are substantially semi-circular and are shaped to allow the housing module 50 to be received adjacent to the curved wall inside the casing 9 of the device 1. Between the first side surfaces 51f, 53f and the second side surfaces 51g, 53g are straight side surfaces 51h, 53h.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 12, the proximal end portion 53d of the second housing member 53 defines a substantially flat surface on which the second sealing member 15b is placed. The second housing member 53 has, on the surface at its proximal end portion 53d, a stepped corner portion 53e that is offset downward and is stepped down below the proximal end portion 53d of the second housing member 53. This stepped portion 53e is for contacting the screw receiving portion 51e of the first housing member 51. The protruding portions 53i, in this example, three protruding portions 53i, extend in the proximal direction and enable alignment of the sealing members 15a, 15b between the first and second housing members 51, 53.

[0109] Referring to FIG. 11, the first housing member 51, in this example, has a longitudinal axis 51e and has a height of about 69.85 mm in the Y direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 44. This includes the length of the corner portion 51e of the flange 51b that extends about 1.6 mm in the Y direction. The flange 51b including the corner portion 51e has a height of about 4.65 mm in the Y direction, a depth of about 14.6 mm in the X direction between the first side surface 51f and the second side surface 51g, and a width of about 15.6 mm in the Z direction between the two opposing straight side surfaces 51h. The first housing member 51, in this example, is made of a PEEK material, for example, by injection molding. In other examples, the first housing member 51 may be formed of polycarbonate, or polyethersulfone (PES), or another suitable polymer. In an example, the first housing member 51 may be formed of a heat-resistant material since the material of the first housing member 51 approaches the heater assembly 23. The first housing member 51 may be formed of a material that can withstand a temperature of at least about 100°C. In other examples, the first housing member 51 may be formed of a metal or ceramic material, for example, by casting.

[0110] The tubular portion 51a of the first housing member 51 has an outer diameter OD of approximately 11.6 mm and an inner diameter ID of approximately 10.6 mm. The tubular portion 51a has a wall thickness of approximately 0.5 mm. The tubular portion 51a, in this example, includes a wall portion 51m that is slightly thicker than other portions of the tube 51a, toward the distal end of the tube 51a and adjacent to the flange 51b. These thickened portions 51m result in the cross-section of the chamber 160 expanding toward the distal end of the tube 51a, as described herein.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 12, in this example, the second housing member 53 has a height in the Y direction of approximately 4.55 mm. The second housing member 53 has a depth in the X direction of approximately 14.6 mm and a width in the Z direction of approximately 15.6 mm. The flange 51b has a depth and width in X and Z, respectively, equal to those of the flange 51b. The second housing member 53 is configured to act as an end cap for the first housing member 51 having substantially the same cross-section as the flange 51b. The second housing member 53, in this example, is formed of polycarbonate and may be formed, for example, by injection molding. In other examples, the second housing member 53 may be formed from a different polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or PEEK. In other examples, the second housing member 53 may be made of a metal or ceramic material, for example, by casting. The second housing member 53, in the example, typically is not in close proximity to the heater construct 23 as is the first housing member 51. As such, the second housing member 53 may, in some examples, be formed of a material that is not as heat resistant as the material used to form the first housing member 51.

[0112] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the proximal surface 16b of the first sealing member 15a. In this example, the first sealing member 15a is a silicone gasket as described above. The proximal surface 16b of the first sealing member 15a is configured to abut against the distal end portion 51d of the first housing member 51 as described above. The first sealing member 15a has a notch portion 16i to interact with the protruding portion 53i of the second housing member 53 to effect proper alignment of the first sealing member 15a. The first side surface 16f of the first sealing member 15a is configured to be disposed parallel to both the first side surfaces 51f, 53f of the first and second housing members 51, 53. The second side surface 16g of the first sealing member 15a is slightly curved and configured to be aligned adjacent to the second side surfaces 51g, 53g of the first and second housing members 51, 53. The second side surface 16g is configured to fit into the protruding portion 53i toward the second side surface 53g of the second housing member 53.

[0113] The first sealing member 15a has a first hole 16a. The central hole 16a enables the end pipe 41 to extend in the Y direction through the first sealing member 15a into the chamber 160 disposed near the first sealing member 15a when the device 1 is assembled. The first hole 16a has a first edge 18f that is parallel to the first side surface 16f and has a width similar to that thereof. The first hole 16a further has a second edge 18g having an arcuate outer shape. The first hole 16a comprises two straight edges 18h that merge from the wider straight first edge 18f to the narrower arcuate outer shape second edge 18g.

