Aerosol suction device

Abstract

This aerosol inhalation device has a housing and a cover. The housing has a first end and a second end, and has a slidable lid part at the second end. The cover is configured such that the cover is removed from the second end when a second force is applied to the cover in a first direction in a state where the cover is attached to the second end of the housing. The lid part is configured such that, a third force is applied to the lid part in the first direction when the second force is applied to the cover in the first direction in a state where the cover is attached to the second end. The third force is smaller than a first force.

Description

Aerosol suction device

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol inhalation device.

[0002] Conventionally, aerosol inhalation devices for inhaling aerosols and the like without burning materials have been known. The aerosol inhalation device has, for example, a mouthpiece for inhaling the aerosol and a cover for protecting the mouthpiece (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 108143010

[0004] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cover can be attached to the distal end of the aerosol inhalation device by magnetic force to prevent loss during use. It is assumed that the aerosol inhalation device has a lid for opening and closing a space housing a cartridge, a battery, etc., and the cover is attached to the position of the lid. In this case, there is a risk that the lid will open if a force is suddenly applied to the cover. Thus, in the aerosol inhalation device, when a cover covering any part, not just the mouthpiece, is attached to the position of the lid for opening and closing a space housing any part, there is a risk that the lid will open unexpectedly.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to prevent the lid from opening unexpectedly.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an aerosol inhalation device is provided. The aerosol inhalation device includes a housing having a first end and a second end different from the first end, and a cover detachably attached to the housing to cover the first end. The housing has a slidable lid portion at the second end. The cover is configured to be detachably attached to the second end when removed from the first end. The lid portion is configured to open when a first force is applied to the lid portion in a first direction and the lid portion slides in the first direction. When the cover is attached to the second end, the cover is configured to be detached from the second end when a second force is applied to the cover in the first direction. When the cover is attached to the second end, the lid portion is configured such that when the second force is applied to the cover in the first direction, a third force is applied to the lid portion in the first direction. The third force is smaller than the first force.

[0007] According to the first aspect, even if a second force in a first direction is applied to the cover such that the cover is removed from the second end, a third force smaller than the first force is applied to the lid portion, thereby preventing the lid portion from opening unexpectedly.

[0008] One of the cover and the lid portion may have a magnet, and the other of the cover and the lid portion may have a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the cover removed from the first end may be configured to be detachably attached to the second end by the magnets or the magnet and the ferromagnetic material being attracted to each other by magnetic force.

[0009] In this case, the magnetic force of the magnet allows the cover to be easily attached to and detached from the second end of the housing.

[0010] The third force may include a force generated by the magnets or the magnet and the ferromagnetic material being attracted to each other by a magnetic force.

[0011] In this case, at least a part of the third force is generated by the magnetic force of the magnet, but since the third force is smaller than the first force, it is possible to prevent the cover from opening unexpectedly.

[0012] The cover and the lid may include the magnet.

[0013] In this case, since both the cover and the lid portion have magnets, the magnets attract each other due to the polarity of each magnet, making it possible to easily attach the cover to a predetermined position on the second end.

[0014] The third force may include a force generated by the cover sliding relative to the lid portion.

[0015] In this case, at least a part of the third force is generated by the frictional force of the sliding, but since the third force is smaller than the first force, it is possible to prevent the cover from opening unexpectedly.

[0016] When the cover is attached to the second end, the cover may substantially conceal the lid portion.

[0017] In this case, when the cover is attached to the second end, it is possible to prevent a user from accidentally touching the lid portion directly and opening it.

[0018] The housing may have a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid portion may have a sliding portion that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction, and the fixed portion may have a first protrusion that protrudes toward the sliding portion and is configured to come into contact with the first protrusion when the sliding portion slides in the first direction.

[0019] In this case, when the sliding portion of the lid portion slides in the first direction, resistance is applied to the sliding portion by the first protrusion, so that the sliding portion can be prevented from sliding in the first direction and opening the lid portion. In other words, the first force required to open the lid portion can be increased by the first protrusion, so that the lid portion can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0020] The housing may have a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid portion may have a sliding portion that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction, and the sliding portion may have a second protrusion that protrudes toward the fixed portion and is configured to come into contact with the second protrusion when the sliding portion slides in the first direction.

