Flavor inhaler and flavor inhalation system

Abstract

Provided is a flavor inhaler. This flavor inhaler comprises: a replaceable battery; a battery accommodation part that has an opening and accommodates the battery via the opening; a removable battery cover that covers the opening; and a removable outer panel that covers the battery cover.

Description

Fragrance attractor and fragrance attracting system

[0001] The present invention relates to a fragrance attractor and a fragrance attracting system.

[0002] Conventionally, a non-combustion heating type fragrance attractor that generates an aerosol or the like by heating a material without burning the material containing a fragrance source is known. As such a fragrance attractor, there is known one having a heating unit that heats a fragrance generating article and a battery that supplies power to the heating unit, and the battery can be replaced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Specification of Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 107373765

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a fragrance attractor in which the battery can be replaced, but from the viewpoint of further improving the quality, it is required to improve the aesthetics.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a fragrance attractor and a fragrance attracting system with improved aesthetics.

[0006] According to one aspect, a fragrance attractor is provided. This fragrance attractor includes a replaceable battery, a battery housing portion having an opening and housing the battery through the opening, a removable battery cover covering the opening, and a removable outer panel covering the battery cover.

[0007] According to the above aspect, by further covering the removable battery cover covering the opening with a removable outer panel, the connection portion between the battery cover and the battery housing portion can be hidden, so that a fragrance attractor with improved aesthetics can be provided.

[0008] The width of the outer panel in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fragrance attractor may be larger than the width of the battery cover in the width direction.

[0009] In this case, by making the width of the outer panel in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fragrance attractor larger than the width of the battery cover in the width direction, the appearance of the fragrance attractor can be unified.

[0010] The device further comprises an assembly housing for housing an assembly powered by a battery, and a non-removable inner cover covering the assembly housed in the assembly housing, wherein the outer panel may cover the battery cover and the inner cover.

[0011] In this case, the non-removable inner cover that covers the assembly can be further covered by a removable outer panel along with the battery cover, thereby concealing the connection points of the inner cover to the assembly housing and the battery cover to the battery housing, and thus improving the aesthetics.

[0012] The length of the inner cover of the flavor inhaler in the longitudinal direction may be shorter than the length of the battery cover in the longitudinal direction.

[0013] In this case, by making the length of the inner cover in the longitudinal direction shorter than the length of the battery cover in the longitudinal direction, the battery cover can be made longer, thereby improving the ease of replacement when changing batteries.

[0014] The inner cover, together with the assembly, may have a shape that covers the longitudinal end face of the flavor inhaler.

[0015] In this case, the inner cover, along with the assembly, has a shape that covers the longitudinal end face of the flavor inhaler, thereby preventing the user from attempting to remove the inner cover.

[0016] The inner cover may cover at least one of the assembly's heating section for heating the flavor-generating article and the control section for controlling the operation of the heating section.

[0017] In this case, the inner cover protects important components of the assembly from impact and other damage by covering at least one of the heating and control parts of the assembly.

[0018] The battery cover may have a magnetic material for attracting the outer panel, and the outer panel may have a magnetic material at a position corresponding to the magnetic material of the battery cover.

[0019] In this case, the battery cover has a magnetic material for attracting the outer panel, and the outer panel has a magnetic material in a position corresponding to the magnetic material of the battery cover. Therefore, when the battery cover is not connected to the battery housing, the outer panel cannot be connected to the flavor inhaler, thus preventing users from forgetting to connect the battery cover.

[0020] In another embodiment, a flavor suction system is provided, comprising the flavor suction device described above and a flavor generating article inserted into the flavor suction device for use.

[0021] According to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a flavor inhalation system with improved aesthetics.

[0022] This is a perspective view showing a flavor inhalation system according to one embodiment. This is a perspective view showing a flavor inhaler according to one embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view showing the flavor inhaler in the direction of arrow 3-3 in Figure 2. This is an exploded perspective view of the flavor inhaler. This is a perspective view showing the battery. This is a perspective view showing the flavor generating assembly. This is a perspective view showing the electrical connection between the battery and the flavor generating assembly. This is an explanatory diagram showing the battery removal procedure. This is another explanatory diagram showing the battery removal procedure. This is another perspective view showing the battery. This is yet another explanatory diagram showing the battery removal procedure. This is another exploded perspective view of the flavor inhaler. This is a rear view showing the battery panel. This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an excerpt of a part of the flavor inhaler.

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In the following drawings, the dimensions of each part have been appropriately changed for clarity.

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a flavor suction system 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a flavor suction device 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The flavor suction system 1000 is configured such that a flavor generating article 100 is applied to a flavor suction device 200 having a heating unit 40, which will be described later. At least a portion of the flavor generating article 100 is housed in the flavor suction device 200 via an insertion port 210.

[0025] In the drawings described herein, an X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system may be shown for convenience of explanation. In this coordinate system, the Z axis points vertically upward, the X-Y plane is positioned to cut the flavor inhaler 200 horizontally, and the Y axis extends from the side to the back of the flavor inhaler 200. The Z axis direction can also be said to be the direction in which the flavor generating article 100 housed in the chamber 50, which will be described later, is removed. The X axis direction can also be said to be the longitudinal direction of the device in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the flavor generating article 100. The Y axis direction can also be said to be the short direction of the device in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the flavor generating article 100.

[0026] The flavor inhaler 200 is configured to generate a flavor-containing aerosol by heating, for example, a stick-type flavor generating article 100 having a flavor source containing an aerosol source. The flavor generating article 100 is configured, for example, to have a smokeable material containing a flavor source such as tobacco and an aerosol source on the tip side in the negative Z-axis direction, and a filter on another part. Examples of aerosol sources include glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. The flavor generating article 100 is configured to generate flavor by being heated by the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 200. The flavor inhaler 200 is preferably a non-combustion heating type tobacco product.

[0027] In this embodiment, the flavor generating article 100 is described as being in the shape of a stick, but the flavor generating article used in the flavor inhaler 200 is not limited to this. For example, the flavor generating article can be configured to include a cartridge containing a liquid aerosol source. The cartridge may also have a heater.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flavor inhaler 200 includes an upper member 204, an outer case 410, an inner panel 510 (corresponding to an example of an inner cover), a battery panel 530 (corresponding to an example of a battery cover), an outer panel 520, and a lid 208. A movable lid 208 is disposed on the upper member 204. The lid 208 is preferably a sliding cover. The outer case 410 defines a part of the outer surface of the flavor inhaler 200 and is sized to fit in the user's hand. When the user uses the flavor inhaler 200, they can hold the flavor inhaler 200 in their hand and inhale aerosols. The inner panel 510, battery panel 530, and outer panel 520 will be described later.

