Shisha Tray Piercing Element Cartridge Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional shisha devices using charcoal to heat tobacco substrates generate harmful combustion by-products and require users to handle potentially hot, leaking cartridges, which can lead to discomfort and contamination issues.

Innovation Solution

A tray system for shisha devices that pierces cartridges to create airflow openings, allowing for aerosol generation without direct user contact and maintaining freshness, featuring a thermally conductive sidewall for efficient heating and a thermally insulating handle for safe handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If preformed holes are provided in cartridges for airflow, then airflow and aerosol generation are enabled, but freshness is lost and leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generation efficiencyVSAvoidfreshness maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is pre-configured with piercing elements that create airflow openings in the cartridge only when needed for use. This preliminary preparation of the piercing mechanism allows the cartridge to remain sealed during storage (maintaining freshness) while enabling rapid airflow establishment upon insertion into the tray (ensuring productivity).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tray acts as an intermediary component between the sealed cartridge and the airflow requirement. Instead of the cartridge itself containing preformed holes, the tray provides the piercing function that creates openings in the cartridge wall, mediating between the need for sealed storage and the need for airflow during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users handle cartridges directly, then operation is simple, but contact with hot surfaces and leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling simplicityVSAvoidthermal discomfort and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tray serves as a protective intermediary between the user and the cartridge. Users interact with the tray rather than directly handling the cartridge, which shields them from thermal discomfort caused by hot surfaces and prevents contamination from leakage. The tray's piercing elements are positioned to create airflow openings without requiring user contact with the cartridge itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful functions (heat transfer and leakage contact) are extracted from the user-cartridge interaction. The tray is designed to perform the piercing function and provide structural support, separating the user from direct exposure to thermal and contamination risks while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Power

If charcoal is used to heat tobacco, then heating is effective, but combustion by-products are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidcombustion by-products
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the charcoal-based thermal heating system with an electric heating system. This substitution eliminates combustion by-products (such as carbon monoxide) while maintaining effective heating capability through controlled electric elements, thereby resolving the contradiction between heating effectiveness and harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 tray system prevents user contact with hot surfaces and potential leakage, enhances aerosol generation efficiency, and extends the shelf life of cartridges by eliminating preformed holes, providing a safer and more reliable shisha experience.

Implementation Method 1

The tray includes a piercing element that extends into the cavity from the bottom end. The piercing element is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a first surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and force is applied to the cartridge to cause the first surface of the cartridge to move towards the bottom end of the cavity.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The body of the tray may comprise a sidewall that forms an interior surface of the cavity. The sidewall may be formed from a thermally conductive material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

The tray may comprise a handle extending from the body away from the cavity. The handle may comprise a thermally insulating material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 4

The heating system of the electrically heated shisha device heats the contents of the cartridge to generate aerosol, which is conveyed through an airflow path to a user.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4069012B1Tray with piercing element for use with shisha device
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP4069012B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4069012B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4069012B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tray for use with a shisha device includes a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The tray is configured to form openings in the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity. The openings formed in the cartridge allow air flow through the cartridge when cartridge and tray are received by the shisha device.