Aerosol generating device with luminescent indicator

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, in particular to an aerosol generating device comprising a cover and a light-emitting indicator. A first aspect of the present invention is an aerosol generating device comprising a body having a main housing forming an outer surface of the body, the body being configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate, and comprising a light-emitting indicator. The aerosol generating device further comprises a cover covering a portion of the outer surface of the main housing and releasably attached or connected to the main housing to form a portion of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, the cover comprising a light-transmitting portion. The light-emitting indicator is configured to emit light through the light-transmitting portion in a light propagation direction through the light-transmitting portion. A projection of the light-emitting indicator onto a plane transverse to the light propagation direction has a first shape and size, and a projection of the light-transmitting portion onto the plane has a second shape and size, and the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second shape fits perfectly to the first shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device including a cover and a light-emitting indicator.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, aerosol generating devices found in the market usually include a light-emitting indicator for indicating to the user the aerosol generating device and information regarding its operation. The light-emitting indicator is usually housed inside the device housing of the aerosol generating device to protect it from harmful external influences such as wear and damage. The device housing is usually provided with a light guide, a viewing window or a similar light-transmissive part to make the light-emitting indicator visible to the user.

[0003] However, due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, misalignment between the relative positions of the light-emitting indicator and the light-transmissive part may cause the light-emitting indicator to illuminate only a part of the light-transmissive part or to illuminate the light-transmissive part unevenly.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an aerosol generating device that consistently provides more uniform illumination provided by the light-emitting indicator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Some or all of the above objects are achieved by the present invention defined by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is an aerosol generating device comprising a body having a main housing that forms the outer surface of the body, the body configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating substrate and comprising a light-emitting indicator. The aerosol generating device further comprises a cover that covers a portion of the outer surface of the main housing and is releasably attached to or connected to the main housing so as to form a portion of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, the cover comprising a light-transmitting portion. The light-emitting indicator is configured to emit light through the light-transmitting portion in the direction of light propagation through the light-transmitting portion. The projection of the light-emitting indicator onto a plane transverse to the direction of light propagation has a first shape and size, and the projection of the light-transmitting portion onto this plane has a second shape and size, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second shape conforms perfectly to the first shape.

[0007] The smaller size of the second element compared to the first element ensures that the entire translucent area is reliably and sufficiently illuminated, achieving more uniform illumination of the translucent area. This allows for some degree of misalignment between the placement of the translucent area and the light-emitting indicator, which may be caused by manufacturing tolerances. In the case of misalignment, the translucent area remains more uniformly illuminated, provided the misalignment is within a certain range, due to the light-emitting indicator having a larger size in the plane that crosses the light propagation of its translucent area. In addition, since the cover containing the translucent area is detachable from the main body, replacement or repair of the translucent area and / or light-emitting indicator is easier in the event of misalignment.

[0008] According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the light-emitting indicator is a light source. The lighting configuration is simplified and more compact because the light source is configured to emit light directly through the translucent portion and thus illuminate the translucent portion.

[0009] The second embodiment is advantageous in minimizing the requirement for additional components, such as light diffusion or light guide components, to fully illuminate the translucent portion, such that the light source may be at least partially covered or concealed so that the light source cannot directly emit light through the translucent portion or only partially emits light.

[0010] According to a third aspect, in the aforementioned embodiment, the light source includes or substantially consists of a plurality of individual LED light sources or LED strips.

[0011] The third aspect is advantageous because the individual LED light sources or LED light strips are energy-efficient, generate little heat, and are compact in size. This allows for a reduction in the overall footprint of the aerosol generating device.

[0012] According to the fourth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the light-emitting indicator and the light-transmitting portion are aligned with respect to each other such that light emitted from the light-emitting indicator in the direction of light propagation illuminates substantially the entire light-transmitting portion.

[0013] The fourth aspect is advantageous in further reducing the need for additional components such as light diffusion or light guide components to fully illuminate the light-transmitting portion.

[0014] According to the fifth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the direction of light propagation is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the light-transmitting portion.

