Push-Push Consumable Coupling for Leak-Resistant Aerosol Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoking substitute systems face issues with complex consumable components that are costly to produce and prone to leakage due to manual assembly and dislodgement of seals, and there is a need for improved user-friendly and efficient aerosol delivery devices.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol generating apparatus utilizing a push-push mechanism for engaging and disengaging consumables, which includes a push-push insertion member and receiving member, and a biasing mechanism to ensure secure attachment and easy detachment, reducing the risk of accidental removal and enhancing user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual assembly of consumable components is used, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases and leakage risk increases due to seal dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is integrated directly into the mouthpiece body as a molded feature rather than being a separate manual assembly component. This merging of the seal with the structural component eliminates manual handling of the seal, reducing both manufacturing cost and the risk of seal dislodgement that causes leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The molded seal features are self-positioning and self-sealing within the mouthpiece structure, eliminating the need for manual assembly operations. The seal automatically engages with the cartridge during insertion, providing reliable sealing without human intervention and reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional engagement mechanisms are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but user-friendly operation deteriorates and accidental removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism transitions from a static connection to a dynamic push-push system where the consumable must be pushed twice: first to engage the seal and locking features, and second to disengage. This dynamic interaction provides clear tactile feedback to the user, preventing accidental removal while maintaining intuitive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A push button mechanism serves as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the consumable cartridge. This intermediary provides mechanical advantage and clear tactile feedback, making the engagement and disengagement actions deliberate and easy to perform while preventing unintended removal.
3Ease of operation
If consumable components are designed for easy detachment, then user convenience improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to alignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece and cartridge feature asymmetric engagement surfaces and positioning features that guide precise alignment during insertion. The asymmetric design ensures that the consumable can only be inserted in the correct orientation, achieving accurate alignment automatically without requiring high manufacturing precision tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment features such as guide rails, positioning ribs, and tapered entry surfaces are built into the mouthpiece structure beforehand. These preliminary alignment features automatically orient and position the cartridge correctly during insertion, eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing and ensuring repeatable alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus wherein a consumable is engaged with a body by pushing the consumable toward the body in a first direction, and wherein the consumable is disengaged from the body by subsequently pushing the consumable in the same first direction. Consequently, the consumable is fixed to the body by a mechanism that enables a relative movement of the consumable and body in a first, push direction, to engage the mechanism, and a second relative movement of the consumable and body in the first, push direction to disengage the mechanism. Thus, in the exemplary embodiments, the consumable is engaged to the body by a push-push mechanism.