[0029] The outer case 410 is preferably made of a metal such as aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, or an alloy containing aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, from the viewpoint of efficiently dissipating heat from the heating section 40 to the outside. However, the material of the outer case 410 is not limited thereto, and can be optionally selected from, for example, resin, and in particular from polycarbonate (PC), ABS (Acrylonitrite-Butadiene-Styrene) resin, PEEK (polyetheretherketone), or polymer alloys containing multiple types of polymers.

[0030] The upper member 204 has an insertion opening 210 for receiving the flavor-generating article 100, and the lid 208 is slidably attached to the upper member 204 to close the insertion opening 210. Specifically, the lid 208 is configured to move along the outer surface of the upper member 204 between a closed position that closes the insertion opening 210 of the upper member 204 and an open position that opens the insertion opening 210 (the position shown in Figures 1 and 2). For example, a user can move the lid 208 between the closed and open positions by manually operating it. This allows the lid 208 to allow or restrict access of the flavor-generating article 100 to the inside of the flavor inhaler 200.

[0031] The upper member 204 preferably contains at least one of metal and a resin such as PC. The metal contained in the upper member 204 may be aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, or an alloy containing aluminum, magnesium, or titanium. However, the material of the upper member 204 is not limited to these, and can be arbitrarily and suitably selected, such as ABS resin, PEEK, or a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymers. From the viewpoint of having a unified aesthetic appearance, it is preferable that the material of the upper member 204 be the same as the material of the outer case 410. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of making the insertion opening 210 stand out, it is preferable that the material of the upper member 204 be different from the material of the outer case 410.

[0032] In the flavor suction system 1000, the air inhaled by the user is introduced into the flavor suction device 200 from the inlet 210, flows through the chamber 50 in the negative Z-axis direction, and is supplied to the upstream end face of the flavor generating article 100. That is, the flavor suction system 1000 shown in Figure 1 has a so-called counterflow type airflow path. However, the airflow path is not limited to the counterflow type, and may also have a so-called bottom flow type airflow path in which air is introduced into the chamber 50 from a vent formed at the bottom of the chamber 50 and supplied to the upstream end face of the flavor generating article 100.

[0033] Next, the internal structure of the flavor inhaler 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the flavor inhaler 200 in the line 3-3 shown by the arrow in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3, the internal space of the flavor inhaler 200 is provided with a power supply unit 20, an atomizing unit 30, and a control unit 80.

[0034] The control unit 80 includes a circuit board 81. The circuit board 81 includes, for example, a microprocessor and can control the supply of power from the power supply unit 20 to the atomizing unit 30. This allows the circuit board 81 to control the heating of the flavor-generating article 100 by the atomizing unit 30 (heating unit 40). The control unit 80 also includes a communication element 82, such as a Bluetooth® interface. The control unit 80 can communicate with external devices via the communication element 82.

[0035] The power supply unit 20 has a battery 21 that is electrically connected to the circuit board 81 of the control unit 80. The battery 21 has two ends and a side surface connecting the ends, and is a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery or a non-rechargeable battery. The battery 21 is electrically connected to the atomizing unit 30 via the circuit board 81. As a result, the battery 21 can supply power to the atomizing unit 30 so as to properly heat the flavor generating article 100.

[0036] The atomizing unit 30 includes a chamber 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article 100, a heating unit 40 surrounding a part of the chamber 50, a heat insulating unit 32, and a substantially cylindrical insertion guide member 34. The chamber 50 has a cylindrical shape for housing the flavor generating article 100. The chamber 50 may also have a so-called elliptical shape, having a major axis and a minor axis in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200. The chamber 50 is preferably made of a material that is heat resistant and has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and can be made of metals such as stainless steel, resins such as PEEK, glass, ceramics, etc.

[0037] The heating unit 40 is configured to heat the flavor generating article 100. Specifically, the heating unit 40 is configured to contact the outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50 and heat the flavor generating article 100 housed in the chamber 50. The heating unit 40 can be a heating element that generates heat, i.e., its temperature rises, due to electricity from the power supply unit 20. The heating unit 40 can be a sheet-shaped heater such as a film heater. The heating unit 40 may be provided so as to contact the outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50, or it may be provided on the inner surface of the chamber 50. Here, the longitudinal length of the heating unit 40 is, for example, 10 mm. The heater constituting the heating unit 40 may include an electric heating wire. The heater is positioned outside the chamber 50, which functions as a housing for the flavor generating article 100, and is configured to heat the flavor generating article 100 housed in the chamber 50 from the outside. Thus, it is preferable that the flavor aspirator 200 is an external heating type flavor aspirator.

[0038] The heating unit 40 may be an induction coil located in the flavor suction device 200, which inductively heats a susceptor located in the flavor generating article 100. Alternatively, the heating unit 40 may be a microwave radiation source located in the flavor suction device 200, which heats a microwave absorber such as water or glycerin contained in the flavor generating article 100 with microwaves. Furthermore, the flavor suction device 200 may be an internal heating type, in which case the heating unit 40 may be a pin-type or blade-type heater.

[0039] The heat insulating section 32 is arranged to surround the chamber 50 and the heating section 40, suppressing heat dissipation from the chamber 50 to the outside. The heat insulating section 32 may be, for example, aerogel. A heat diffusing member such as a graphite sheet may be placed between the heat insulating section 32 and the chamber 50. The graphite sheet is preferably made of a material that has high diffusivity in the planar direction of the sheet and low diffusivity in the thickness direction. This heat diffusing member may be placed between the heat insulating section 32 and the heating section 40 such as a film heater, or between the heating section 40 such as a film heater and the chamber 50.

[0040] The insertion guide member 34 is formed from a resin material such as PEEK, PC, or ABS, and is provided between the lid 208 in the closed position and the chamber 50. When the lid 208 is in the open position, the insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor suction device 200 and guides the insertion of the flavor generating article 100 into the chamber 50 by inserting the flavor generating article 100 into the insertion guide member 34.

[0041] The flavor inhaler 200 may further have a terminal 90. The terminal 90 may be an interface for connecting the flavor inhaler 200 to, for example, an external power supply. If the battery 21 is a rechargeable battery, the battery 21 can be charged by connecting the external power supply to the terminal 90 to supply current from the external power supply to the battery 21. In addition, by connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal 90, data related to the operation of the flavor inhaler 200 may be transmitted to an external device.

[0042] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fragrance attractor 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the fragrance attractor 200 includes a fragrance generating assembly 300 (corresponding to an example of an assembly), an upper member 204, a terminal 90, an outer case 410, a battery 21, and a panel unit 500. The panel unit 500 includes an inner panel 510, a battery panel 530, and an outer panel 520. In the illustrated example, the outer case 410 is composed of one case, but it may be composed of two or more cases. Further, in the illustrated example, the panel unit 500 has three panels, but the number of panels of the panel unit 500 is not particularly limited and may be one, two, or four or more.