[0015] According to the sixth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the light-emitting indicator has an elongated shape having a length corresponding to the extension of the light-emitting indicator in the extension direction and a width corresponding to the extension of the light-emitting indicator in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction and perpendicular to the light propagation direction.

[0016] According to the seventh aspect, in the preceding embodiment, the light-transmitting portion has a length smaller than the length of the light-emitting indicator and a width smaller than the width of the light-emitting indicator.

[0017] According to the eighth aspect, in the preceding embodiment, the first shape and the second shape are geometrically similar so that they can be matched by uniform scaling.

[0018] The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth embodiments are advantageous in that they reduce the required second size of the light-emitting indicator without changing the allowable misalignment between the light-emitting indicator and the light-transmitting portion, in order to achieve more uniform illumination of the light-transmitting portion.

[0019] According to the ninth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, part or all of the cover surrounding or enclosing the translucent portion is opaque.

[0020] The ninth embodiment is advantageous for enhancing the illumination effect of the translucent portion and, therefore, for improving the uniformity of illumination.

[0021] According to the tenth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the cover includes or substantially consists of a composite laminated structure comprising a plurality of layers, each layer having an outer surface facing outward toward the aerosol generating device and an inner surface facing toward the main housing.

[0022] A tenth aspect is advantageous in that the composite laminated structure enables the cover to provide a wide range of different mechanical and optical properties based on the number and type of layers included.

[0023] According to the eleventh embodiment, in the preceding embodiment, the plurality of layers include a translucent plastic film layer.

[0024] According to the twelfth aspect, in the preceding embodiment, the light-transmitting portion includes at least a portion of the light-transmitting plastic film layer.

[0025] Aspects 11 and 12 are advantageous for enabling integral formation of part or all of the light-transmitting portion and part or all of the cover using a composite laminate structure.

[0026] According to the 13th aspect, in any one of Aspects 11 to 12, one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers are provided on the inner surface of the light-transmissive plastic film.

[0027] The 13th aspect is advantageous for enabling part or all of the cover to be made opaque while enabling a wide range of mechanical and optical properties to be provided to the cover based on the provided layers. [[ID=!0]]<!

[0028] According to the 14th aspect, in the preceding aspects, the light-transmitting portion includes a smaller number of partially opaque layers than the number of at least partially or completely opaque layers included by a part of the cover that is opaque. <! / / 这里原日文编号可能有误,推测是 ,按照推测修正翻译

[0029] The 14th aspect is advantageous for enabling adaptation of the light-transmitting characteristics of the light-transmitting portion while enabling a wide range of mechanical and optical properties to be provided to the light-transmitting portion based on the provided layers.

[0030] According to the 15th aspect, in any one of Aspects 13 to 14, the light-transmitting portion does not include a partially opaque layer.

[0031] The 15th aspect is advantageous for enabling the light-transmitting characteristics of the light-transmitting portion to be defined by the light-transmitting layers included in the composite laminate structure of the cover. At the same time, a part of the cover other than the light-transmitting portion can be made at least partially or completely opaque using the same composite laminate structure of the cover.

[0032] According to the 16th aspect, in any one of Aspects 13 to 1'5, one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers are interposed between the light-transmissive plastic film and the support layer.

[0033] The sixteenth aspect is advantageous as it provides a durable and easy-to-manufacture cover. Mechanical and optical properties can be adapted and set based on the layers included in the composite laminate structure of the cover, while the translucent plastic film provides protection against external influences and the support layer provides mechanical strength and support.

[0034] According to the 17th aspect, in any one of the 13th to 16th aspects, one or more layers that are at least partially or completely opaque include or consist of one or more printed layers.

[0035] The 17th aspect is advantageous because at least partially or completely opaque layers can be achieved cost-effectively through any suitable printing method and have a wide range of visual appearances.

[0036] According to the 18th aspect, in any one of the preceding claims, the cover is formed by film insert molding (FIM).

[0037] The 18th embodiment is advantageous in providing a cost-effective and manufacturingly flexible cover.