[0021] In this case, when the sliding portion of the lid slides in the first direction, resistance is applied by the fixed portion to the second protruding portion of the sliding portion, so that the sliding portion can be prevented from sliding in the first direction and opening the lid. In other words, the second protruding portion can increase the first force required to open the lid, so that the lid can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0022] The housing may have a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid portion may have a sliding portion that slides in the first direction, and may be configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction, the fixed portion may have a first protrusion that protrudes toward the sliding portion, and the sliding portion may have a second protrusion that protrudes toward the fixed portion, and may be configured so that the first protrusion comes into contact with the second protrusion when the sliding portion slides in the first direction.

[0023] In this case, when the sliding portion of the lid portion slides in the first direction, resistance is applied to the second protrusion of the sliding portion by the first protrusion of the fixed portion, so that the sliding portion can be prevented from sliding in the first direction and opening the lid portion. In other words, the first force required to open the lid portion can be increased by the first protrusion and the second protrusion, so that the lid portion can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0024] The housing may have a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid portion may have a sliding portion that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction, the fixed portion may have an abutting portion that abuts against the sliding portion, the abutting portion may include a rubber member, and the sliding portion may be configured to come into contact with the abutting portion when the sliding portion slides in the first direction.

[0025] In this case, when the sliding portion of the lid slides in the first direction, frictional resistance is applied to the sliding portion by the rubber member of the abutting portion, so that the sliding portion can be prevented from sliding in the first direction and opening the lid. In other words, the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid, so that the lid can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0026] The sliding portion may be configured to engage with the rubber member when the sliding portion slides in the first direction.

[0027] In this case, when the sliding portion of the lid portion slides in the first direction, frictional resistance and elastic force are applied to the sliding portion by the rubber member of the fixed portion, so that the sliding portion can be prevented from sliding in the first direction and opening the lid portion. In other words, the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid portion, so that the lid portion can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0028] The housing may have a storage portion for storing a consumable product, the fixing portion may be provided on the lid portion and include the rubber member, and the rubber member of the fixing portion may define a part of the storage portion.

[0029] In this case, the rubber member of the fixing part defines a part of the storage part, which simplifies the structure for defining the storage part. Also, since the fixing part including the rubber member is provided in the lid, the storage part can be opened and closed by opening and closing the lid, which simplifies the structure for opening and closing the storage part.

[0030] The cover may include a biasing member that biases the sliding portion in the second direction.

[0031] In this case, the biasing member can bias the lid to the closed position, further preventing the lid from opening unexpectedly. In other words, the biasing member can increase the first force required to open the lid, further preventing the lid from opening unexpectedly.

[0032] The biasing member and the rubber member of the abutment portion may be configured to apply a reaction force in the second direction to the lid portion when a force in the first direction is applied to the lid portion.

[0033] In this case, the lid can be biased to the closed position by the biasing member and the rubber member, which further prevents the lid from opening unexpectedly. In other words, the biasing member and the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid, which further prevents the lid from opening unexpectedly.

[0034] The first force may be 1.1 times or more the third force.

[0035] In this case, the difference between the first force and the third force is sufficient, so that the cover portion can be further prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an aerosol inhalation device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of an aerosol inhalation device according to the present embodiment when in use. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol inhalation device according to the present embodiment when in use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing and cover including a lid portion shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing and cover including a lid portion according to another embodiment. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing and cover including a lid portion according to another embodiment. Fig. 7 is a side view of a housing and cover as seen from arrow 7-7 shown in Fig. 6.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings described below, identical or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0038] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the aerosol inhalation device according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the aerosol inhalation device according to this embodiment during use. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol inhalation device according to this embodiment during use. The aerosol inhalation device 100 of this embodiment is configured to generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol source, which will be described later. The aerosol inhalation device 100 may also be a flavor inhaler that contains a flavor in the aerosol source or passes the aerosol generated in the aerosol source through the flavor source to provide the flavor to the user.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 , the aerosol inhalation device 100 includes a housing 110 having a first end E1 and a second end E2 different from the first end E1, and a cover 120 detachably attached to the housing 110 to cover the first end E1. In the illustrated example, the second end E2 is the end opposite the first end E1, but the second end E2 may be any end other than the first end E1. As shown in FIG. 2 , the housing 110 may have a mouthpiece 130 at the first end E1. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the cover 120 is configured to cover and protect the mouthpiece 130. However, the cover 120 may be configured to cover any portion of the aerosol inhalation device 100, not limited to the mouthpiece 130. When using the aerosol inhalation device 100, a user can inhale aerosol and / or flavor through the mouthpiece 130.