[0043] The fragrance generating assembly 300 includes a heating unit 40 (FIG. 3) and a control unit 80, and is supplied with power from the battery 21. The fragrance generating assembly 300 preferably further includes a chamber 50. The fragrance generating assembly 300 has a chassis 310. In the fragrance generating assembly 300, a nebulizing unit 30, a substrate 81, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC, FIG. 6), etc. are arranged with the chassis 310 as a support or a base. The fragrance generating assembly 300 is configured such that each part is stably supported while ensuring electrical connection between the parts. The fragrance generating assembly 300 is preferably stick-shaped in order to facilitate insertion into the outer case 414.

[0044] The outer case 410 extends in its longitudinal direction and has a first end 414, a second end 416 opposite to the first end 414 in the longitudinal direction, and a side surface 415 extending from the first end 414 side to the second end 416 side. A first opening 411 is formed in the end surface of the first end 414, and a second opening 412 (corresponding to an example of an opening) is formed in the side surface 415. The first opening 411 and the second opening 412 are connected to form one opening. The interior of the outer case 410 is divided into a first accommodating portion 417 (corresponding to an example of an assembly accommodating portion) for accommodating the fragrance generating assembly 300 through the first opening 411 and a second accommodating portion 418 (corresponding to an example of a battery accommodating portion) for accommodating the battery 21 through the second opening 412.

[0045] The flavor generating assembly 300 is housed in the outer case 410 such that the substrate 81 is positioned on the side of the second opening 412. Preferably, the substrate 81 defines a portion of the surface of the flavor generating assembly 300 on the side of the second opening 412. This prevents the substrate 81 or elements near the substrate 81 from coming into contact with the outer case 410 and being damaged when the flavor generating assembly 300 is inserted into the outer case 410. Furthermore, even if a communication element 82 (Figure 3) is placed near the substrate 81, communication is less likely to be interfered with by the outer case 410, allowing the flavor inhaler 200 to be made compact. In addition, the substrate 81 can be accessed after the flavor generating assembly 300 has been inserted into the outer case 410. For example, the substrate 81 can be attached to or detached from the flavor generating assembly 300 housed in the outer case 410, or elements can be added to or removed from the substrate 81 by soldering or other means.

[0046] In the flavor generation assembly 300, it is preferable that the atomizing unit 30, including the heating unit 40, is positioned on the side opposite to the second opening 412 with respect to the substrate 81. It is preferable that the heating unit 40 is positioned on the side opposite to the second opening 412 with respect to the central axis Ax2 (Figure 6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generation assembly 300. This allows for efficient heat dissipation from the heating unit 40 via the outer case 410. It is even preferable that the outer case 410 includes a metal such as aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, or an alloy containing aluminum, magnesium, or titanium, as this promotes heat dissipation.

[0047] On the side of the first opening 411 of the fragrance generating assembly 300, the upper member 204 is disposed. The lid 208 disposed on the upper member 204 is preferably movable between a position corresponding to the insertion port 210 into which the fragrance generating article 100 is inserted and a position corresponding to the substrate 81 in coordinates on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. When a magnet that moves integrally with the lid 208 is disposed on the lid 208, by disposing a magnetic sensor on the substrate 81, a mechanism for detecting the position of the lid 208 can be configured compactly. On the side of the second end 416 of the fragrance generating assembly 300, the terminal 90 is disposed. The terminal 90 is accommodated in the end portion on the side of the second end 416 of the outer case 410.

[0048] The panel portion 500 is configured to cover the first opening 411 and the second opening 412. The inner panel 510 is a panel having a substantially L-shaped form corresponding to a part of the first opening 411 and the second opening 412 connected to the first opening 411. In the illustrated example, the inner panel 510 is configured to cover the heating portion 40 and the control portion 80 of the fragrance generating assembly 300 and also cover the first end 414 which is the longitudinal end surface of the outer case 410. By the inner panel 510 covering the heating portion 40 and the control portion 80 of the fragrance generating assembly 300, important members of the fragrance generating assembly 300 can be protected from impacts and the like. The battery panel 530 has a shape corresponding to the remaining portion of the second opening 412 and is a panel extending in the longitudinal direction of the outer case 410. The inner panel 510 and the battery panel 530 are disposed inside the outer panel 520.

[0049] The outer panel 520 is configured to cover at least a portion of the inner panel 510 and the battery panel 530. Preferably, the outer panel 520 is detachably attached to the battery panel 530, etc. In the illustrated example, as will be described later, the outer panel 520 is attracted to the battery panel 530 by magnetic force. The outer panel 520 also has a projection 524, and the projection 524 is inserted into a recess (not shown) of the upper member 204, thereby providing more stable support for the outer panel 520 and facilitating its attachment. Here, the width of the outer panel 520 in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200 may be smaller than the width of the battery panel 530 in the width direction. In this case, making the width of the outer panel 520 smaller than the width of the battery panel 530 can improve the ease of holding the flavor inhaler 200. Alternatively, the width of the outer panel 520 in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200 may be larger than the width of the battery panel 530 in the width direction. In this case, by making the width of the outer panel 520 greater than the width of the battery panel 530 and covering the battery panel 530, the appearance of the flavor inhaler 200 can be unified.

[0050] The inner panel 510, battery panel 530, and outer panel 520 may be formed from resin or metal. Each of the inner panel 510, battery panel 530, and outer panel 520 may be formed in part from resin and in other parts from metal. The resin included in the inner panel 510, battery panel 530, or outer panel 520 may be, for example, PC, ABS resin, PEEK, or polymer alloy. The metal included in the inner panel 510, battery panel 530, or outer panel 520 may be aluminum, magnesium or titanium, an alloy containing aluminum, magnesium or titanium, or stainless steel, etc. In this embodiment, the inner panel 510, battery panel 530, and outer panel 520 are formed from resin.

[0051] The upper member 204 has a first connecting portion 91 for connecting to the outer case 410, the flavor generating assembly 300, the inner panel 510, or the outer panel 520. The first connecting portion 91 may have an engaging portion such as a claw and engage with other members, or it may have a fastening portion such as a screw hole and be connected to other members by fastening, or it may have a fitting portion such as a convex or concave and be connected to other members by fitting, or it may have an adhesive coated surface and be connected to other members by adhesion. Alternatively, the first connecting portion 91 may have a magnetic member (corresponding to an example of a magnetic material) or a magnet (corresponding to an example of a magnetic material) and be attracted to other members by magnetic force. In the illustrated example, the first connecting portion 91 is a claw and is configured to engage with the inner panel 510. The first connecting portion 91 makes it easier to assemble the flavor inhaler 200 more reliably.