[0038] According to the 19th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the cover is removably attached to the main housing via one or more magnetic coupling elements provided on the cover that interact with one or more respective magnetic opposing coupling elements provided on the main housing.

[0039] The 19th aspect is advantageous in providing a reliable, convenient, and mechanically wear-free and damage-free means for attaching and detaching a cover from the main body.

[0040] According to the 20th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the aerosol generating device is an e-cigarette. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0041] [Figure 1]Figures 1A and 1B show schematic side and top views, respectively, of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figures 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a plan view of the aerosol generating device, a plan view of the main housing for aerosol generation, and a bottom view of the cover of the aerosol generating device, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B show partial cross-sectional views of the cover according to embodiments of the present invention, respectively. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] In the following detailed description of the present invention, terms indicating orientation or positional relationships, such as “one end,” “the other end,” “outside,” “up,” “above,” “inside,” “down,” “below,” “horizontal,” “coaxial,” “center,” “end,” “part,” “length,” and “outside end,” should be understood to be based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings. Terms used herein to indicate relative positions in space, such as “up,” “above,” “below,” and “down,” are used for the purpose of facilitating explanation in order to describe a unit or feature shown in the drawings in comparison to the relationship of another unit or feature. Terms for relative positions in space may be intended to include various orientations of the device in use or operation other than those shown in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, a unit described as being “below” or “below” another unit or feature will be “above” the other unit or feature. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both upward and downward orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated by 90 degrees or other directions), and the spatial descriptive terms used herein will be explained accordingly. More specifically, the term "upper" means that one unit, layer, or element is positioned or configured relative to another unit, layer, or element in an external direction toward the device, while the term "lower" means that one unit, layer, or element is positioned or configured relative to another unit, layer, or element in an internal direction toward the device.

[0044] Figures 1A and 1B show a side view and a top view, respectively, of an aerosol generating device 100 positioned horizontally. The aerosol generating device 100 includes a main body 200 having a main housing and a cover 300 that is detachably attached to the main housing of the main body 200. The main body 200 is configured to house an aerosol generating unit for generating an aerosol for user consumption. The aerosol generating device 100 typically includes an aerosol generating unit for heating and / or receiving a consumable 110 containing an aerosol generating substrate. The aerosol generating device 100 may be an e-cigarette and may be configured to generate an aerosol from an e-vapor or t-vapor substrate. For example, the heating unit may include a receptacle configured to receive a tobacco stick or similar consumable 110, and a heating element may be configured to heat the receptacle and the tobacco stick received within the receptacle. Alternatively, the receptacle may be configured to accept a cartridge containing an aerosol generating substrate such as a liquid, and the heating unit may include a wicking element and a heating element configured to heat the wicking element.

[0045] The aerosol generating device 100 may also include a power supply, which may be a replaceable and / or rechargeable power supply, and may be further provided with a USB port or similar interface that functions as a charging port or data transmission line for charging the rechargeable power supply, and circuitry. The circuitry may include a processing unit and / or a memory unit.

[0046] The main housing of the main unit 200 substantially encloses the internal components of the aerosol generating device 100. Substantially encloses means enclosing the components except for openings necessary for the operation of the aerosol generating device 100, such as charging ports, air inlets / outlets, and openings for receiving or docking consumables 110.

[0047] The cover 300 is positioned above the main body 200 and is detachable from the main housing. The detachability of the cover 300 means that the cover 300 can be detached from the main housing by the user of the aerosol generating device 100 using one or both hands, without requiring any additional tools or aids.

[0048] The aerosol generating device 100 may have an elongated shape to improve user comfort when holding the aerosol generating device 100. The longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device 100 is the direction in which the aerosol generating device 100 becomes elongated. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device 100 corresponds to the horizontal direction. As shown in Figure 1B, when viewed from above, the cover 300 may preferably have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the main housing of the body 200 to contribute to a seamless transition from the main housing of the body 200 to the cover 300. In a preferred embodiment, the cover 300 is attached to the main housing of the body 200 via magnetic means.