[0040] 2 and 3 , the cover 120 removed from the first end E1 of the housing 110 is configured to be detachably attached to the second end E2 of the housing 110. This prevents the user from losing the cover 120 when using the aerosol inhalation device 100.

[0041] 3, the aerosol inhalation device 100 includes a battery 10, a control unit 20, and an aerosol generation unit 30 that generates aerosol. The battery 10 stores power used by the aerosol inhalation device 100. For example, the battery 10 is a lithium-ion battery. The battery 10 may be rechargeable by an external power source.

[0042] The aerosol generating unit 30 (corresponding to an example of a storage unit) may be configured to store a first cartridge 32. In the illustrated example, the first cartridge 32 may be, for example, a tank that stores a liquid aerosol source. The first cartridge 32 may further include a flavor source such as nicotine. In other embodiments, the first cartridge 32 may be a substrate containing a flavor source such as tobacco that can generate a smokable flavor. The flavor source contained in the first cartridge 32 is not particularly limited and may include at least one of a natural material such as a plant material and a flavoring. The first cartridge 32 may contain a filler obtained by chopping or processing a plant material such as tobacco leaves into a sheet. Such a filler may be wrapped in paper. The first cartridge 32 may be, for example, a tobacco stick.

[0043] The aerosol generating unit 30 has a heating unit (not shown) that heats at least one of the aerosol source and the flavor source of the first cartridge 32. The heating unit may be a heater disposed in the aerosol inhalation device 100. The heater may include a wick that absorbs the liquid aerosol source and a heating wire that heats the aerosol source held by the wick. Furthermore, when the first cartridge 32 is a tobacco stick, the heater may be a pin-type or blade-type heater. The form of the heating unit is not particularly limited. The heating unit may be an induction coil that inductively heats a susceptor included in the first cartridge 32. Alternatively, the heating unit may be a microwave radiation source that heats a microwave absorber, such as water or glycerin, included in the first cartridge 32.

[0044] The control unit 20 is configured with a CPU, memory, etc., and controls the operation of the aerosol inhalation device 100, including the aerosol generation unit 30. For example, the control unit 20 starts heating the aerosol source or flavor source in the first cartridge 32 in response to a user operation, and stops heating the aerosol source or flavor source after a certain period of time has elapsed. If the number of puffing operations by the user exceeds a certain value, the control unit 20 may stop heating the aerosol source or flavor source in the first cartridge 32 even before the certain period of time has elapsed since the start of heating the aerosol source or flavor source. For example, puffing operations are detected by a sensor (not shown).

[0045] Alternatively, the control unit 20 may start heating the aerosol source or flavor source of the first cartridge 32 in response to the start of a puffing action, and stop heating the aerosol source or flavor source in response to the end of the puffing action. The control unit 20 may stop heating the aerosol source or flavor source when a certain time has elapsed since the start of the puffing action, even before the end of the puffing action.

[0046] The aerosol inhalation device 100 may further include a storage unit 34 located downstream of the aerosol generation unit 30. A second cartridge 36 may be stored in the storage unit 34. The second cartridge 36 may be, for example, a capsule containing a solid flavor source such as a powder. Alternatively, the second cartridge 36 may be any cartridge containing a solid flavor source. The aerosol inhalation device 100 may also include a heating unit that heats the flavor source contained in the second cartridge 36. The second cartridge 36 and the storage unit 34 may be omitted from the aerosol inhalation device 100. In this case, the aerosol source or flavor source generated in the first cartridge 32 may be supplied directly to the user through the mouthpiece 130.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 3, the aerosol inhalation device 100 has a lid portion 40. In the illustrated example, the lid portion 40 is configured to open and close the aerosol generating unit 30. Specifically, when replacing the first cartridge 32, the lid portion 40 can be opened to remove the used first cartridge 32. Furthermore, by placing a new first cartridge 32 in the aerosol generating unit 30 and closing the lid portion 40, the first cartridge 32 is held in place so that the aerosol source or flavor source contained in the first cartridge 32 can be heated.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3 , the cover 120 has a top plate portion 123 and a side wall portion 122 extending from the top plate portion 123. One of the cover 120 and the lid portion 40 has a magnet, and the other of the cover 120 and the lid portion 40 has a magnet or a ferromagnetic material. As shown in FIG. 3 , the cover 120 removed from the first end E1 is preferably detachably attached to the second end E2 by the magnets or the magnet and the ferromagnetic material being attracted to each other by magnetic force. In this case, the magnetic force of the magnet allows the cover 120 to be easily attached to and detached from the second end E2 of the housing 110. Note that the magnet or ferromagnetic material may be provided in a portion of the housing 110 other than the lid portion 40.

