Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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ELONGATED HEATING ELEMENTS FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE
The present disclosure relates generally to heat distribution in aerosol or
vapor generation systems and
devices, in particular to a heater for aerosol or vapor generation devices
with removable consumable
articles such as capsules or other liquid-containing devices for removable
connection to an aerosol or
vapor generating device, to precise heat distribution in the removable
consumable article and to
clamping of the removable consumable article at the time of inserting the
removable consumable article
on the aerosol or vapor generation system.
BACKGROUND
The use of aerosol generating systems, also known as e-cigarettes, e-cigs
(EC), electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS), electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS),
electronic smoking
devices (ESDs), personal vaporizers (PV), inhalation devices, vapes, which can
be used as an
alternative to conventional smoking articles such as lit-end cigarettes,
cigars, and pipes, is becoming
increasingly popular and widespread. The most commonly used e-cigarettes are
usually battery
powered and use a resistance heating element to heat and atomize a liquid
containing nicotine and/or
flavorants (also known as e-cigarette liquid, e-cig liquids, e-liquid, juice,
vapor juice, smoke juice, e-
ju ice, e-fluid, vape oil), to produce a nicotine-containing condensation
aerosol (often called vapor) which
can be inhaled by a user. The aerosol can be inhaled through a mouthpiece,
which, in the case of
aerosols formed from e-liquids which contain nicotine and/or flavorants.
In the conventional e-cigarettes described above, the liquid is put into
contact with a resistance heating
element after flowing through small channels, where it is heated and
vaporized. The flowing is realized
for example via a wick, a mesh or anothertype of porous element, which has a
plurality of small channels
that transport the liquid from a reservoir to the heating element. This
heating element together with the
porous element, a reservoir that contains the e-liquid, and a mouthpiece are
usually arranged within a
disposable capsule, cartridge or pod, that is discarded or refilled once the e-
liquid has been consumed
by the user, and usually removably connects to a main body that includes a
rechargeable battery.
Enabling a precise distribution of heat inside the consumable article in order
to bring heat to specific
parts thereof, for example parts that carry a wicking element to be soaked
with e-liquid allows to
selectively vaporize substance to be delivered through the air channels. It
also improves heating
efficiency, e-liquid vaporization and reduces energy consumption at the time
of heating.
Moreover, aerosol generation devices such as electronic cigarette are in a
constant need for
miniaturization, portability and construction optimization to provide devices
that are the most convenient
to carry without being less effective or less safe. A problem that arises with
aerosol generation devices
comprising a removable consumable article is to improve the hold of the
removable consumable article
in place on the device without increasing the manufacturing effort and
complexifying the structure of the
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device so that the consumable article remains fixed on the device during for
example manipulation, use
or transport of the device.
EP Patent publication No. 3 456 213 Al ,this reference herewith incorporated
by reference in its entirety,
discloses a heater element including a plurality of pins/needles fixed at the
base of the heater element
fixedly coupled with the power side of an electronic cigarette, the pins
extending through corresponding
perforations of a heating chamber holding the tobacco substrate for
vaporization by the pins.
EP Patent publication No. 2 519 122 Bl, this reference herewith incorporated
by reference in its entirety,
shows a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate comprising a plurality
of elongate heating
elements arranged in an elongated array arranged to heat the substrate to form
an aerosol.
The systems described in these publications may not effectively distribute
heat in a precise manner to
specific parts of the consumable article.
SUMMARY
It is one aspect of the present disclosure to provide a heater for an aerosol
generation device, and a
system comprising the heater and the consumable article that overcomes the
above challenges.
Preferably, the heater for an aerosol generation device, which is intended to
connect with a consumable
article of e-liquid, comprises, a frame, a plurality of elongated heating
elements extending substantially
perpendicularly to a horizontal plane in which lies the frame, wherein the
elongated heating elements
are configured to engage with corresponding grooves arranged on a surface of a
shell of the consumable
article at a time of connecting.
In embodiments of the present invention, the elongated heating elements are
configured to slide into
the corresponding grooves and hold the consumable article.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the elongated heating elements are
further configured to hold
the consumable article by form-fit.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, a number of elongated heating
elements is smaller or equal
to a number of grooves.
In embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the elongated heating
elements comprises a
heating material, the heating material comprising a first zone at a first
extremity of the at least one of
the elongated heating elements and of a second zone at a second extremity of
the at least one of the
elongated heating elements.