[0049] The cover 300 is provided with a light-transmitting portion 300a that allows light emitted from the light-emitting indicator 220 located on the surface of the main housing of the main body 200 and on the lower part of the cover 300 to pass through to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100. In this way, the light-emitting indicator 220 is configured to show the user information about the aerosol generating device 100, in particular information about the operating status of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0050] As shown in Figure 2A, the translucent portion 300a is provided on the removable cover 300, and the light-emitting indicator 220 is provided on the surface of the main housing of the main body 200. This is advantageous for simplifying maintenance and potential repairs of the translucent portion 300a or the light-emitting indicator 220 as needed. If the light-emitting indicator 220 or the translucent portion 300a is damaged or requires maintenance, the cover 300 can be removed from the main body 200, making it easy and convenient to access the light-emitting indicator 220 or the translucent portion 300a. For example, if the translucent portion 300a is faulty, instead of removing the translucent portion 300a from the cover 300, the entire cover 300 can be replaced. The translucent portion 300a forms a portion of the outer surface of the cover 300 that is visible from the outside of the aerosol generating device 100 when attached to the main housing of the main body 200. The outer surface of the light-transmitting portion 300a is preferably positioned flush with the outer surface around the cover 300 so that the cover 300 has a smooth outer surface. Alternatively, the outer surface of the light-transmitting portion 300a may be slightly recessed or protruding from the outer surface portion of the cover 300.

[0051] Preferably, the light-emitting indicator 220, which is provided on a part of the main housing of the main body 200 covered by the cover 300, is positioned such that the light emitted from the light-emitting indicator 220 directly passes through the light-emitting portion 300a. This is the case when there is a direct line of sight from outside the aerosol generating device 100 to the light-emitting indicator 220 through the light-emitting portion 300a. In such a configuration, additional components such as a light guide that direct the light emitted from the light-emitting indicator 220 toward the light-emitting portion 300a are unnecessary. Furthermore, the projection of the light-emitting indicator onto a plane that transverses the direction of light propagation of the light emitted through the light-emitting portion 300a has a shape and size larger than the shape and size of the projection of the light-emitting portion onto this transverse plane. In other words, the light-emitting indicator 220 is positioned and sized in relation to the position and size of the light-emitting portion 300a such that when viewed from the outside in the direction of light propagation through the light-emitting portion 300a, the outer boundary of the light-emitting indicator 220 is not visible in the direction of light propagation. This has the effect that when viewing the light-emitting indicator 220 in the direction of light propagation through the translucent portion 300a, the entire translucent portion 300a is illuminated more completely and uniformly by the light-emitting indicator 220, and spots or areas not illuminated by the light-emitting indicator 220 are minimized or eliminated. As a result, more uniform illumination of the translucent portion 300a can be achieved. To enhance the uniformity of illumination, the portion of the translucent portion 300a may be configured to be semi-transparent to provide some degree of light diffusion. Due to the shape and size of the light-emitting indicator 220 being larger than the shape and size of the translucent portion 300a, some degree of misalignment between the light-emitting indicator 220 and the translucent portion 300a is acceptable without adversely affecting the quality of illumination that can be achieved.

[0052] Since aerosol generating devices are typically elongated, an elongated shape having a specific length and width, preferably rectangular, may be particularly preferred to optimize the use of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device 100. Note that the length of the light-emitting indicator 220 corresponds to the elongation of the light-emitting indicator 220 in the elongation direction along the outer surface of the main housing of the body 200, and the width of the light-emitting indicator 220 corresponds to the elongation of the light-emitting indicator 220 in the direction perpendicular to the length and along the outer surface of the main housing. The light-transmitting portion 300a therefore corresponds to or correlates with the elongated shape of the light-emitting indicator 220, but has an elongated shape that is smaller in shape and size than the light-emitting indicator 220 when viewed from the direction of light propagation. While elongated shapes are shown for the light-emitting indicator 220 and the light-transmitting portion 300a, note that any suitable shape such as circular, elliptical, ring-shaped, polygonal, or other irregular shapes may be provided. For example, if the light-transmitting portion 300a has a circular shape with a specific radius, the light-emitting indicator 220 also has a circular shape with a specific radius, and the circular radius of the light-emitting indicator 220 is larger than the circular radius of the light-transmitting portion 300a. It may be preferable to provide the light-emitting indicator 220 and the light-transmitting portion 300a with their respective shapes and sizes so that they are geometrically similar, that is, by uniformly enlarging the shape and size of the light-transmitting portion 300a, the shape and size of the light-transmitting portion 300a can be made to match the shape and size of the light-emitting indicator 220.

