Holder for Aerosol Device with Removable Cartridge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional smoking articles often suffer from scorching of paper wrapping material due to high temperatures, leading to reduced enjoyment and altered flavors, as well as producing significant levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and poor aerosolization performance.

Innovation Solution

A holder with a removable and replaceable cartridge that includes a heat source, substrate portion, and outer housing, featuring a socket configuration to secure the cartridge with a sliding sleeve mechanism that expands and compresses to accommodate and secure the cartridge, allowing for easy loading, lighting, and ejection without direct contact with the heat source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional smoking articles use high temperature combustion to deliver nicotine, then nicotine delivery is achieved, but paper wrapping material scorches and flavors are altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat generationVSAvoidscorching of paper wrapping material
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a reusable holder and a replaceable cartridge containing the heating element and substrate. This segmentation allows the heating component to be replaced when degraded, preventing scorching issues from affecting the overall device performance and maintaining flavor integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge containing the heating element is designed as a disposable component that can be replaced when it shows signs of degradation. This eliminates the need to replace the entire device and ensures consistent performance and flavor profile throughout the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Use of energy by moving object

If traditional smoking articles use high temperature combustion, then nicotine is delivered, but significant levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat generationVSAvoidcarbon monoxide and carbon dioxide production
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is designed to operate at controlled temperature ranges that are sufficient for vaporization but below combustion thresholds. This parameter control prevents the formation of harmful combustion byproducts while maintaining effective nicotine delivery through thermal vaporization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If traditional smoking articles use high temperature combustion, then nicotine is delivered, but aerosolization performance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat generationVSAvoidaerosolization performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element operates at optimized temperature parameters that maximize aerosol generation efficiency. By controlling the thermal energy input and contact time with the substrate material, the device achieves reliable and consistent aerosolization performance without requiring excessive heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If a removable cartridge system is implemented, then ease of loading and replacement is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading and replacementVSAvoidsocket and securing mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a holder and a cartridge that can be independently handled. The cartridge contains all necessary components (heating element, substrate, housing) as a self-contained unit, simplifying the loading process to a single insertion action while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functions are merged into the cartridge component: the heating element, substrate material, and housing are combined into a single replaceable unit. This merging simplifies the user interaction to a single loading action while internally integrating complex functional elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution provides a smoking article that is easy to use, maintains flavor integrity, reduces unwanted gas production, and improves aerosolization performance by securely holding the cartridge and managing heat effectively, enhancing the overall smoking experience.

Implementation Method 1

capable of vaporizing components of tobacco and/or other tobacco related materials to form an inhalable aerosol for human consumption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3998881B1Holder for aerosol delivery device with detachable cartridge
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
  • EP3998881B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3998881B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3998881B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a holder of a smoking article comprising a receiving end and a mouth end opposite the receiving end. The holder defines a socket that is configured to receive a proximal section of a cartridge. The holder has a lighting configuration in which the holder is configured to secure a proximal section of the cartridge to the holder with a heat source of the cartridge opposite the proximal section disposed beyond the receiving end of the holder. The holder has a received configuration in which the holder is configured to secure the proximal section of the cartridge in the socket with the heat source disposed proximate the receiving end of the holder. The receiving end comprises a substantially solid outer wall.