[0049] 3, the cover 120 has a magnet 124, and the lid portion 40 has a magnet 42. That is, the cover 120 and the lid portion 40 have magnets 124 and 42, respectively. In this case, since both the cover 120 and the lid portion 40 have magnets, the magnets 124 and 42 attract each other due to the polarities of the respective magnets 124 and 42, and the cover 120 can be easily attached to a predetermined position at the second end E2.

[0050] 3, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2, the cover 120 preferably substantially conceals the lid portion 40. In this case, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2, it is possible to prevent a user from accidentally touching and opening the lid portion 40 directly. Here, "substantially concealing the lid portion 40" includes concealing the lid portion 40 to an extent that prevents a user from directly touching it.

[0051] Next, the lid portion 40 will be described in detail. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the housing 110 and cover 120 including the lid portion 40 shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing 110 has a side wall 110a, a bottom wall 110b, and the lid portion 40. In the example shown in Fig. 4, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2 of the housing 110, a portion of the cover 120 contacts the lid portion 40. Specifically, the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2 with the top plate portion 123 of the cover 120 in contact with the lid portion 40.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4 , the lid 40 is configured to open when a first force is applied to the lid 40 in the first direction d1, causing the lid 40 to move in the first direction d1. The cover 120 is configured to be detached from the second end E2 when a second force is applied to the cover 120 in the first direction d1. Note that this second force can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the magnetic force of at least one of the magnetic material, the magnet 124, and the magnet 42. Because the cover 120 is only attached to the second end E2 by the magnet 124 and the magnet 42, it can be detached from the second end E2 by applying a force in any direction, not just the first direction d1.

[0053] The lid portion 40 is configured such that, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2, the second force is applied to the cover 120 in the first direction d1, thereby applying a third force to the lid portion 40 in the first direction d1. That is, when the cover 120 is removed, the third force is applied to the lid portion 40 in the first direction d1. Here, the third force is smaller than the first force. As a result, even when a second force in the first direction d1 sufficient to remove the cover 120 from the second end E2 is applied to the cover 120, a third force smaller than the first force is applied to the lid portion 40, thereby preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. Preferably, the first force is 1.1 times or more the third force. In this case, the difference between the first force and the third force is sufficient, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. The first force can be adjusted, for example, by changing the spring constant of the biasing member 43 described below or by changing the design of other structures of the lid portion 40. The third force can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the magnetic force of at least one of the magnetic material, the magnet 124, and the magnet 42, or by adjusting the size of the contact area between the cover 120 and the lid portion 40, the size of the friction coefficient of the contact portion between the cover 120 and the lid portion 40, or the like.

[0054] 4 , the lid 40 has the magnet 42 and the cover 120 has the magnet 124, so the third force includes a force generated by the mutual attraction of the magnet 42 and the magnet 124. Furthermore, if the magnet 124 or the magnet 42 is provided on one of the cover 120 and the lid 40 and a ferromagnetic material is provided on the other of the cover 120 and the lid 40, the third force may include a force generated by the mutual attraction of the magnet 124 or the magnet 42 and the ferromagnetic material. In this way, at least a part of the third force is generated by the magnetic force of the magnet 124 and the magnet 42, but because the third force is smaller than the first force, it is possible to prevent the lid 40 from opening unexpectedly.