[0052] At least one panel included in the panel section 500 may have second connecting sections 514, 526. The inner panel 510 has a second connecting section 514 for connecting to the upper member 204, the outer case 410, the flavor generating assembly 300, the battery panel 530, or the outer panel 520. The second connecting section 514 may have an engaging portion such as a claw and engage with other members, or it may have a fastening portion such as a screw hole and be connected to other members by fastening, or it may have a fitting portion such as a convex or concave and be connected to other members by fitting, or it may have an adhesive-coated surface and be connected to other members by adhesion. Alternatively, the second connecting section 514 may have a magnetic member or a magnet and be attracted to other members by magnetic force.

[0053] In the illustrated example, the second connection portion 514A is a screw hole, and the inner panel 510 is fastened to the flavor generating assembly 300 and the outer case 410 by screws along the X-axis and Z-axis directions. As a result, the inner panel 510 is not removable from the flavor generating assembly 300 and the outer case 410. Not removable means that it is connected so firmly or intricately that it cannot be removed by a user. The inner panel 510 may be connected by means other than screws, as long as it is firmly or intricately connected so that it cannot be removed by a user. Furthermore, by configuring the inner panel 510 to cover the first end 414, which is the longitudinal end face of the outer case 410, it is possible to deter a user from attempting to remove the inner panel 510.

[0054] The battery panel 530 has a second connecting portion 514 for connecting to the outer case 410, the flavor generating assembly 300, the inner panel 510, or the outer panel 520. The second connecting portion 514 may have an engaging portion such as a claw and engage with other members, or it may have a fastening portion such as a screw hole and be connected to other members by fastening, or it may have a fitting portion such as a convex or concave and be connected to other members by fitting, or it may have an adhesive coated surface and be connected to other members by adhesion. Alternatively, the second connecting portion 514 may have a magnetic member or a magnet and be attracted to other members by magnetic force. In the illustrated example, the second connecting portion 514A is a screw hole, and the battery panel 530 is fastened to the outer case 410 along the X-axis direction by a screw. The second connecting portion 514B is a magnetic member and is attracted to the second connecting portion 526, which is a magnet on the outer panel 520. The second connecting portion 514 makes it easier to assemble the flavor inhaler 200 more reliably.

[0055] Here, by removing the screws and taking off the battery panel 530, the battery 21 housed in the second housing 418 of the outer case 410 can be replaced. The battery panel 530 may be provided with a protective member 531 on the side facing the battery 21, such as a sponge or elastomer, to protect the connection point between the electrical connector 213 of the battery 21 and the electrical connector 350 of the flavor generating assembly 300, which will be described later. By providing the protective member 531, the connection point between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350, as well as the battery 21 itself, can be protected from impacts, etc. In the illustrated example, the protective member 531 provided on the side facing the battery 21 of the battery panel 530 is schematically shown by a dotted line. Note that the protective member is not limited to being provided on the battery panel 530, and may be provided in other locations as long as it protects the connection point between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350.

[0056] Furthermore, the battery panel 530 is not limited to being completely removable. For example, the battery panel 530 may be connected to the outer case 410 by a string-like member, and may be configured to remain connected to the outer case 410 by the string-like member even after removal. In this case, the loss of the removed battery panel 530 can be prevented, thereby improving the workability when replacing the battery 21. The battery panel 530 may also be able to open and close a part of the second opening 412 by a hinge, or by a sliding mechanism. The battery panel 530 may also have a vent hole for releasing gas generated inside the battery 21 and a seal to close the vent hole. The battery panel 530 may also have various markings such as standards and country of manufacture. Here, the length of the inner panel 510 in the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200 may be shorter than the length of the battery panel 530 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the battery panel 530 can be made longer, thereby improving the workability when replacing the battery 21.

[0057] The outer panel 520 has a second connecting portion 526 for detachably connecting to the upper member 204, the outer case 410, the flavor generating assembly 300, the inner panel 510, or the battery panel 530. The second connecting portion 526 may have an engaging portion such as a claw and engage with other members, or it may have a fastening portion such as a screw hole and be connected to other members by fastening, or it may have a fitting portion such as a convex or concave and be connected to other members by fitting, or it may have an adhesive-coated surface and be connected to other members by adhesion. Alternatively, the second connecting portion 526 may have a magnetic member or a magnet and be attracted to other members by magnetic force.

[0058] In the illustrated example, the second connecting portion 526 is a magnet and is configured to be attracted to the magnetic member 514B of the battery panel 530. In the illustrated example, the second connecting portion 526, which is provided on the side of the outer panel 520 facing the battery panel 530, at a position corresponding to the magnetic member 514B of the battery panel 530, is schematically shown by a dotted line. Magnets may be provided on both the outer panel 520 and the battery panel 530, or a magnet may be provided on one of the outer panel 520 and the battery panel 530, and a magnetic member may be provided on the other. The second connecting portion 526 makes it easier to assemble the flavor inhaler 200 more reliably. In addition, since the outer panel 520 cannot be connected to the flavor inhaler 200 when the battery panel 530 is not fastened to the outer case 410, forgetting to connect the battery panel 530 can be prevented. Alternatively, a magnetic sensor may be placed on the substrate 81, and when the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic field from the second connection portion 526 of the outer panel 520, the control unit 80 may control the heating of the flavor-generating article 100 by the atomizing unit 30 (heating unit 40) based on the assumption that the outer panel 520 is connected.

[0059] Here, since the outer panel 520 is configured to cover the battery panel 530, the outer panel 520 can hide the connection point between the battery panel 530 and the outer case 410, i.e., the second connection part 514A of the battery panel 530, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing flavor inhaler 200 and flavor inhalation system 1000. Furthermore, since the outer panel 520 is configured to cover the inner panel 510, the outer panel 520 can hide the connection point between the flavor generating assembly 300 of the inner panel 510 and the outer case 410, i.e., the second connection part 514A of the inner panel 510, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance.

[0060] As described above, the flavor suction device 200 may have at least one panel of the panel portion 500 positioned on the first opening 411 or second opening 412 side of the flavor suction device 200, and at least one upper member 204 positioned on the first end 414 side and having a movable lid 208. This allows the first opening 411 or the second opening 412, or the first opening 411 and the second opening 412 to be covered, and protects the exposed portion of the first opening 411 or the second opening 412, or the first opening 411 and the second opening 412 in the flavor generating assembly 300.

