Aerosol Heater Cover Break Structure Against Unsafe Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users arbitrarily tuning aerosol generating devices by disassembling them to increase aerosol generation or operating time can lead to safety issues such as excessive heater temperature rise or battery explosion, necessitating a method to prevent such arbitrary tuning.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generating device with a breaking structure that damages the electrical connection when the cover is detached, causing the device to cease operation and prevent safety accidents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users disassemble the aerosol generating device to tune or replace components, then the aerosol generation amount or operating time can be increased, but safety problems such as excessive heater temperature rise or battery explosion may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generation amountVSAvoidsafety accidents
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking structure is pre-configured on the cover to automatically damage the electrical connection member when the cover is detached, preventing arbitrary tuning before safety accidents can occur. This preliminary protective action blocks the harmful effect by making the device non-operational after unauthorized disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the cover is detached to replace or tune the device, then the operating time or aerosol generation can be extended, but the electrical connection is damaged causing operation to cease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating timeVSAvoidelectrical connection integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking structure is pre-positioned on the cover to automatically damage the electrical connection member upon detachment, preventing any attempt to extend operating time through unauthorized disassembly. The protective action occurs before the user can complete any tuning or replacement procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the device is sealed to prevent arbitrary tuning, then safety is improved, but user convenience for legitimate maintenance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearbitrary tuning preventionVSAvoiduser accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a housing and a removable cover, allowing legitimate access to the heater and battery for authorized maintenance while the breaking structure on the cover prevents unauthorized tuning. This segmentation enables differentiated access: open for legitimate purposes, closed for protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breaking structure acts as an intermediary element on the cover that automatically engages to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is detached, mediating between the user's disassembly action and the device's operational state to prevent arbitrary tuning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents safety accidents by detecting arbitrary disassembly and ceasing device operation, ensuring safe usage.

Implementation Method 1

a breaking structure arranged on at least one area of the cover and configured to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is detached from the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule Heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4312612B1Aerosol generating device
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4312612B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4312612B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4312612B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3C

AI summary

An aerosol generating device may include a housing including an accommodating space for accommodating an aerosol generating article, and a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating article, a cover coupled to at least one area of the housing and including a conductive pad, a printed circuit board disposed in an internal space formed by the housing and the cover, an electrical connection member electrically connecting the conductive pad and the printed circuit board to each other, and a breaking structure arranged on at least one area of the cover and configured to damage the electrical connection member when the cover is detached from the housing.