[0114] The first hole 16a is shaped to correspond to the outer profile of the distal end portion of the chamber 160. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, in this example, the chamber 160 flares towards the distal end portion 51d of the first housing member 51. This enables the first portion 73a of the heater tail 73 to extend adjacent to the end tube 41 until it reaches the passage 196. The flared shape of the first hole 16a towards the first side surface 18f enables the heater tail 73 to extend through the first hole 16a and thus through the passage 196 between the first and second sealing members 15a, 15b.

[0115] The first sealing member 15a has dimensions in the X and Z dimensions that are substantially equal to the corresponding dimensions of the flange 51b and the second housing member 53 configured to receive the first sealing member 15a therebetween. Both the first sealing member 15a and the second sealing member 15b have a thickness in the Y direction of approximately 0.75 mm.

[0116] FIG. 14 shows the second sealing member 15b. The second sealing member 15b is configured to be placed in contact with the proximal end portion 53d of the second housing member 53. As described above, the first and second sealing members 15a, 15b are configured to be compressed together to seal the passage 196 with the third portion 73e of the heater tail 73 passing therebetween. The second sealing member 15b also includes a notch portion 17i similar to the notch portion 16i of the first sealing member 15a to effect alignment with the first and second housing members 51, 53. Similarly, the second sealing member 15b includes a straight first side surface 17f and a curved second side surface 17g. The first and second side surfaces 17f, 17g of the second sealing member 15b are configured to be arranged parallel to the first and second side surfaces 16f, 16g of the first sealing member 15 during use. The second sealing member 15b has a second hole 17a with a circular outer shape configured to receive the end tube 41 and to contact the periphery of the end tube 41 to effect a seal around the end tube 41. The second hole 17a has a diameter of approximately 6.05 mm.

[0117] As described with reference to the figures, in some examples, the heater tail 73 comprises a sheet. The third portion 73e may be arranged as a sheet that is parallel to and disposed between the sealing members 15a, 15b and a plane substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis when arranged to exit the passage 196 in such examples. This arrangement configuration is advantageous in providing a good seal between the first and second sealing members 15a, 15b with the heater tail portion 73e disposed parallel between the two and the elastomeric sealing members 15a, 15b compressed around the heater tail portion 73e. However, in other examples, different shaped electrical connection members may be arranged to extend into the chamber 160 through the sealed passage and connect to the heater construct therein. For example, one or more electrical connection members such as one or more tubular connection members, such as conductive wires, may be used.

[0118] In the example described with reference to the figures, the sealing construct 15 comprises two sealing members 15a, 15b, but in other examples, the sealing construct 15 may comprise a different number of sealing members, for example, only one sealing member. In such examples, the sealing member may be an elastomeric sealing member such as one containing silicone. For example, if the sealing construct 15 comprises only one sealing member, the sealing member can be compressed between the distal end 51d of the first housing member 51 and the proximal end 53d of the second housing member 53 to seal the passage 196. In an example with only one sealing member, the heater tail 73 may be disposed, for example, between the sealing member and one of the distal end 51d of the first housing member 51 and the proximal end 53d of the second housing member 53.

[0119] The exemplary device 1 described with reference to the figures includes a resistive heating configuration, but in other examples, the device may include an inductive heating configuration. For example, a susceptor configuration may be provided that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to generate eddy currents and / or heat by magnetic hysteresis to heat the internal volume of the susceptor. In use, each varying magnetic field can be generated by at least one coil through which a varying current flows to penetrate the susceptor. In some examples, each portion of the susceptor may be heatable by penetration with a respective varying magnetic field. In some examples, the control circuit of the device may be configured to cause heating of each portion of the susceptor, for example, at different respective times, for different respective durations, and / or at different respective rates.

[0120] When the device includes an inductive heating configuration, the component arranged in the manner of the support tube 75 may be a susceptor comprising a heating material. In some examples, the heating material may be aluminum. However, in other examples, the heating material may be other than aluminum. In some examples, the heating material may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of conductive materials, magnetic materials, and magnetoconductive materials. In some examples, the heating material may include a metal or a metal alloy. In some examples, 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, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, molybdenum, silicon carbide, copper, and bronze. One or more other heating materials may be used in other examples.