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In embodiments ofthe present invention, the first zone is different from the
second zone in that it enables
to reach a first temperature different from a second temperature that is
reached in the second zone.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the elongated
heating elements is further
configured to deliver a heat gradient comprising a first temperature at the
first extremity of the at least
one of the elongated heating elements and a second temperature at the second
extremity of the at least
one heating element.
In embodiments of the present invention, the heat gradient is configured to
selectively vaporize
substances from the e-liquid when the heater comes in contact with it.
In embodiments of the present invention, the heat gradient is configured to
generate at least one heating
site located on the at least one of the elongated heating elements to heat a
specific location in the
consumable article.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one of the elongated
heating elements comprises
a heating part comprising the heating material and a diffusing part comprising
a diffusing material
configured to transfer the heat produced by the heating material and diffuse
the heat by conduction
hence generating a heat gradient.
In embodiments of the present invention, the at least one of the elongated
heating elements comprises
at least one patterned zone configured to have a higher electrical current
density.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the patterned zone comprises at
least one serpentine and/or
at least one pattern of holes and/or at least one pattern of slots.
In embodiments of the present invention, the frame comprises the heating
material and at least one of
the elongated heating elements comprises the diffusing material configured to
transfer the heat
produced by the heating material.
In embodiments of the present invention, the heater is configured to generate
at least one heating site
located on the at least one of the elongated heating elements (12) to heat a
specific location in the
consumable article (20).
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one heating site is
further configured to heat a
wicking element arranged in the consumable article.
In embodiments of the present invention, the at least one heating site is
further configured to heat a
specific part of the wicking element.
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In embodiments of the present invention, the at least one heating site is
located adjacent to an air
channel arranged on the consumable article.
In embodiments of the present invention, the first temperature Ti is different
from the second
temperature T2.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to providing a consumable
article for an aerosol
generation device that overcomes the above challenges.
Preferably, the consumable article for an aerosol generation device, which is
intended to connect with
the heater according to the present disclosure, is configured to contain an e-
liquid and has a shell
comprising grooves arranged on the surface of the shell, wherein the grooves
are configured to engage
with corresponding elongated heating elements arranged on the heater, at a
time of connecting.
In embodiments, the grooves are configured to receive elongated heating
elements from the heater.
In embodiments, the consumable article is further configured to be held by the
elongated heating
elements by form-fit.
In embodiments a number of grooves is equal or bigger to a number of elongated
heating elements.
In embodiments the consumable article further comprises at least a wicking
element configured to be in
contact with the elongated heating elements when these are engaged and thereby
present e-liquid to
be heated and transformed into aerosol.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a system for an
aerosol generation device
comprising the heater and the consumable article according to the present
disclosure that overcomes
the above challenges.
Preferably, the system for an aerosol generation device comprises the heater
according to the present
invention comprising a plurality of elongated heating elements. The system
further comprises the
consumable article according the invention having a shell comprising grooves
arranged on the surface
of the shell, wherein the elongated heating elements are engaged in the
grooves to secure the heater
to the consumable article.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
and the manner of
realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best
be understood from a study
of the following description with reference to the attached drawings showing
some preferred
embodiments of the invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part
of this specification,
illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together
with the general description
5 given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain
features of the invention.
Figure 1 shows a two-part schematic view of a heater for an aerosol generation
device comprising
elongated heating elements;
Figure 2 shows a schematic top-view of a heater for an aerosol generation
device comprising elongated
heating elements;
Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a heating element;
Figure 4 depicts a schematic view of a consumable article for an aerosol
generation device comprising
grooves arranged on a surface of a consumable article shell;
Figure 5 shows a top schematic view of a consumable article for an aerosol
generation device
comprising grooves arranged on a surface of a consumable article shell;
Figure 6 depicts a schematic view of a consumable article for an aerosol
generation device surrounded
by a plurality of elongated heating elements, according to an example
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 depicts a top view of the consumable article depicted in figure 6;
Figure 8 depicts a single elongated heating element indicating opposite zones
that may heat at different
temperatures, according to an example embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9 depict a heater element with a plurality of elongated heating
elements, as used in figure 6;
Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of an unconnected system comprising
a heater comprising
elongated heating elements and a consumable article comprising grooves
arranged on a surface of a
consumable article shell;
Figure 11 depicts a schematic representation of a connected system comprising
a heater comprising
elongated heating elements and a consumable article comprising grooves
arranged on a surface of a
consumable article shell;
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Figure 12 shows a schematic top-view of a connected system comprising a
consumable article
comprising grooves arranged on a surface of a consumable article shell and a
heater (visible in
transparency below the consumable article) comprising elongated heating
elements;
Figure 13 shows a preferred embodiment of the consumable article and heater
from figure 12, further
comprising a wicking element according to an example embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 14 shows a simplified view of figure 13;
Figure 15 shows a preferred embodiment of the consumable article and heater
from figure 12, further
comprising a wicking element according to an example embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 16 shows a simplified view of figure 15; and
Figures 17 to 20 show a plurality of examples in which the elongated heating
elements and/or the
consumable article are configured to releasably hold and maintain the
consumable article on the heating
element.
