Sliding Door Latch Assembly for Aerosol Material Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoking alternatives that heat aerosolisable materials lack efficient and user-friendly mechanisms for inserting and securing the material, leading to potential misuse or damage during handling.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door assembly with a mechanical latching arrangement, featuring a cam and follower mechanism, allows for secure and easy access to the aerosolisable material while preventing accidental opening or closing, using Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) materials for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cartridge-type consumable container is used, then portability and ease of use are improved, but the amount of liquid composition that can be stored is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate parts: a portable cartridge-type consumable container (100) for easy handling and a separate storage container (200) for bulk storage. The consumable container can be detached and replaced, allowing users to carry only the small cartridge while the larger storage container remains stationary or is stored separately. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling portability of the consumable unit while maintaining the option for large-scale storage elsewhere.
2Weight of moving object
If the container is made lightweight and small, then portability is improved, but the storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is segmented into a lightweight portable cartridge (100) containing the liquid composition and a separate storage container (200). The cartridge is designed to be small and light for portability, while the storage container can be larger and heavier since it doesn't need to be frequently carried. This allows the system to provide both lightweight portability and adequate storage capacity by distributing the weight and volume across separate components.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the container is made transparent, then visibility of remaining liquid is improved, but aesthetic appearance and protection from light-induced degradation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A window (131) is provided in the container wall as an intermediary structure that allows light to pass through for visibility of the liquid level and remaining composition, while the rest of the container can be made opaque or dark-colored to protect the liquid from light-induced degradation. The window acts as a selective opening that provides the necessary visual information without exposing the entire contents to harmful light exposure.
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 assembly provides a reliable and user-friendly mechanism for inserting and securing aerosolisable materials, ensuring safe and controlled heating without damage, enhancing the user experience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit configured to heat the liquid composition
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasonic vibration unit configured to vibrate the liquid composition at an ultrasonic frequency
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
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AI summary
Provided is an assembly for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material to generate an inhalable aerosol, the assembly having a structure delimiting an opening through which aerosolisable material can be removably inserted into the apparatus, a door coupled to the structure and movable between an open position where access to the opening is unrestricted, and a closed position where access to the opening is restricted, and a latching arrangement configured to hold the door in at least one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position until an external force is applied, in use, to release the latching arrangement.