[0121] In the specific examples described above, the electrical connection member extending through passageway 196 is the heater tail 73. However, the exemplary arrangements described herein for sealing passageway 196 and / or providing advantageous locations and orientations for passageway 196 may also apply to other types of electrical connection members. For example, if device 1 uses inductive heating, the heater tail 73 may supply power to one or more inductor coils and / or one or more temperature sensors disposed inside housing module 50.

[0122] Similarly, the specific examples within this specification have described an electrical connection member that exits through passageway 196 located distally from the distal end and distally from the proximal end of housing module 50. In the specific examples described herein, passageway 196 is provided between first and second housing members 51, 53. However, the principles described herein of locating a passageway distally from the proximal and distal ends of a housing module to enable an electrical connection arrangement to exit therefrom may apply to other examples. For example, in some such examples, the housing module may comprise a single housing member and the passageway may comprise a hole through the single housing member.

[0123] In some examples, the aerosolizable material includes tobacco. However, in other examples, the aerosolizable material may consist of tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may include tobacco and other aerosolizable materials, may include other aerosolizable materials, or may not include tobacco. In some examples, the aerosolizable material may include vapor, or an aerosol former, or a humectant such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

[0124] In some examples, the aerosolizable material is a non-fluid aerosolizable material, and the device is for heating the non-fluid aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material.

[0125] In an example, when all or substantially all of one or more volatile components of the aerosolizable material within article 21 are consumed, the user may remove article 21 from device 1 and discard article 21. The user may then reuse device 1 with another article 21. However, in other examples, the article may be non-consumable, and when one or more volatile components of the aerosolizable material are consumed, the device and article may be discarded together.

[0126] In an example, in the embodiments described herein, article 21 includes a mouthpiece assembly 21b. However, in other examples, it should be understood that an exemplary device 1 as described herein may include a mouthpiece. For example, device 1 may include a mouthpiece integral with the device, or in other examples, the device may include a mouthpiece 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 an article that does not include the mouthpiece portion. The user may suck on the mouthpiece of device 1 to inhale the aerosol generated by the device by heating the aerosolizable material.

[0127] In some examples, article 21 is sold, supplied, or otherwise provided separately from device 1 with which article 21 can be used. However, in some examples, one or more of device 1 and article 21 may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or assembly, perhaps with additional components such as cleaning implements.