Herein, identical reference numerals are used, where possible, to designate
identical elements that are
common to the figures. Also, the images are simplified for illustration
purposes and may not be depicted
to scale.
DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
It is a first object of the invention to provide a heater 10 for an aerosol
generation device according to
figures 1 to 3, which is intended to connect, in use, with at least a battery
part of the aerosol generation
device on the one hand and with a consumable article 20 of vaporizable
material according to FIGs. 4
and 5 on the other hand.
The term vaporizable material is used to designate any material that is
vaporizable at a temperature up
to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C, for example aerosol generating liquid, gel,
wax and the like.
The consumable article 20 may be in the format of any of a capsule, a
cartridge, a pod or other liquid-
containing devices for removable connection to an aerosol generation device
and for intended
connection with a heater 10 for an aerosol generation device. The consumable
article 20 may be
discarded or refilled once the vaporizable material has been consumed by the
user.
As depicted in figures 1 and 2, the heater 10 comprises a frame 11 and a
plurality of elongated heating
elements 12 extending substantially perpendicularly relatively to a horizontal
plane in which lies the
frame 11.
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The heater 10 may be an electric heater working on the principle of Joule
heating in which the passage
of an electric current, for example, in at least one of the elongated heating
elements and/or in the frame
11 produces heat.
The frame 11 may be for example a ring, a plate or any suitable element that
may carry the elongated
heating elements 12.
The frame 11 may alternatively be an electric heater configured to produce
heat when an electric current
is flowing in the frame 11.
The elongated heating elements 12 may be welded on the frame 11 in a way to
extend substantially
perpendicularly relatively to a horizontal plane in which lies the frame 11.
Referring now also to figure 4, the elongated heating elements 12 are
configured to engage with
corresponding grooves 22 arranged on a surface of a shell 21 of the consumable
article 20, at the time
of the intended connection between the heater 10 and the consumable article
20.
The elongated heating elements 12 are positioned on the frame 11 to correspond
to the grooves 22
arranged on the surface of the shell 21 of the consumable article 20.
The engagement of the elongated heating elements 12 with corresponding grooves
22 arranged on the
surface of the shell 21 of the consumable article 20 further enables to hold
the consumable article 20
onto the heater 10, for example by a clamping effect implemented through a
mechanical friction effect
applied by the heating elements to the shell 21, and /or by a spring effect
between the heating elements
that then may possess either protuberating parts that engage in corresponding
cavities of the sheel. or
cavities that engage with corresponding protuberating parts of the shell.
The elongated heating elements 12 are further configured to slide into the
corresponding grooves 22 of
the shell 21 of the consumable article 20 to hold the consumable article 20.
Distances between each of the elongated heating elements 12 and a center of
the frame 11, or among
each other on a circumference defined by the frame 11, may be smaller than
distances between
corresponding grooves 22 of the consumable article 20 and a center axis A of
the consumable article
20, or the corresponding grooves among each other on a circumference defined
by the outer periphery
of the consumable article 20, enabling the elongated heating elements 12 to
hold the consumable article
20 using the clamping effect when the heater 10 engages with the consumable
article 20.
The elongated heating elements 12 may be flexible to engage in the grooves 22
of the consumable
article 20 and exert the clamping effect by spring forces of the elongated
heating elements as exerted
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on the consumable article 20, enabling to hold the consumable article 20 at
the time of the intended
connection between the heater 10 and the consumable article 20.
The elongated heating elements 12 may also extend from the frame 11 slightly
inclined toward the
center of the frame 11 in order to exert a pressure on the grooves 22 of the
consumable article 20 when
the heater 10 is connected to the consumable article 20 enabling the holding
of the consumable article
20.
The elongated heating elements 12 may also hold the consumable article 20 by
form-fit.
The number of elongated heating elements 12 may be smaller or equal to the
number of grooves 22
arranged on the shell 21 of the consumable article 20.
