Adjustable Consumable Holder for Multi-Size Aerosol Sticks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol-generating devices struggle to accommodate consumables of varying dimensions, limiting their versatility and usability.

Innovation Solution

A consumable holder with selectively engageable gripping members and a moveable frame that adjusts to grip consumables of different diameters and lengths, allowing for secure engagement and heating of aerosol-generating materials without combustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed gripping mechanism is used in the consumable holder, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate consumables of varying dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of consumables with varying dimensionsVSAvoidgripping mechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping members are designed to be moveable relative to the chamber, allowing them to adjust their position dynamically. This enables the gripping mechanism to accommodate consumables of different dimensions by moving the gripping members to appropriate positions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping mechanism is designed with universal functionality to hold consumables of various sizes. By incorporating moveable gripping members that can be positioned at different locations, a single mechanism serves multiple functions of accommodating different consumable dimensions, thus improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If selectively engageable gripping members are added to accommodate different consumable sizes, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping different consumable diametersVSAvoidgripping mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping mechanism is segmented into multiple independent gripping members that can be selectively engaged. Each gripping member can be independently positioned and engaged to accommodate different consumable diameters, allowing adaptability while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the gripping members are made adjustable to fit different consumable diameters, then versatility is enhanced, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable gripping for different diametersVSAvoiduser operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping members are designed to be automatically engaged or easily positioned by the user through simple interaction with the chamber. The adjustability is implemented in a way that allows the system to largely self-adjust or be easily configured by the user without complex manual adjustments, maintaining ease of operation while achieving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4287869B1Consumable holder for a non-combustible aerosol provision device
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD
  • EP4287869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4287869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4287869B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable for being received by the device. The device comprises a chamber 102 for receiving the consumable, wherein the device is configured to generate the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber 102. The device 100 further comprises a consumable holder 500 for holding the consumable in the chamber 102, wherein the consumable holder 500 comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber 102 to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables at a desired position in the chamber 102.