[0128] To address various problems and develop the technology, the entire disclosure shows, by way of illustration and example, various embodiments that provide excellent heating elements for use with an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material so that the claimed invention can be practiced, a method of 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 an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a system comprising such an apparatus and a heating element that can be heated by such an apparatus. The advantages and features of the disclosure are merely those of representative samples of examples and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed and separately disclosed features. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the disclosure should not be considered as limitations to the disclosure as defined by the claims or equivalents of the claims, and that other examples may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the disclosure. The various examples may preferably include, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The disclosure may include other inventions that may be claimed in the future and are not currently claimed. [Consistent clause] 1. A first housing member that at least partially defines a chamber for receiving a heater assembly for heating an aerosol-forming material, A second housing member attached to the first housing member by a fixture, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member define a passage therebetween into the chamber, the passage being configured to allow an electrical connection member for connecting to the heater assembly to extend through the passage, the second housing member, A sealing assembly arranged to seal the passage An apparatus for an aerosol-generating device, comprising The apparatus, wherein the fixture between the first housing member and the second housing member is configured to hold the first housing member and the second housing member in a manner that causes the sealing assembly to seal the passage. 2. The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the passage is arranged between a first end of the first housing member and a second end of the second housing member arranged adjacent to the first end of the first housing member, and the fixture attaches the first end of the first housing member to the second end of the second housing member. 3. The apparatus according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the fixture between the second housing member and the first housing member is a removable fixture and / or a fixture configured to allow movement of the second housing member relative to the first housing member to release the seal of the passage. 4. The apparatus according to clause 3, wherein the fixture comprises one or more screw-type fixture members, such as one or more screws or one or more pairs of nuts and bolts. 5. The apparatus according to clause 4, wherein the one or more screw-type fixture members are tightened to a predetermined torque such that the sealing assembly provides an airtight seal of the passage. 6. The sealing assembly comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member, The device according to any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the fixture between the first housing member and the second housing member is configured to hold the first sealing member and the second sealing member in contact with each other, and to hermetically seal the passage between the first housing member and the second housing member, and the sealing structure is arranged and configured to allow the electrical connection member to extend through the passage between the first sealing member and the second sealing member during use. 7. The device according to clause 6, wherein the fixture is configured to apply a compressive force to the electrical connection member disposed between the first sealing member and the second sealing member to seal the passage. 8. The device according to clause 6 or 7, wherein each of the first sealing member and the second sealing member has a surface configured to contact the electrical connection member and configured to conform to the outer shape of the surface of the electrical connection member, and optionally, the surfaces of the first sealing member and the second sealing member are each substantially flat surfaces configured to contact a substantially flat surface of the electrical connection member. 9. The device according to any one of clauses 6 to 8, wherein one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member has a hole configured to allow the electrical connection member to extend through the hole and connect to the heater structure in the chamber while the passage is sealed. 10. The device according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the first housing member defines an elongated chamber for accommodating the heater structure, and the passage extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber. 11. The device according to any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the sealing structure comprises at least one elastic sealing member. 12. The device according to clause 11, wherein the sealing structure comprises at least one elastic member containing silicone. 13. The device according to clause 12, wherein the sealing structure comprises two elastic sealing members containing silicone, for example, the sealing structure comprises two silicone gaskets. 14. The device according to any one of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the sealing structure is configured to seal the passage when a portion of the electrical connection member formed substantially as a sheet extends through the passage. 15. A device for an aerosol generating device, The apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 14, and a heater assembly received in a chamber defined by a first housing member, an electrical connection member extending into the chamber through the passageway and connecting to the heater assembly An apparatus comprising: 16. An aerosol generating device comprising the apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 14 or the apparatus according to clause 15. 17. A housing module received in an aerosol generating device, the housing module containing a heater assembly for heating an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating device, the housing module a housing at least partially defining a chamber for containing a heater assembly for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a passageway into the chamber through the housing, configured such that an electrical connection member for connecting to the heater assembly can exit the chamber through the passageway Comprising: The housing module, wherein the passageway is disposed away from both the proximal end and the distal end of the housing. 18. The housing module according to clause 17, wherein the passageway is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing module extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the housing module. 19. The housing module according to clause 18, wherein the passageway is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing module. 20. The housing module according to any one of clauses 17 to 19, further comprising a sealing structure configured to allow the electrical connection member to pass through the passageway and to seal the passageway. 21. The housing module according to clause 20, comprising the apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 14. 22. The housing module according to any one of clauses 17 to 21, and a heating assembly disposed in a chamber defined by the housing module, an electrical connection member extending into the chamber through the passageway such that a first portion of the electrical connection member can connect to the heating assembly An aerosol generating device comprising: An aerosol-generating device, wherein a second portion of the electrical connection member is outside the housing module and is arranged and configured to connect to an electrical component of the aerosol-generating device. 23. The aerosol-generating device according to clause 22, wherein the electrical connection member exits the passage transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing module extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, and the second portion of the electrical connection member is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module. 24. The aerosol-generating device according to clause 23, wherein the second portion of the electrical connection member is configured to connect to an electrical component of the aerosol-generating device, such as a printed circuit board, which is arranged adjacent to the housing module and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module. 25. The aerosol-generating device according to clause 23 or 24, wherein the electrical connection member comprises one curved portion between a portion of the electrical connection member that exits the passage transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing module and the second portion of the electrical connection member that is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module. 26. The aerosol-generating device according to clause 16 or the aerosol-generating device according to any one of clauses 22 to 25, and An article comprising an aerosol-generating material arranged and configured to be heated by the aerosol-generating device An aerosol-generating system comprising. 27. The aerosol-generating system according to clause 26, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises tobacco and the aerosol-generating device is a tobacco heating product known as a non-combustion heating device.

Claims

1. a first housing member for receiving a heater arrangement for heating an aerosol generating material, said first housing member including a tubular portion toward a proximal end thereof and a flange toward a distal end thereof; a second housing member attached to the first housing member by a mount, the first housing member and the second housing member defining a passage therebetween, the passage configured to allow an electrical connection member for connection to the heater assembly to extend therethrough; a sealing arrangement disposed to seal the passage; An apparatus for an aerosol generating device comprising: the fitting between the first housing member and the second housing member is configured to hold the first housing member and the second housing member in a manner that causes the sealing arrangement to seal the passageway. Device.