[0055] 4, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2 of the housing 110, a portion of the cover 120 comes into contact with the lid portion 40, and therefore the third force may include a force generated by the cover 120 sliding relative to the lid portion 40. In this case, although at least a portion of the third force is generated by the frictional force of the sliding, the third force is smaller than the first force, and therefore the lid portion 40 can be prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0056] The housing 110 has a fixed portion 44 that does not move in a first direction d1 or a second direction d2 opposite to the first direction d1. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the fixed portion 44 is provided on the lid portion 40, but is not limited to this and may be provided on a portion of the housing 110 other than the lid portion 40. The lid portion 40 also has a sliding portion 45 that slides in the first direction d1, and is configured to open when a first force is applied to the sliding portion 45 in the first direction d1, causing the sliding portion 45 to slide in the first direction d1.

[0057] In the illustrated example, the fixed portion 44 is a generally plate-shaped member, and a portion near one end thereof is rotatably attached to the housing 110 by a pivot shaft 48. The fixed portion 44 also has a torsion spring 49 arranged to bias the lid portion 40 in the direction of opening (the direction in which the lid portion 40 moves away from the housing 110) around the pivot shaft 48. The sliding portion 45 is a generally plate-shaped member and includes the magnet 42 described above. The sliding portion 45 is arranged generally parallel to the fixed portion 44. The sliding portion 45 has an engaging portion 45a that engages with an engaged portion 110c provided on a side wall 110a of the housing 110. In the illustrated example, the engaged portion 110c is a recess, and the engaging portion 45a is a protrusion that engages with the recess. However, the engaged portion 110c and the engaging portion 45a may be engaged with each other by any force, such as magnetic force, adhesive force, or frictional force. In the illustrated example, sliding of the sliding part 45 in the first direction d1 causes the engaging part 45a to detach from the engaged part 110c, and as a result, the torsion spring 49 causes the fixed part 44 and the sliding part 45 to rotate about the rotation axis 48, thereby opening the lid part 40. Without being limited to this, for example, the fixed part 44 may be provided on the housing 110 rather than the lid part 40, and the lid part 40 may be configured as a so-called sliding lid so that the aerosol generating part 30 is opened simply by sliding of the sliding part 45 in the first direction d1.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixed portion 44 preferably has an abutting portion 47 that abuts against the sliding portion 45. The abutting portion 47 may include, for example, a rubber member. The sliding portion 45 is configured to contact the abutting portion 47 when it slides in the first direction d1. In this case, when the sliding portion 45 of the lid portion 40 slides in the first direction d1, frictional resistance is applied to the sliding portion 45 by the rubber member of the abutting portion 47, thereby preventing the sliding portion 45 from sliding in the first direction d1 and opening the lid portion 40. In other words, the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, thereby further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. The rubber member may include, for example, silicone rubber or any other elastic member.

[0059] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the abutting portion 47 may constitute a first protrusion protruding toward the sliding portion 45. When the sliding portion 45 slides in the first direction d1, the sliding portion 45 may be configured to contact the abutting portion 47 (first protrusion). In this case, when the sliding portion 45 of the lid portion 40 slides in the first direction d1, the first protrusion applies resistance to the sliding portion 45, thereby preventing the sliding portion 45 from sliding in the first direction d1 and opening the lid portion 40. In other words, the first protrusion increases the first force required to open the lid portion 40, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. The abutting portion 47 is not limited to a rubber material and may be formed of any material, such as resin or metal. Furthermore, the abutting portion 47 may be a flat portion that does not protrude toward the sliding portion 45.

[0060] Furthermore, the abutting portion 47 may not constitute the first protrusion, and the sliding portion 45 may have a second protrusion 46 protruding toward the fixed portion 44, such that the fixed portion 44 comes into contact with the second protrusion 46 when the sliding portion 45 slides in the first direction d1. In this case, when the sliding portion 45 of the lid portion 40 slides in the first direction d1, resistance is applied by the fixed portion 44 to the second protrusion 46 of the sliding portion 45, thereby preventing the sliding portion 45 from sliding in the first direction d1 and opening the lid portion 40. In other words, the second protrusion 46 can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. The second protrusion 46 may be formed of any material, such as a rubber member, resin, or metal.