[0053] Furthermore, it should be noted that the direction of light propagation through the translucent portion 300a refers to the direction of light propagation through the translucent portion 300a that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the translucent portion 300a. The cover 300 may have a substantially flat central portion and one or more curved or bent peripheral portions to allow the cover 300 to be adjacent to the main housing of the main body 200. Alternatively, the cover 300 may have a continuously curved shape with a central portion having a curvature smaller than the curvature of one or more peripheral portions or outer portions. The translucent portion 300a may be provided as part of the substantially flat portion and / or as part of the curved or bent portion of the cover 300. Therefore, the outer surface of the translucent portion 300a may have a flat portion and / or a curved portion. In the case of the flat portion of the outer surface of the translucent portion 300a, there is a single direction of light propagation. In the case of the curved portion of the outer surface of the translucent portion 300a, there are multiple directions of light propagation, and these multiple directions of light propagation form a solid angle based on the curvature of the translucent portion 300a. In the case of the curved outer surface of the translucent portion 300a, the solid angle formed by multiple light propagation directions perpendicular to the curved outer surface may be further limited based on the type of light-emitting indicator 220. The light-emitting indicator 220 is preferably a light source, and as shown in Figure 2B, the light-emitting indicator 220 may include or substantially consist of multiple individual light sources 221 that form adjacent light-emitting elements. Alternatively, the light-emitting indicator 220 may include or substantially consist of a light strip. The individual light sources 221 of the light strip may preferably be individual LED light sources or LED light strips due to their compact size and energy efficiency, but generally any type of incandescent or light-emitting light source can be used. Therefore, depending on the type of light source, the beam angle of the light source may vary. Conventional incandescent light sources such as light bulbs may have very large beam angles, while compact surface-mount devices (SMDs) such as SMD-LEDs preferably emit light only in directions substantially perpendicular to the surface on which they are mounted, due to their compact size. In such cases, the limited beam angle of the SMD-LED further restricts the amount of light propagation in a substantially single direction.

[0054] The cover 300 can be removably attached to the main housing of the body 200 by any suitable means. Such means may include mechanical means such as press-fit connections, snap-fit ​​connections, interlocking means, or magnetic means or a combination thereof for providing a magnetic connection. As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, the body 200 may be provided with a magnetic coupling element 210. Furthermore, the cover 300 may be provided with a magnetic opposing coupling element 310. The magnetic coupling element 210 and the magnetic opposing coupling element 310 may include a permanent magnet and a corresponding permanent magnet or ferromagnetic component, or vice versa.

[0055] Since the shape and size of the light-emitting indicator 220 are larger than the shape and size of the light-transmitting portion 300a, it is preferable to mask a portion of the light-emitting indicator 220 that exceeds the shape and size of the light-transmitting portion 300a when viewed from the direction of light propagation of the light emitted from the light-emitting indicator 220 through the light-transmitting portion 300a. For this purpose, the area of ​​the cover 300 that surrounds or encloses the light-transmitting portion 300a on the outer surface of the cover 300 is configured to be an opaque portion 300b. Generally, this can be achieved by providing the light-transmitting portion 300a and the opaque portion 300b of the cover 300 that surrounds or encloses the light-transmitting portion 300a as separate parts, each part containing or substantially consisting of a material exhibiting different optical properties. For example, the light-transmitting portion 300a may contain or substantially consist of at least partially transparent materials such as glass, PET, PMMA, PVC, PC, or any other suitable plastic or glass material. The periphery or surrounding portion of the cover 300 may include, or be substantially composed of, an opaque material such as, for example, an opaque and / or colored plastic material or a metallic material.