As depicted in figure 3, at least one of the elongated heating elements 12
further comprises a heating
material 13.
In another embodiment, the frame 11 further comprise the heating material 13.
The heating material 13 may comprise metallic material such as kanthal,
nickel, nickel-chromium,
titanium, nichrome, tungsten, stainless steel or any material having required
heating properties working
on the principle of Joule heating for example, in which the passage of an
electric current produces heat.
In one embodiment, at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 comprise
the heating material
13 having the same density along the at least one of the elongated heating
elements 12 enabling to
provide a constant heat along the least one of the elongated heating elements
12.
The diffusing material may comprise metallic material which exhibits
appropriate thermal conduction
properties.
In another embodiment, the heating material 13 comprises a first zone of
heating material 13 at a first
extremity 14 of the at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 and a
second zone of heating
material 13 at a second extremity 15 of the at least one of the elongated
heating elements 12.
Preferably, the first zone of heating material 13 is different from the second
zone of the heating material
in that the first zone enables to reach a first temperature Ti different from
a second temperature T2 that
can be reached in the second zone.
As a consequence, the at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 is
further configured to deliver
a heat gradient comprising the first temperature Ti at the first extremity 14
and the second temperature
T2 at the second extremity 15.
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The first temperature Ti may be different from the second temperature T2. For
example, the first
temperature Ti may be higher or lower than the second temperature T2.
Preferentially, the second
temperature T2 is higher than the first temperature Ti.
In another embodiment, the heat gradient may be obtained, for example, by
creating at least one
patterned zone on at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 configured
to have higher electrical
current densities thus generating locally higher temperature.
The at least one patterned zone may comprise serpentine or an appropriate
pattern of holes/slots
distributed along the at least one patterned zone, wherein the distance
between two holes/slots is
reduced compared to the remaining part of the elongated heating element 12.
Each zone with reduced
distance is subject to higher current density in such a way that when current
flows through the at least
one of the elongated heating elements 12, the temperature is higher these
zones. As described above,
components of the vaporizable e-liquid will be therefore selectively heated.
Lower temperature's
components will vaporize first while the vaporizable material propagate
through the elongated heating
elements 12.
In another embodiment, at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 may
comprise two different
parts: a heating part comprising the heating material 13 and a diffusing part
comprising a diffusing
material. The heating part enables to generate heat when the electrical
current is flowing. The diffusing
part enables to transfer the heat produced by the heating part and diffuse the
heat by conduction hence
generating a heat gradient. The area of the diffusing part which is the most
distant from the heating part
receives less energy (i.e. less heat) than the area of the diffusing part
which is the closest from the
heating part of the at least one of the elongated heating elements 12. Hence
components of the
vaporizable e-liquid will be therefore selectively heated. Lower temperature's
components will vaporize
first while the vaporizable material propagates through the second part of the
at least one of the
elongated heating elements 12.
The heat gradient may be further modulated by defining a specific shape or
form of the diffusing part of
the at least one of the elongated heating elements 12.
In another embodiment, the frame 11 may comprise the heating material 13 and
be configured to
generate heat. At least one of the elongated heating elements 12 may comprise
the diffusing material
and be configured to transfer the heat produced by the frame 11 and diffuse
the heat by conduction
hence generating a heat gradient along the at least one of the elongated
heating elements 12 as the
first 14 and second 15 extremities of the at least one of the elongated
heating elements 12 received
different amount of energy or heat.
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In another embodiment, the density of the heating material 13 of the frame 11
around the elongated
heating elements 12 may be different in order to provide different levels of
heat to the different elongated
heating elements 12.
5 The heat gradient is configured to selectively vaporize substances from
the e-I iqu id that comes in contact
with the heater 10.
The heat gradient is further configured to generate at least one heating site
located on the at least one
of the heating elements to heat a specific location in the consumable article
20.
The at least one heating site may be further configured to heat a wicking
element (not represented)
arranged in the consumable article 20. The at least one heating site may also
be configured to heat a
specific part of the wicking element.
In a further embodiment, the at least one heating site may be generated on the
at least one of the
heating elements in a way to be located adjacent to an air channel 24 arranged
on the consumable
article 20 when the heater 10 is connected to the consumable article 20.
In another embodiment, at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 may
also be used as a
transportation means of the e-liquid.