[0061] 4, it is preferable that the abutting portion 47 constitutes a first protrusion, and the sliding portion 45 has a second protrusion 46. When the sliding portion 45 slides in the first direction d1, the first protrusion comes into contact with the second protrusion 46. In this case, when the sliding portion 45 of the lid portion 40 slides in the first direction d1, resistance is applied to the second protrusion 46 of the sliding portion 45 by the first protrusion of the fixing portion 44, thereby preventing the sliding portion 45 from sliding in the first direction d1 and opening the lid portion 40. In other words, the first protrusion and the second protrusion 46 can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, thereby further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly.

[0062] If the abutting portion 47 includes a rubber member, the sliding portion 45 is preferably configured to engage with the rubber member of the abutting portion 47 when the sliding portion 45 slides in the first direction d1. In this case, when the sliding portion 45 of the lid portion 40 slides in the first direction d1, frictional resistance and elastic force are applied to the sliding portion 45 by the rubber member of the fixing portion 44, so that the sliding portion 45 can be prevented from sliding in the first direction d1 and opening the lid portion 40. In other words, the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, thereby further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly.

[0063] 4, when the fixing part 44 is provided on the lid part 40, it is preferable that the fixing part 44 includes a rubber member, and that the rubber member of the fixing part 44 defines a part of the aerosol-generating part 30. In this case, the fixing part 44, which is part of the lid part 40, defines a part of the aerosol-generating part 30, thereby simplifying the structure that defines the aerosol-generating part 30. Furthermore, because the fixing part 44 including a rubber member is provided on the lid part 40, the aerosol-generating part 30 can be opened and closed by opening and closing the lid part 40, and therefore the opening and closing structure of the aerosol-generating part 30 can also be simplified.

[0064] 4, the lid portion 40 preferably has a biasing member 43 that biases the sliding portion in the second direction d2. In this case, the biasing member 43 can bias the lid portion 40 to the closed position, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. In other words, the biasing member 43 can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly.

[0065] 4, the biasing member 43 is a coil spring. The sliding portion 45 has a rod-shaped coil spring mounting portion 45b to which the biasing member 43 is attached. The fixed portion 44 has a rod-shaped coil spring mounting portion 44a to which the biasing member 43 is attached. The coil spring mounting portion 45b and the coil spring mounting portion 44a are each inserted into the end portion of the biasing member 43. As a result, the sliding portion 45 and the fixed portion 44 are connected via the biasing member 43.

[0066] When the contact portion 47 includes a rubber member, as shown in Fig. 4, the biasing member 43 and the rubber member of the contact portion 47 are preferably configured to apply a reaction force in the second direction d2 to the lid portion 40 when a force in the first direction d1 is applied to the lid portion 40. In this case, the biasing member 43 and the rubber member can bias the lid portion 40 to the closed position, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly. In other words, the biasing member 43 and the rubber member can increase the first force required to open the lid portion 40, further preventing the lid portion 40 from opening unexpectedly.

[0067] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing 110 and a cover 120 including a lid portion 40 according to another embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the side wall 110a of the housing 110 extends beyond the bottom wall 110b and the lid portion 40. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2 of the housing 110, the cover 120 does not come into contact with the lid portion 40. In the example shown in FIG. 5, similar to the example shown in FIG. 4, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2, a second force applied to the cover 120 in the first direction d1 applies a third force to the lid portion 40 in the first direction d1, and the third force is smaller than the first force.

[0068] 5, the third force includes a force generated by the mutual attraction between the magnet 124 or the magnet 42 and the ferromagnetic material, but does not include a force generated by the cover 120 sliding relative to the lid portion 40. Even in such a case, the third force, which is smaller than the first force, is applied to the lid portion 40, so that the lid portion 40 can be prevented from opening unexpectedly.

[0069] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing 110 and a cover 120 including a lid portion 40 according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view of the housing 110 and the cover 120 as viewed from the arrows 7-7 in FIG. 6. In the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover 120 is attached to the housing 110 by a magnet 42, a magnet 124, or a ferromagnetic material. In contrast, in the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover 120 has a protrusion 62 extending in the first direction d1 and the second direction d2. The protrusion 62 is received in a groove 61 formed in the housing 110, thereby attaching the cover 120 to the second end E2 of the housing 110. Furthermore, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2 of the housing 110, the cover 120 comes into contact with the lid portion 40.