[0056] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, it is preferable to provide a cover 300 that includes or substantially consists of a composite laminated structure comprising multiple different layers. The different layers of the composite laminated structure may be provided in different sizes or shapes; that is, the layers of the composite laminated structure may have a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the cover 300, or they may have a size or shape different from the size of the cover 300 and therefore may be provided in only a portion of the cover 300. As an addition or alternative, different layers may be given different mechanical and / or optical properties. As shown in Figure 3A, each of the multiple layers has a top surface corresponding to the outer surface of the layer and a bottom surface corresponding to the inner surface of the layer. The composite laminated structure includes an uppermost layer 320 which is a translucent layer. The translucent layer may be a completely transparent layer or a translucent layer. Different parts of the cover 300, and therefore different portions of the composite laminated structure, may include different types and / or different amounts of layers. As shown in Figure 3A, the translucent portion 300a of the cover 300 includes only the uppermost layer 320. Therefore, any mechanical and optical properties of the light-transmitting portion 300a are primarily determined by the mechanical and optical properties of the uppermost layer 320. In a preferred embodiment, the uppermost layer 320 includes or substantially consists of a light-transmitting plastic film layer.

[0057] The uppermost layer 320 may have one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers 330 on its underside. The at least partially or completely opaque layers 330 may serve to provide optical and / or mechanical properties to the translucent portion 300a, which are different optical and / or mechanical properties of the opaque portion 300b surrounding or enclosing the cover 300b. For example, as shown in Figure 3A, the translucent portion 300a may not have any at least partially or completely opaque layers 330, and therefore any optical and / or mechanical properties of the translucent portion 300a are provided by the uppermost layer 320. The opaque portion 330b may have one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers 330 such that the combination of the uppermost layer 320 and one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers forms a part of the opaque cover 300. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3B, the top layer 320 may be provided with one or more partially opaque layers 330a included in both the translucent portion 300a of the cover 300 and the surrounding or enclosing opaque portion 300b. For example, the top layer 320 may be a completely transparent layer, and one or more partially opaque layers 330a provided on the underside of the top layer 320 of the translucent portion 300a may be configured to make the translucent portion 300a semi-transparent in order to improve the uniformity of illumination of the translucent portion 300a. For the opaque portion 330b, the bottom layer of the one or more partially opaque layers 330a may be further provided with one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers 330b on its underside to make the opaque portion 300b of the cover 300b opaque so that light cannot pass through the opaque portion 300b. The bottom layer of one or more partially or completely opaque layers 330b of the opaque portion 300b of the cover 300 and the bottom layer of one or more partially opaque layers 330a of the translucent portion 300a may be provided with a common base layer 340 on their respective undersides. The base layer 340 may be a transparent or translucent base layer configured to provide mechanical support to the composite laminated structure of the cover 300. The base layer 340 may contain or substantially consist of a plastic material, including a thermoplastic or thermosetting material.Multiple at least partially opaque layers 330a and / or multiple at least partially or completely opaque layers 330b may therefore be interposed between the top layer 320 and the base layer 340.