[0061] As shown in Figure 4, the flavor inhaler 200 may include a tactile switch 380, which is an electrical load located on the circuit board 81, and a display unit 390. The tactile switch 380 has an ON state when pressed and an OFF state when not pressed, and is configured to generate different electrical signals in the circuit on the circuit board 81 depending on whether it is in the ON or OFF state. For example, the tactile switch 380 is configured to energize the circuit in the ON state and not energize the circuit in the OFF state. The tactile switch 380 functions as an input unit that receives user input.

[0062] The display unit 390 has a light source such as a light-emitting diode and at least one screen consisting of multiple pixels. In the illustrated example, the inner panel 510 has a through hole 512 that penetrates in the thickness direction, and the outer panel 520 has a window portion 522 in the thickness direction opposite to the through hole 512. The display unit 390 is configured such that a light-transmitting display window portion that forms an optical path is inserted into the through hole 512, and light is emitted to the outside of the flavor inhaler 200 through the light-transmitting window portion 522 of the outer panel 520.

[0063] The tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200. In the illustrated example, the inner panel 510 has a through hole 515 that penetrates in its thickness direction, and a button, for example made of resin, is exposed to the outer panel 520 side through the through hole 515. The through hole 515 and the button are covered with silicone rubber from the flavor generating assembly 300 side, and the tactile switch 380 is located on the silicone rubber side of the flavor generating assembly 300. The silicone rubber is elastically deformable and waterproof, preventing moisture from entering the tactile switch 380 and its surroundings. In this embodiment, at least the portion of the outer panel 520 near the through hole 515 is configured to be elastically deformable by user pressure. As a result, when the user presses the outer panel 520 near the through hole 515, the silicone rubber is elastically deformed via the button, and the tactile switch 380 is activated. The tactile switch 380 is configured so that it can be switched between the ON and OFF states by the user's pressure.

[0064] In addition to the tactile switch 380, the flavor inhaler 200 may have any interface such as a button or touch panel for receiving input from the user. Furthermore, the configuration of the display unit 390 and the optical path is not particularly limited to the above example, as long as the user can obtain information via the display unit 390.

[0065] Furthermore, it is preferable that the flavor inhaler 200 be waterproof. Specifically, it is preferable to place waterproof cushions, silicone rubber, O-rings, or other elastic members in the gaps at the connection points of the outer case 410, inner panel 510, battery panel 530, and upper member 204, and in the gaps at the contact points between the inner panel 510 and the tactile switch 380 and display unit 390.

[0066] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the battery 21. As shown in Figure 5, the battery 21 includes a battery pack 211, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 212, an electrical connector 213, and a thermistor 214. The battery pack 211 has a cylindrical shape. However, the battery pack 211 is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may have a prism shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0067] The FPC 212 is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery 21, with one end extending from one end of the battery 21. The FPC 212 is not fixed to the battery pack 211 and is at least partially flexible. The electrical connector 213 is a board-to-board (BtoB) connector and is electrically connected to the other end of the FPC 212. That is, the electrical connector 213 is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery 21 via the FPC 212.

[0068] The thermistor 214 detects the temperature of the battery 21 and outputs a temperature signal via the FPC 212. In the illustrated example, the thermistor 214 built into the battery 21 is schematically shown by a dotted line. The presence of the thermistor 214 in the battery 21 allows for stable detection of the battery 21's temperature. Note that the thermistor is not limited to being built into the battery 21; it can be placed near the battery 21.

[0069] The battery 21 may also have tapes, hooks, grooves, etc. (not shown) to support the FPC 212. The tape supports the FPC 212 by being wrapped around the battery pack 211 together with the FPC 212. The hooks support the FPC 212 by allowing it to be hooked onto them. The grooves support the FPC 212 by accommodating it. By providing tapes, hooks, grooves, etc., the FPC 212 can be fixed in place so that it does not move when the flavor inhaler 200 is in use. The battery 21 may also have tapes, hooks, grooves, etc. (not shown) to support the electrical connector 213.

[0070] Furthermore, the battery 21 may have hooks or Velcro (registered trademark), etc., not shown, to support the FPC 340 of the flavor generating assembly 300, which will be described later. The hooks support the FPC 340 by hooking onto it. The Velcro supports the FPC 340 by being attached to Velcro provided on the FPC 340. By providing hooks or Velcro, etc., the FPC 340 can be fixed in place so that it does not move when the flavor inhaler 200 is in use. The battery 21 may also have hooks or the like, not shown, to support the electrical connector 350 of the flavor generating assembly 300, which will be described later.

[0071] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the flavor generation assembly 300. As shown in Figure 6, the flavor generation assembly 300 includes an atomizing unit 30 (heating unit 40), a control unit 80, a chassis 310, a bracket 320, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 330, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 340, and an electrical connector 350.

[0072] The flavor generation assembly 300 compactly integrates multiple parts of the flavor aspirator 200, thereby making the flavor aspirator 200 more compact and easier to assemble. The parts of the flavor aspirator 200 that are included in the flavor generation assembly 300 are not particularly limited, but it is preferable to include the heating unit 40 and the control unit 80, and more preferably to include the chamber 50. Since the chamber 50 is a relatively large component in the flavor aspirator 200, integrating it into the flavor generation assembly 300 makes the flavor aspirator 200 more compact.

[0073] As shown in Figure 6, the flavor generating assembly 300 has a central axis Ax2 extending in the longitudinal direction. As can be seen from Figures 3, 4, and 6, the communication element 82 is located on the second aperture 412 side of the central axis Ax2. This makes it easier for radio waves from the communication element 82 to pass through the second aperture 412, further reducing the risk of communication interference by the outer case 410, etc.

[0074] The chassis 310 functions as a support for each part of the flavor generation assembly 300. That is, the atomizing unit 30 and the control unit 80 are mounted on the chassis 310. The material constituting the chassis 310 is not particularly limited, but the chassis 310 may include resin such as PC or metal.

[0075] The bracket 320 is configured to hold components such as the substrate 81 and to prevent them from falling off. In the illustrated example, the bracket 320 is attached to the chassis 310. The material constituting the bracket 320 is not particularly limited, but the bracket 320 may include metals such as stainless steel. The bracket 320 may be configured to cover a portion of the substrate 81.

[0076] The FPC 330 has one end extending from the assembly body (the atomizing unit 30 and control unit 80 supported by the chassis 310) and the other end connected to the terminal 90 (Figure 3). This electrically connects the substrate 81 and the terminal 90. By using the FPC 330, the flavor generation assembly 300 can be made lighter and more compact. Furthermore, the FPC 330 can be electrically connected to any electrical or electronic component of the flavor generation assembly 300.