[0070] 6 and 7, similar to the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the cover 120 is attached to the second end E2, a second force is applied to the cover 120 in the first direction d1, causing the protrusion 62 to slide along the groove 61, and the cover 120 is removed from the second end E2. At this time, a third force is applied to the lid portion 40 in the first direction d1, and the third force is smaller than the first force.

[0071] 6 and 7, the third force includes a force generated by the cover 120 sliding relative to the lid portion 40, but does not include a force generated by the mutual attraction between the magnet 124 or the magnet 42 and the ferromagnetic material. Even in such a case, the third force, which is smaller than the first force, is applied to the lid portion 40, so that the lid portion 40 can be prevented from opening unexpectedly. Note that a groove 61 may be formed in the cover 120, and a protrusion 62 may be formed on the housing.

[0072] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical idea described in the specification and drawings. Note that any shape or material not directly described in the specification or drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention as long as it achieves the functions and effects of the present invention.

[0073] Some aspects disclosed in the present specification are described below: (1) An aerosol inhalation device comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end different from the first end; and a cover detachable from the housing to cover the first end, wherein the housing has a slidable lid portion at the second end, the cover removed from the first end is configured to be detachably attached to the second end, the lid portion is configured to open when a first force is applied to the lid portion in a first direction and the lid portion slides in the first direction, the cover is configured to be removed from the second end when a second force is applied to the cover in the first direction when the cover is attached to the second end, and the lid portion is configured such that a third force is applied to the lid portion in the first direction when the second force is applied to the cover in the first direction when the cover is attached to the second end, and the third force is smaller than the first force. (2) The aerosol suction device described in (1), wherein one of the cover and the lid portion has a magnet, and the other of the cover and the lid portion has a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and the cover removed from the first end is configured to be detachably attached to the second end by the magnets being attracted to each other or the magnet and the ferromagnetic material being attracted to each other by magnetic force. (3) The aerosol suction device described in (2), wherein the third force includes a force generated by the magnets being attracted to each other or the magnet and the ferromagnetic material being attracted to each other by magnetic force. (4) The aerosol suction device described in (2) or (3), wherein the cover and the lid portion have the magnet. (5) The aerosol suction device described in any of (1) to (4), wherein the third force includes a force generated by the cover sliding relative to the lid portion. (6) The aerosol inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the cover substantially conceals the lid portion when the cover is attached to the second end.(7) In the aerosol inhalation device described in any one of (1) to (6), the housing has a fixed part that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid part has a sliding part that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding part in the first direction and the sliding part slides in the first direction, the fixed part has a first protrusion that protrudes toward the sliding part, and when the sliding part slides in the first direction, the sliding part is configured to come into contact with the first protrusion. (8) In the aerosol inhalation device described in any one of (1) to (6), the housing has a fixed part that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid part has a sliding part that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding part in the first direction and the sliding part slides in the first direction, the sliding part has a second protrusion that protrudes toward the fixed part, and when the sliding part slides in the first direction, the fixed part is configured to come into contact with the second protrusion. (9) An aerosol inhalation device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the housing has a fixed part that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid part has a sliding part that slides in the first direction, and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding part in the first direction, causing the sliding part to slide in the first direction, the fixed part has a first protrusion that protrudes toward the sliding part, and the sliding part has a second protrusion that protrudes toward the fixed part, and when the sliding part slides in the first direction, the first protrusion is configured to come into contact with the second protrusion.(10) The aerosol inhalation device described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein the housing has a fixed part that does not move in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lid part has a sliding part that slides in the first direction and is configured to open when the first force is applied to the sliding part in the first direction, causing the sliding part to slide in the first direction, the fixed part has an abutting part that abuts against the sliding part, the abutting part includes a rubber member, and the sliding part is configured to come into contact with the abutting part when it slides in the first direction. (11) The aerosol inhalation device described in (10), wherein the sliding part is configured to engage with the rubber member when it slides in the first direction. (12) The aerosol inhalation device described in (11), wherein the housing has a storage section that stores consumable products, the fixing section is provided on the lid section and includes the rubber member, and the rubber member of the fixing section defines a part of the storage section. (13) The aerosol inhalation device described in (11) or (12), wherein the lid section has a biasing member that biases the sliding section in the second direction. (14) The aerosol inhalation device described in (13), wherein the biasing member and the rubber member of the abutting section are configured to apply a reaction force in the second direction to the lid section when a force in the first direction is applied to the lid section. (15) The aerosol inhalation device described in any of (1) to (14), wherein the first force is 1.1 times or more the third force.