The at least one of the elongated heating elements 12 may further comprises a
wicking element or a
mesh arranged on or in at least one of the elongated heating elements 12
configured to transport and
deliver a controlled quantity of the e-liquid from the consumable article 20
or from the reservoir to the at
least one heating site generated on the at least one of the elongated heating
elements 12 enabling the
vaporization of the e-liquid.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a consumable article 20
according to figures 4 and 5 for
an aerosol generation device, which is configured to contain an e-liquid, and
which is intended to
connect with the heater 10 according to figures 1 to 3.
The consumable article 20 may comprise anyone of the list comprising a
capsule, a cartridge, a pod or
other liquid-containing devices for removable connection to an aerosol
generation device.
The consumable article 20 may be discarded or refilled once the e-liquid has
been consumed by the
user.
The consumable article 20 may comprise a reservoir (not represented) arranged
inside the consumable
article 20 and intended to contain the e-liquid.
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The consumable article 20 further comprises a shell 21 comprising grooves 22
arranged on the surface
of the shell 21.
The grooves 22 may comprise recesses arranged on the surface of the shell 21
having dimension and
shape enabling to receive the elongated heating elements 12 arranged on the
heater 10.
The grooves 22 may also comprise openings arranged in the shell 21 of the
consumable article 20
having dimension and shape enabling to receive the elongated heating elements
12 arranged on the
heater 10.
The grooves 22 arranged on the surface of the shell 21 are configured to
engage with corresponding
elongated heating elements 12 arranged on the heater 10, at the time of
intended connection between
the consumable article 20 and the heater 10.
The grooves 22 are further configured to receive elongated heating elements 12
from the heater 10.
The grooves 22 are positioned on the shell 21 of the consumable article 20 to
correspond to the
elongated heating elements 12 arranged on the heater 10 in order to enable the
intended connection
between the consumable article 20 and the heater 10.
The number of grooves 22 arranged on the surface of the shell 21 of the
consumable article 20 is equal
or greater than the number of elongated heating elements 12 of the heater 10.
The consumable article 20 may comprise at least one airflow channel 23
arranged on or in the
consumable article 20. The at least one airflow channel 23 is intended to
collect and receive vaporized
e-liquid, i.e., e-liquid which is heated and hence aerosolized by the
elongated heating elements 12, and
directs the aerosolized e-liquid toward an intended mouthpiece to be inhaled
by an intended user
(mouthpiece and user not represented in figure 4).
The consumable article 20 may also comprise at least one air channel 24
arranged on or in the
consumable article 20.
The at least one air channel 24 is in connection to the at least one airflow
channel 23. The at least one
air channel 24 is further configured to receive e-liquid which is aerosolized
by the elongated heating
elements 12 and to direct the aerosolized e-liquid toward the at least one
airflow channel 23.
The consumable article 20 may further comprise at least one wicking element
such as a porous material
piece and/or a mesh (not represented) configured to capture and transfer the e-
liquid from the
consumable article 20, for example from the reservoir of the consumable
article 20 to the at least one
of the elongated heating elements 12, preferably to the at least one heating
site. The wicking element
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further enables to control the quantity of vaporizable material transferred
from the consumable article
20 to the elongated heating element.
The at least one wicking element may be located on the of the consumable
article 20, for example on
the shell 21 of the consumable article 20, in at least one of the grooves 22
arranged on the consumable
article 20.
The at least one wicking element may be further positioned in a way that at
the time of connection
between the heater 10 and the consumable article 20, at least one of the
elongated heating elements
12 is positioned between the shell 21 of the consumable article 20 and the
wicking element.
The at least one wicking element may be also positioned in a way that at the
time of connection between
the heater 10 and the consumable article 20, at least one of the elongated
heating elements 12 is
inserted into the at least one wicking element.
The wicking element which has the function to transfer the e-liquid from the
consumable article 20 to at
least one of the heating elements, preferably to the at least one heating
site.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an example embodiment in which the consumable
article 20 comprises the
shell 21, which in this example is surrounded by a cylindrically shaped
wicking element 60. A heater
element 62 comprises a plurality of elongated heating elements 61. The
consumable article 20 is
connected to the heater element 62 with the elongated heating elements 61 at
the periphery of the
consumable element and in mechanical contact with the cylindrically shaped
wicking element 60. The
elongated heating elements 61 may for example hold the consumable article 20
by means of mechanical
friction with the wicking element 60. The elongated heating elements 61 may be
configured to heat e-
liquid in the mesh, for example with a homogenous temperature over the whole
surface of the respective
elongated heating elements or with a differential temperature from T2 at one
extremity of each the
elongated heating element 61, as illustrated in figure 8, to Ti at an opposite
extremity of the elongated
heating element 61, with T2 being greater than Ti. By heating the e-liquid in
the mesh, the aerosol is
generated inside the wicking element 60. Figure 7 contains a top view of the
assembly from figure 6, in
which 3 elongated heating elements 61 are distributed around the cylindrical
wicking element 60 distant
at substantially equal angles among each other, i.e., at 120 . In the present
example, the elongated
heating elements 61 avoid penetrating inside and / or piercing the consumable
article 20. Hence the
elongated heating elements 61 do not interfere with a consumable article's
sealing mechanism and
allow for a simpler technical construction.