[0077] The FPC 340 extends from the assembly body at one end. The FPC 340 is flexible in at least part of its structure. The electrical connector 350 is a board-to-board connector and is electrically connected to the other end of the FPC 340. That is, the electrical connector 350 is electrically connected to the board 81 via the FPC 340. The electrical connector 350 is also electrically connected to the electrical connector 213 (Figure 5). This electrically connects the battery 21 and the board 81, allowing power to be supplied from the battery 21 to the board 81 and the heating unit 40 so as to properly heat the flavor generating article 100. The FPC 340 can also be electrically connected to any electrical or electronic component of the flavor generating assembly 300.

[0078] As can be seen from Figures 4 and 6, in the example of Figure 6, the FPC 340 extends in the negative X-axis direction, that is, on the side opposite to the second opening 412 with respect to the central axis Ax2. In this case, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected to each other on the side opposite to the opening surface of the second opening 412, which is parallel to the side of the battery 21. This connection between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 is called a back-side connection.

[0079] The FPC 340 may extend from the central axis Ax2 toward the second opening 412, i.e., in the positive X-axis direction. In this case, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected to each other on the side facing the opening surface of the second opening 412, which is parallel to the side of the battery 21. This connection between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 is called a front-side connection. Alternatively, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 may be connected to each other on the side connecting the side facing the opening surface of the second opening 412, which is parallel to the side of the battery 21, and the opposite side, i.e., the side.

[0080] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the electrical connection between the battery 21 and the flavor generating assembly 300. Figure 7 shows the electrical connector 213 and electrical connector 350 connected on the front side, and the outer panel 520 and battery panel 530 are omitted from the illustration. As shown in Figure 7, the battery 21 is housed in the second housing section 418 of the outer case 410. The FPC 212 is wrapped around and supported by tape 215 on the battery pack 211. The FPC 340 extends toward the second opening 412 side of the central axis Ax2. The outer case 410 is also provided with a tab 419 attached to the second housing section 418, and the battery 21 can be easily removed from the second housing section 418 by pulling the tab 419.

[0081] Here, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected to each other on the side of the battery 21. By connecting the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 to each other on the side of the battery 21, the electrical connection between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 21 and the flavor generating assembly 300 can be achieved with a single connection. Therefore, it is possible to provide a flavor inhaler 200 and a flavor inhalation system 1000 with improved connectivity of the battery 21.

[0082] Furthermore, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected board to board (BtoB) by a board-to-board connector. By connecting the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 in a BtoB manner, the flavor inhaler 200 can be miniaturized, and a lower contact resistance can be achieved compared to, for example, a pin-to-terminal connection where electrical connections are made at a single point. Here, instead of a BtoB connection, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 may be connected board to wire (BtoW) or wire to wire (WtoW).

[0083] Furthermore, by having the FPC 212 extend from one end of the battery 21 and electrically connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery 21 to the electrical connector 213, and by having the FPC 340 extend from the assembly body and electrically connect the assembly body to the electrical connector 350, the connection point between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 can be moved from the end of the battery 21 to the side of the battery 21.

[0084] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for removing the battery 21. Figure 8 shows the procedure for removing the battery 21 from a state where the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected on the front side. First, as shown in Figure 8(a), remove the outer panel 520 and the battery panel 530 to expose the battery 21. Next, as shown in Figure 8(b), remove the electrical connector 350. The removed electrical connector 350 and FPC 340 are not shown. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 8(c), pull the tab 419 to remove the battery 21 from the second housing 418. The tab 419 is not shown.

[0085] When the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected to each other on the side facing the opening surface of the second opening 412, that is, when they are connected on the front side, the connection and disconnection of the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 can be performed with the battery 21 housed in the second housing 418 when replacing the battery 21. Furthermore, the flexibility of at least a portion of the FPC 212 and at least a portion of the FPC 340 improves the workability when replacing the battery 21.

[0086] When installing a new battery 21, the battery 21 can be installed by following the reverse procedure shown in Figure 8. By providing a protective member 531 on the battery 21 side of the battery panel 530, the connection points between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350, as well as the battery 21 itself, can be protected from contact pressure by the battery panel 530 when fastening the battery panel 530 to the outer case 410 with screws. Furthermore, since the protective member 531 abuts against the connection points between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350, the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are held in place, improving the workability of connecting the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350.

[0087] Figure 9 is another explanatory diagram showing the procedure for removing the battery 21. Figure 9 shows the procedure for removing the battery 21 from a state where the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected on the back. First, as shown in Figure 9(a), the outer panel 520 and the battery panel 530 are removed to expose the battery 21. Next, as shown in Figure 9(b), the battery pack 211 is removed from the second housing 418 by pulling the tab 419. The removed battery pack 211 and tab 419 are not shown. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 9(c), the plate 420 attached to the connection point between the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 is removed. The removed plate 420 is not shown. Next, as shown in Figure 9(d), the electrical connector 350 is removed. The removed electrical connector 350 and FPC 340 are not shown.

[0088] When the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 are connected to each other on the side opposite to the opening surface of the second opening 412, that is, when they are connected on the back side, the connection and disconnection of the electrical connector 213 and the electrical connector 350 can be performed with the battery 21 (battery pack 211) removed from the second housing 418 when replacing the battery 21. In addition, the flexibility of at least a part of the FPC 212 and at least a part of the FPC 340 improves the workability when replacing the battery 21.

[0089] When installing a new battery 21, the battery 21 can be installed by following the reverse procedure shown in Figure 9. Here, the second housing section 418 of the outer case 410 may be provided with a groove 421 for supporting the FPC 212 and a groove 422 for supporting the FPC 340. The grooves 421 and 422 support the FPC 212 and FPC 340 by housing them in them, respectively. By providing grooves 421 and 422, the FPC 212 and FPC 340 can be fixed in place so that they do not move when the flavor inhaler 200 is in use. Alternatively, instead of grooves 421 and 422, Velcro or the like may be provided to support the FPC 212 and FPC 340, respectively. In addition to the plate 42, the second housing section 418 of the outer case 410 may also have grooves for supporting at least one of the electrical connectors 213 and 350.

[0090] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the battery 21A. As shown in Figure 10, the battery 21A has an electrical connector 213A instead of the electrical connector 213 shown in Figure 5. The other configurations are the same as those shown in Figure 5, so their explanation is omitted. The electrical connector 213A is a board-to-wire (BtoW) connector and is electrically connected to the other end of the FPC 212. That is, the electrical connector 213A is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery 21A via the FPC 212. The battery 21A may also have tapes, hooks, Velcro, grooves, etc. (not shown) that support at least one of the FPC 212, FPC 340, electrical connector 213, and the electrical connector 350A described later.