[0074] 30: Aerosol generating part 40: Lid part 42: Magnet 43: Urging member 44: Fixed part 45: Sliding part 46: Second protrusion part 47: Contact part 100: Aerosol suction device 110: Housing 120: Cover 124: Magnet E1: First end E2: Second end d1: First direction d2: Second direction

Claims

1. A housing having a first end and a second end different from the first end, The housing has a cover that is detachable from the housing so as to cover the first end, The housing has a slidable cover at the second end, The cover removed from the first end is configured to be detachably attached to the second end. The lid is configured to open when a first force is applied to the lid in a first direction, causing it to slide in that first direction. With the cover attached to the second end, the cover is configured to be removed from the second end when a second force is applied to the cover in the first direction. The lid portion is configured such that, when the cover is attached to the second end, a second force is applied to the cover in the first direction, thereby applying a third force to the lid portion in the first direction. An aerosol suction device in which the third force is smaller than the first force.

2. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, One of the cover and the lid has a magnet, and the other of the cover and the lid has a magnet or a ferromagnetic material. The aerosol suction device is configured such that the cover removed from the first end is detachably attached to the second end by magnetic attraction between the magnets or between the magnets and the ferromagnetic material.

3. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 2, The aerosol suction device includes a third force which is generated when the magnets or the magnets and the ferromagnetic material are attracted to each other by magnetic force.

4. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 2, The cover and the lid are aerosol suction devices having the magnet.

5. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, The aerosol suction device wherein the third force includes the force generated by the sliding of the cover relative to the lid.

6. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, An aerosol suction device wherein, when the cover is attached to the second end, the cover substantially conceals the lid portion.

7. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, The housing has a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, The lid has a sliding portion that slides in the first direction, and is configured to open when a first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction. The fixed portion has a first projection that protrudes toward the sliding portion, An aerosol suction device in which, when the sliding portion slides in the first direction, the sliding portion is configured to come into contact with the first protrusion.

8. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, The housing has a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, The lid has a sliding portion that slides in the first direction, and is configured to open when a first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction. The sliding portion has a second projection that protrudes toward the fixed portion, An aerosol suction device in which, when the sliding portion slides in the first direction, the fixed portion is configured to come into contact with the second protruding portion.

9. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, The housing has a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, The lid has a sliding portion that slides in the first direction, and is configured to open when a first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction. The fixed portion has a first projection that protrudes toward the sliding portion, The sliding portion has a second projection that protrudes toward the fixed portion, An aerosol suction device configured such that when the sliding portion slides in the first direction, the first protrusion comes into contact with the second protrusion.

10. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 1, The housing has a fixed portion that does not move in the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, The lid has a sliding portion that slides in the first direction, and is configured to open when a first force is applied to the sliding portion in the first direction, causing the sliding portion to slide in the first direction. The fixed portion has a contact portion that contacts the sliding portion, The aforementioned contact portion includes a rubber member. An aerosol suction device in which, when the sliding portion slides in the first direction, the sliding portion is configured to come into contact with the contact portion.

11. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 10, An aerosol suction device in which, when the sliding part slides in the first direction, the sliding part is configured to engage with the rubber member.

12. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 11, The housing has a storage section for accommodating consumables, The fixing portion is provided on the lid portion and includes the rubber member, The rubber member of the fixed part defines a part of the housing part, and is an aerosol suction device.

13. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 11, The lid portion has a biasing member that biases the sliding portion in the second direction, an aerosol suction device.

14. In the aerosol suction device described in claim 13, The biasing member and the rubber member of the contact portion are configured to apply a reaction force to the lid in a second direction when a force in the first direction is applied to the lid, in an aerosol suction device.

15. In an aerosol suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, An aerosol suction device in which the first force is 1.1 times or more the third force.