Aerosol Holder With Interference Fit and Waste Receptacle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional holders for consumer articles typically can only accommodate a single item, making it cumbersome to carry and manage multiple items, especially aerosol-generating devices and their associated articles, and do not provide a convenient means for storing used disposable elements.

Innovation Solution

A holder with a support structure that allows for the simultaneous holding of an aerosol-generating device and a packet of aerosol-generating articles using an interference fit, with additional features like a receptacle for waste management and an attachment mechanism for easy placement on vehicles or surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional holders are used to hold consumer articles, then a single article can be held and protected, but multiple articles cannot be held simultaneously and convenient access is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of articles heldVSAvoidconvenience of access
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into multiple compartments separated by partition walls, with each compartment designed to hold specific types of articles (lighter, cigarette pack, matches, etc.). This segmentation allows multiple articles to be held simultaneously while maintaining organized access to each item.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is designed as a multi-functional device that can accommodate various types of consumer articles including lighters, cigarette packs, matches, and other accessories. The universal design enables a single holder to replace multiple separate storage items, improving convenience while holding multiple articles.

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

2Ease of operation

If multiple articles are carried separately, then each article can be accessed individually, but the burden of carrying and managing multiple items increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of individual accessVSAvoidnumber of items to manage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate storage functions are merged into a single integrated holder device. The holder combines storage for lighters, cigarette packs, matches, and other accessories into one unified structure, reducing the number of separate items the consumer must carry and manage while maintaining easy access to each article through dedicated compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If used disposable elements are retained until convenient disposal, then proper disposal can be ensured, but further use of related articles is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproper disposalVSAvoidcontinuity of use
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder includes a dedicated waste receptacle compartment that is extracted as a separate functional element from the main storage areas. This allows used disposable elements to be removed and disposed of separately from the articles needed for continued use, ensuring proper disposal while maintaining the ability to quickly replace and continue using aerosol-generating articles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Volume of moving object

If a compact holder design is used, then portability is improved, but the capacity to hold multiple articles is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder sizeVSAvoidnumber of articles held
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The holder employs a nested compartment structure where smaller storage spaces are arranged within the overall holder volume. The waste receptacle, article compartments, and partition walls are nested to maximize space utilization, allowing multiple articles to be held in a compact form factor that maintains portability while increasing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3732077B1A holder for holding an aerosol-generating device and a packet of aerosol-generating articles
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP3732077B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3732077B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3732077B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

There is provided a holder (30) for holding an aerosol-generating device (5) and a packet of aerosol-generating articles (6). The holder (30) comprises a back wall (33), a support structure mounted on a first face of the back wall (33), and a receptacle (32) mounted on a second face of the back wall (33), wherein the first face is opposite the second face. The support structure comprises a first side wall (31) projecting from the first face of the back wall (33) and a second side wall (34) projecting from the first face of the back wall (33). The second side wall (34) is positioned opposite the first side wall (31) and is separated from the first side wall (31) by a predetermined distance such that the first and second side walls (31, 34) are configured to hold the aerosol-generating device (5) and the packet of aerosol-generating articles (6) by interference fit. The first side wall (31) projects further from the back wall (33) than the second side wall (34) projects from the back wall (33) and the receptacle (32) defines one or more compartments.