[0091] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for removing the battery 21A. Figure 11 shows the procedure for removing the battery 21A from a state in which the electrical connector 213A and the electrical connector 350A (described later) are connected on the front side. First, as shown in Figure 11(a), the outer panel 520 and the battery panel 530 are removed to expose the battery 21A. In Figure 11(a), one end of the electric wire 340A extends from the assembly body of the flavor generating assembly, and the other end of the electric wire 340A is electrically connected to the electrical connector 350A. The electrical connector 350A is a board-to-wire connector. The electrical connector 213A and the electrical connector 350A are connected board-to-wire (BtoW) by the board-to-wire connector. By connecting the electrical connector 213A and the electrical connector 350A BtoW, the workability when replacing the battery 21A is improved, and lower contact resistance can be achieved compared to, for example, a pin-to-terminal connection where electricity is connected at a single point. Here, instead of a BtoW connection, electrical connector 213A and electrical connector 350A may be connected in a BtoB or WtoW configuration.

[0092] Next, as shown in Figure 11(b), the electrical connector 350A is removed. The removed electrical connector 350A and wire 340A are not shown in the illustration. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 11(c), the battery 21A is removed from the second housing 418 by pulling the tab 419. When installing a new battery 21A, the battery 21A can be installed by following the reverse procedure shown in Figure 11. Alternatively, the installation of a new battery 21A may be detected by the power supply status.

[0093] Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the flavor inhaler 200A. As shown in Figure 12, the flavor inhaler 200A has a battery panel 530A (corresponding to an example of a battery cover) instead of the inner panel 510 and battery panel 530 shown in Figure 4. Also, the tactile switch 380 and display unit 390 shown in Figure 4 are mounted on the battery 21 side (the side facing the flavor generating assembly 300) of the battery panel 530A, rather than on the circuit board 81, and the circuit board 81 has electrical contacts 83 with the tactile switch 380 and display unit 390. The other configurations are the same as those shown in Figure 4, so their explanation is omitted.

[0094] The battery panel 530A, together with the outer panel 520, constitutes the panel section 500A. In the illustrated example, the panel section 500A has two panels, but the number of panels in the panel section 500A is not particularly limited and may be one, three or more. The battery panel 530A has a shape corresponding to the second opening 412 and is a panel that extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer case 410 so as to cover the second opening 412.

[0095] The battery panel 530A may be formed from resin or metal. The battery panel 530A may be formed in part from resin and in part from metal. Examples of resins included in the battery panel 530A are PC, ABS resin, PEEK, or polymer alloys. The metals included in the battery panel 530A can be aluminum, magnesium or titanium, an alloy containing aluminum, magnesium or titanium, or stainless steel. In this embodiment, the battery panel 530A is formed from resin.

[0096] The battery panel 530A has a second connection portion 514 for connecting to the upper member 204, the outer case 410, the flavor generating assembly 300, or the outer panel 520. In the illustrated example, the second connection portion 514A is a screw hole, and the battery panel 530A is fastened to the outer case 410 along the X-axis direction by a screw. The second connection portion 514B is a magnetic member and is attracted to the second connection portion 526, which is a magnet on the outer panel 520.

[0097] The battery panel 530A may be provided with a protective member 531, such as a sponge or elastomer, on the side facing the battery 21, to protect the connection point between the electrical connector 213 of the battery 21 and the electrical connector 350 of the flavor generating assembly 300. In the illustrated example, the protective member 531 provided on the side facing the battery 21 of the battery panel 530A is schematically shown by a dotted line.

[0098] Furthermore, at least one of the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 is mounted on the battery panel 530A on the side facing the battery 21. Here, the side facing the battery 21 of the battery panel 530A is not limited to the portion of the battery panel 530A that covers the battery 21, but refers to the entire side of the battery panel 530A that faces the battery 21. Therefore, the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 are not limited to the portion of the battery panel 530A that covers the battery 21, but can be mounted at any position on the entire side of the battery panel 530A that faces the battery 21. In the illustrated example, the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 mounted on the side facing the battery 21 of the battery panel 530A are schematically shown by dotted lines. The tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200.

[0099] The battery panel 530A has a through hole 512 that penetrates in the thickness direction. The display unit 390 is attached to the battery panel 530A such that a light-transmitting display window portion, which forms an optical path, is inserted into the through hole 512, and is configured to emit light to the outside of the flavor inhaler 200A through a light-transmitting window portion 522 of the outer panel 520.

[0100] Furthermore, the battery panel 530A has a through-hole 515 that penetrates in the thickness direction. For example, a resin button is attached to the battery panel 530A so that it is exposed to the outer panel 520 side through the through-hole 515. The through-hole 515 and the button are covered with silicone rubber from the flavor generating assembly 300 side, and a tactile switch 380 is positioned on the flavor generating assembly 300 side of the silicone rubber. The silicone rubber is elastically deformable and waterproof, preventing moisture from entering the tactile switch 380 and its surroundings. The tactile switch 380 is configured so that switching between an ON state and an OFF state occurs due to the elastic deformation of the area near the through-hole 515 in the outer panel 520 due to user pressure and the elastic deformation of the silicone rubber via the button.

[0101] Figure 13 is a rear view of the battery panel 530A. Figure 13 shows the battery panel 530A viewed from the negative X-axis direction. As shown in Figure 13, a tactile switch 380 and a display unit 390 are mounted on the battery side of the battery panel 530A, along the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200. Also, a protective member 531 is provided on the battery side of the battery panel 530A, at a position corresponding to the connection point between the electrical connector 213 of the battery 21 and the electrical connector 350 of the flavor generating assembly 300. Covers may be provided on the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 to prevent the user from touching them, to prevent foreign matter such as water and dust from entering them, or to cover that combines the functions of each of these covers.

[0102] Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an excerpt of a part of the flavor inhaler 200A. Figure 14 shows the electrical connection between the circuit board 81, the tactile switch 380, and the display unit 390. As shown in Figure 14, the circuit board 81 is provided with electrical contacts 83 at positions corresponding to the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 of the battery panel 530A. Note that the circuit board 81 is not limited to providing electrical contacts 83; a separate electrical contact may be provided for the electrical connection with the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390. Furthermore, the electrical contacts of the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 may be grouped together in one location on the battery panel 530A using a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or the like. In this case, grouping the electrical contacts simplifies the configuration of the battery panel 530A. In addition, it is preferable that the electrical contacts be located away from the heating unit 40 (Figure 3). The reason for this distance will be described later. In this case, by locating the electrical contacts away from the heating unit 40, the electrical contacts can be protected from overheating.

[0103] The circuit board 81, the tactile switch 380, and the display unit 390 are electrically connected by fastening the battery panel 530A to the outer case 410, which causes the electrical contacts 83 of the circuit board 81 to physically contact the electrical contacts (not shown) of the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390. With this configuration, the electrical connection between the battery 21 and the battery panel 530A is made by covering the second housing 418 with the battery panel 530A. That is, the electrical load provided on the battery panel 530A has electrical contacts that are electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery 21 housed in the second housing 418, and by covering the second housing 418 with the battery panel 530A, the electrical contacts of the electrical load and the electrodes of the battery 21 are electrically connected. At least one of the electrical contacts 83 of the circuit board 81 and the electrical contacts of the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 may be, for example, an elastic pogo pin.