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passage is disposed between a first end of the first housing member and a second end of the second housing member disposed adjacent to the first end of the first housing member, and the attachment attaches the first end of the first housing member to the second end of the second housing member.

3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment between the second housing member and the first housing member is a removable attachment and / or a attachment configurable to allow movement of the second housing member relative to the first housing member to unseal the passageway.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the mounting comprises one or more threaded mounting members, such as one or more screws or one or more nut and bolt pairs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more threaded fitting members are tightened to a predetermined torque such that the sealing arrangement provides an air-tight seal of the passageway.

6. the sealing arrangement comprising a first sealing member and a second sealing member; 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fitting between the first and second housing members is configured to hold the first and second sealing members in abutment with each other to hermetically seal the passage between the first and second housing members, and the sealing arrangement is arranged to allow the electrical connection member to extend through the passage between the first and second sealing members in use.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the fitting is configured to apply a compressive force to the electrical connection member disposed between the first sealing member and the second sealing member to seal the passageway.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 or 7, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member each comprise a surface configured to contact the electrical connection member and configured to match a contour of a surface of the electrical connection member, and optionally the surfaces of the first sealing member and the second sealing member are substantially flat surfaces each configured to abut a substantially flat surface of the electrical connection member.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member includes a hole configured to allow the electrical connection member to extend therethrough to connect to the heater arrangement received by the first housing member while the passage is sealed.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing member defines an elongated chamber for receiving the heater arrangement, the passage extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the chamber.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises at least one resilient sealing member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sealing construction comprises at least one resilient member comprising silicone.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sealing arrangement comprises two resilient sealing members comprising silicone, e.g., the sealing arrangement comprises two silicone gaskets.

14. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement is configured to seal the passage when a portion of the electrical connection member, substantially shaped as a sheet, extends through the passage.

15. An apparatus for an aerosol generating device, comprising: An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, a heater arrangement received by the first housing member; an electrical connection member for connecting to the heater assembly through the passage; An apparatus comprising:

16. An aerosol generating device comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 or an apparatus according to claim 15.

17. A housing module received in an aerosol generating device, comprising: the housing module receiving a heater arrangement for heating an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating device; The housing module, a housing for receiving a heater arrangement for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing including a tubular portion toward its proximal end and a flange toward its distal end; a passageway through the housing configured to allow an electrical connection to exit through the passageway for connection to the heater assembly; Equipped with A housing module, the passageway being disposed away from both the proximal end and the distal end of the housing.

18. The housing module of claim 17 , wherein the passageway is oriented transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing module extending between the proximal and distal ends of the housing module.

19. The housing module of claim 18 , wherein the passageway is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

20. A housing module according to any one of claims 17 to 19, comprising a sealing arrangement arranged to allow passage of the electrical connection member through the passage and to seal the passage.

21. A housing module according to claim 20, comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

22. A housing module according to any one of claims 17 to 21, a heating arrangement received by the housing module; an electrical connection member, the electrical connection member extending through the passageway such that a first portion of the electrical connection member can be connected to the heating element; An aerosol generating device comprising: An aerosol generating device, wherein a second portion of the electrical connection member is outside the housing module and configured to connect to an electrical component of the aerosol generating device.

23. 23. The aerosol generation device of claim 22, wherein the electrical connection member exits the passage transversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing module extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a second portion of the electrical connection member is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

24. The aerosol generating device of claim 23, wherein the second portion of the electrical connection member is configured to connect to an electrical component of the aerosol generating device, such as a printed circuit board arranged adjacent to the housing module and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

25. The aerosol generation device of claim 23 or 24, wherein the electrical connection member has a curved portion between a portion of the electrical connection member that exits the passage transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing module and a second portion of the electrical connection member that is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing module.

26. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16 or an aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 22 to 25, an article comprising an aerosol-generating material configured to be heated by the aerosol generating device; and An aerosol generating system comprising:

27. 27. The aerosol generating system of claim 26, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises tobacco and the aerosol generating device is a tobacco heating product, also known as a non-combustion heating device.

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