[0058] Furthermore, the upper surface of the translucent portion 300a does not have to be flush with the upper surface of the opaque portion 300b surrounding or enclosing the cover 300, but may be configured to be recessed from the upper surface of the opaque portion 300b. Alternatively, the translucent portion 300a may be configured to protrude from the upper surface of the opaque portion 300b. The upper surface of the translucent portion 300a itself may be flat or curved. Additionally or alternatively, the upper surface of the translucent portion may be provided with protrusions or recesses that can serve a functional or decorative purpose. Furthermore, it should be noted that the layers shown in Figures 3A and 3B may be interchangeable or combined. For example, the composite laminated structure shown in Figure 3A may be further provided with a base layer. The upper surface of the translucent portion 300a may be provided as described in relation to Figure 3B. In another embodiment, the positioning of the partially opaque layer 330a and the at least partially or completely opaque layer may be arranged in different lamination sequences.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, the cover 300 is manufactured using a film insert molding (FIM) process. In this process, the plastic film or sheet to be decorated may first be decorated, then molded and trimmed according to specifications. In the next step, the thus processed plastic film or sheet is inserted into an injection mold and back-injected with thermoplastic resin on its inner (back) surface. Alternatively, the plastic film or sheet may be overmolded with thermoplastic resin. The plastic film or sheet may be decorated via recesses or protrusions as functional or decorative decoration through the injection mold. Additionally or alternatively, the plastic film or sheet may be decorated by applying one or more printed layers on the inner (back) surface of the plastic film or sheet. Referring to the embodiments described in relation to Figures 3A and 3B, the plastic film or sheet corresponds to the top layer 320. One or more at least partially opaque layers 330a and one or more at least partially or completely opaque layers 330b correspond to printed layers applied to the inner surface of the top layer 320. The back-injected thermosetting resin corresponds to the substrate layer 340.

[0060] While this disclosure has described specific embodiments and generally related methods, variations and substitutions of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description of exemplary embodiments does not define or limit this disclosure. Other modifications, substitutions, and variations are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure as defined by the independent and dependent claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100 Aerosol Generating Devices 110 Consumables 200 Main body with main housing 210 Main unit mounting means 220 Illuminated Indicators 221 Light source 300 Cover 300a Cover's light-transmitting section 300b Opaque part of the cover 310 Cover mounting means 320 Transparent layer 330 / 330a / 330b Partially or completely opaque layer 340 Base material layer

Claims

1. Aerosol generating device, A main body having a main housing that forms the outer surface of the main body, configured to generate aerosols from an aerosol generating substrate, and including a light-emitting indicator, A cover that covers a portion of the outer surface of the main housing and forms a portion of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, and is removably attached to or connected to the main housing, the cover including a light-transmitting portion Includes, The light-emitting indicator is configured to emit light through the light-transmitting portion in the direction of light propagation through the light-transmitting portion, The projection of the light-emitting indicator onto a plane transverse to the light propagation direction has a first shape and size, and the projection of the light-transmitting portion onto the plane has a second shape and size. An aerosol generating device wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second shape is perfectly matched to the first shape.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting indicator is a light source.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light-emitting indicator and the light-transmitting portion are aligned with respect to each other such that light emitted from the light-emitting indicator in the direction of light propagation illuminates substantially the entire light-transmitting portion.

4. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the direction of light propagation is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the light-transmitting portion.

5. The light-emitting indicator has an elongated shape having a length corresponding to the extension of the light-emitting indicator in the extension direction and a width corresponding to the extension of the light-emitting indicator in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction and perpendicular to the light propagation direction. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light-transmitting portion has a length smaller than the length of the light-emitting indicator and a width smaller than the width of the light-emitting indicator.

6. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the area of ​​the cover other than the light-transmitting portion is opaque.

7. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover comprises or substantially comprises a composite laminated structure comprising a plurality of layers, each layer having an outer surface facing outward toward the aerosol generating device and an inner surface facing toward the main housing.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of layers include a translucent plastic film layer.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 8, wherein the light-transmitting portion includes at least a portion of the light-transmitting plastic film layer.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the translucent plastic film layer is provided with one or more layers on its inner surface that are at least partially or completely opaque.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 10, wherein the light-transmitting portion comprises a number of partially opaque layers less than the number of partially and / or completely opaque layers included by the opaque portion of the cover.

12. The aerosol generating device according to claim 10, wherein the light-transmitting portion does not include a partially opaque layer.

13. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the one or more layers described above are interposed between the light-transmitting plastic film layer and the support layer.

14. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the one or more layers that are at least partially or completely opaque include or consist of one or more printed layers.

15. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cover is formed by film insert molding (FIM).

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