[0104] In such a flavor inhaler 200A, the battery 21 housed in the second housing 418 can be replaced by removing the outer panel 520 and unscrewing the battery panel 530A. The procedure for removing the battery 21 is the same as shown in Figure 8, for example, and the procedure for installing a new battery 21 is the reverse of the procedure shown in Figure 8, so the explanation is omitted.

[0105] In this case, if electrical loads such as the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 are located on the circuit board 81, these electrical loads may hinder the replacement of the battery 21. In contrast, in this embodiment, since the removable battery panel 530A has an electrical load, the hindering of battery replacement by the electrical load is suppressed, thereby providing a flavor inhaler 200 and flavor inhalation system 1000 that improve the workability when replacing the battery 21.

[0106] Furthermore, the battery panel 530A has at least one of the following as an electrical load: a tactile switch 380, a light source such as a light-emitting diode (display unit 390), and a screen consisting of multiple pixels (display unit 390). Alternatively, the battery panel 530A may have a circuit board on which the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 are arranged, and the circuit board and the flavor generating assembly 300 may be electrically connected. In this case, the obstruction of battery replacement by the tactile switch 380, the light source such as a light-emitting diode, the screen consisting of multiple pixels, and the circuit board is suppressed, thereby improving the workability when replacing the battery 21.

[0107] Furthermore, by fastening the battery panel 530A to the outer case 410, that is, by covering the second housing section 418 with the battery panel 530A, an electrical connection is made between the battery 21 and the battery panel 530A. This eliminates the need for additional connection work when replacing the battery 21, thus improving the ease of replacement.

[0108] Furthermore, it is preferable that electrical loads such as the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 be positioned away from the heating unit 40 (Figure 3) on the battery panel 530A. Here, "away from the heating unit" means a position on the battery panel 530A that is far from the position closest to the heating unit 40, a position that is sufficiently far from the heating unit 40 so that no malfunction occurs due to the heat from the heating unit 40, a position where the heat from the heating unit 40 does not directly reach or has little effect due to insulating material, etc., or a position that does not overlap with the heating unit 40 when viewed from the front of the flavor inhaler 200A. In this embodiment, for example, the negative Z-axis side of the battery panel 530A is a position away from the heating unit 40. In this case, by positioning the electrical loads away from the heating unit 40, the electrical loads can be protected from overheating.

[0109] Furthermore, it is preferable that electrical loads such as the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390 be positioned away from the battery 21 on the battery panel 530A. Here, "away from the battery" means a position on the battery panel 530A that is far from the position closest to the battery 21, a position that is sufficiently far from the battery 21 so that no malfunction occurs due to heat from the battery 21, or a position where heat from the battery 21 does not directly reach or has little effect due to insulating material, etc. In this embodiment, for example, the Z-axis positive side of the battery panel 530A is a position away from the battery 21. In this case, by positioning the electrical loads away from the battery 21, the electrical loads can be protected from overheating.

[0110] Since it is preferable that the electrical load be positioned away from the heating unit 40 and away from the battery 21 in the battery panel 530A, in this embodiment it is preferable that the electrical load, such as the tactile switch 380 and the display unit 390, be positioned, for example, between the heating unit 40 and the battery 21, which are arranged along the Z-axis direction.

[0111] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and its equivalents are included. Furthermore, combinations or omissions of the components described in the claims and specification are possible to the extent that at least some of the above-mentioned problems can be solved or at least some of the effects can be achieved.

[0112] Some embodiments disclosed herein are described below. A first embodiment of the present invention is a flavor inhaler comprising a replaceable battery, a battery housing having an opening and housing the battery through the opening, a removable battery cover covering the opening, and a removable outer panel covering the battery cover. A second embodiment of the present invention, in the first embodiment, the width of the outer panel in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler is greater than the width of the battery cover in the width direction. A third embodiment of the present invention, in the first or second embodiment, further comprises an assembly housing housing an assembly supplied with power from the battery, and a non-removable inner cover covering the assembly housed in the assembly housing, wherein the outer panel covers the battery cover and the inner cover. A fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the third embodiment, the length of the inner cover in the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler is shorter than the length of the battery cover in the longitudinal direction. A fifth embodiment of the present invention, in the third or fourth embodiment, the inner cover, together with the assembly, has a shape that covers the longitudinal end face of the flavor inhaler. In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any of the third to fifth aspects, the inner cover covers at least one of the assembly's heating section for heating a flavor-generating article and a control section for controlling the operation of the heating section. In a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any of the third to sixth aspects, the battery cover has a magnetic material for attracting an outer panel, and the outer panel has a magnetic material at a position corresponding to the magnetic material of the battery cover. An eighth aspect of the present invention is a flavor suction system comprising a flavor suction device in any of the first to seventh aspects and a flavor-generating article inserted into and used in the flavor suction device.

[0113] 21, 21A...Battery 40...Heating unit 80...Control unit 100...Flavor generating item 200, 200A...Flavor inhaler 300...Flavor generating assembly (assembly) 412...Second opening (opening) 417...First housing (assembly housing) 418...Second housing (battery housing) 510...Inner panel (inner cover) 514B, 526...Second connection part (magnetic member) 520...Outer panel 530, 530A...Battery panel (battery cover) 1000...Flavor inhalation system

Claims

1. A flavor inhaler comprising: a replaceable battery; a battery housing having an opening and housing the battery through the opening; a removable battery cover covering the opening; and a removable outer panel covering the battery cover.

2. A flavor inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the width of the outer panel in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler is greater than the width of the battery cover in the width direction.

3. A flavor inhaler according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: an assembly housing for housing an assembly supplied with power from the battery; and a non-removable inner cover covering the assembly housed in the assembly housing, wherein the outer panel covers the battery cover and the inner cover.

4. A flavor inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the length of the inner cover in the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler is shorter than the length of the battery cover in the longitudinal direction.

5. A flavor inhaler according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the inner cover, together with the assembly, has a shape that covers the longitudinal end face of the flavor inhaler.

6. A flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the inner cover covers at least one of the assembly's heating unit for heating a flavor-generating article and a control unit for controlling the operation of the heating unit.

7. A flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the battery cover has a magnetic material for adsorbing the outer panel, and the outer panel has a magnetic material at a position corresponding to the magnetic material of the battery cover.

8. A flavor suction system comprising: a flavor suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a flavor generating article inserted into the flavor suction device for use.

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