Piercing Assembly for Sealed Aerosol Cartridges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional shisha devices using charcoal for heating tobacco generate harmful combustion by-products, and alternatives like e-liquids eliminate the traditional experience, while existing electrically heated devices require pre-formed holes in cartridges, leading to issues with freshness and leakage.

Innovation Solution

A piercing assembly integrated into a cap for aerosol-generating devices that can create openings in cartridges without requiring additional equipment or direct handling of piercing elements, allowing for the use of completely sealed cartridges and reducing the risk of leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pre-formed holes are made in cartridges, then airflow is facilitated, but freshness is lost and leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow facilitationVSAvoidfreshness maintenance and leakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing element is pre-positioned within the cap structure, ready to create openings in the cartridge walls when the cap is engaged. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for separate piercing operations while maintaining cartridge integrity during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing assembly automatically creates the necessary airflow openings when the cap is engaged with the cartridge, without requiring additional user actions or separate equipment. The system serves itself by integrating the piercing function into the cap structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If sealed cartridges are used, then freshness and leakage are prevented, but airflow is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreshness maintenance and leakage preventionVSAvoidairflow facilitation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing element is pre-positioned within the cap structure, ready to create openings in the cartridge walls when the cap is engaged. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for separate piercing operations while maintaining cartridge integrity during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing assembly automatically creates the necessary airflow openings when the cap is engaged with the cartridge, without requiring additional user actions or separate equipment. The system serves itself by integrating the piercing function into the cap structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If additional piercing equipment is used, then openings can be created, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing capabilityVSAvoidequipment requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piercing element is integrated into the cap structure, merging the piercing function with the existing cap component. This eliminates the need for separate piercing equipment while maintaining the ability to create openings in the cartridge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap serves multiple functions: it seals the cartridge during storage, provides the piercing action to create openings, and maintains the aerosol-generating system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized equipment.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4069009B1Aerosol-generating device with piercing assembly
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP4069009B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4069009B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3B
  • EP4069009B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A piercing system includes a cap mountable on an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol- generating device includes an aerosol-generating element with a body and a receptacle for receiving a cartridge housing an aerosol-forming substrate. The cap may be engageable with the body. The cap has a frame comprising a cavity arranged for receiving the cartridge. The cap includes a piercing element disposed within the cavity and configured to pierce a wall of the cartridge. The cap may be movable, relative to the body, between a first position and a second position, where in the second position, the piercing element is engaged with the cartridge to pierce the cartridge.