It is to be noted that the main function of the elongated heating elements 61
is to transfer heat. As an
auxiliary function, the elongated heating elements 61 may be used to hold and
/ or maintain the
consumable article 20.
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It is to be noted that the elongated heating elements 61 may be wear parts,
and this need to be
periodically changed in the heater 62, or together with the heater 62.
figure 9 shows the heater 62 with the 3 elongated heating elements 61
extending perpendicularly away
from the horizontal place of the heater 62. In a preferred embodiment, the
elongated heating elements
61 may comprise a mechanism configured to open and close the elongated heating
elements 61 away
and toward the wicking element.
As depicted in figures 10 to 12, it is another object of the invention to
provide a system 30 for an aerosol
generation device comprising a heater 10 according to the present description
and comprising a plurality
of elongated heating elements 12 and a consumable article 20 as described in
the present description,
having a shell 21 comprising grooves 22 arranged on the surface of the shell
21, the elongated heating
elements 12 being engaged in the grooves 22 to secure the heater 10 to the
consumable article 20.
At the time of inserting the heater 10 in the consumable article 20, the
elongated heating elements 12
are received by the corresponding grooves 22 arranged on the shell 21 of the
consumable article 20.
The elongated heating elements 12 slide into the grove and allow to hold the
consumable article 20 in
place, for example by form-fit.
As obvious fora skilled person in the field of aerosol generating devices, the
heater 10 shall be mounted
in electrical connection with a power delivery component of an aerosol
generating device such as a
battery to allow it to heat e-liquid in the consumable article 20. Such
mounting is not represented in the
attached drawings for the sake of clarity.
As shown in figure 12, when the heater 10 is connected to the consumable
article 20, the elongated
heating elements 12 are positioned next to the at least one air channel 24.
Preferentially, the at least one heating site generated by the heat gradient
of the elongated heating
elements 12 is located adjacent to the air channel 24 arranged on the
consumable article 20 hence
allowing the air channel 24 to receive and collect the aerosolized e-liquid
and direct it to an intended
mouthpiece and eventually to an intended user for inhalation (mouthpiece and
user not illustrated in
figure 12).
Figure 13 shows a preferred embodiment of the consumable article and heater
from figure 12, further
comprising a wicking element 130 inside the shell 21. The wicking element 130
contacts the elongated
heating elements 12, which are respectively engaged between the grooves 22 and
the wicking element
130. The heating element 12 may exert a mechanical friction with the wicking
element 130 (and
optionally with the grooves 22) which enables to maintain the consumable
article 20.
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14
Figure 14 is a simplified view of figure 13, in which the proportions of sizes
are not necessarily respected,
showing only the wicking element 130, represented as a ring in this view, and
running at an outside of
the elongated heating elements 12, outside meaning on the side away from the
center 140 of the
consumable article.
Figure 15 shows a preferred embodiment of the consumable article and heater
from figure 12, further
comprising a wicking element 150 inside the shell 21. The wicking element 150
contacts the elongated
heating elements 12, which are respectively engaged in the grooves 22 and
externally to the wicking
element 150. The heating elements 12 may exert a mechanical friction and
pressure onto the wicking
element 150 at the circumference of the consumable article, which enables to
maintain the consumable
article 20 in place on the heating element (not illustrated).
Figure 16 is a simplified view of figure 15, in which the proportions of sizes
are not necessarily respected,
showing only the wicking element 150, represented as a ring in this view, and
running at an inside of
the elongated heating elements 12, inside meaning on the side showing towards
the center 140 of the
consumable article.
Figures 17 to 20 show a plurality of examples in which the elongated heating
elements and/or the
consumable article are configured to releasably hold and maintain the
consumable article on the heating
element.
In figure 17, a wall 170 of a groove 22 comprises a protuberating part 171.
The left-side part of the figure
Illustrates an elongated heating element 172 being slid relative to the wall
170 in direction 173 at a time
where the consumable article is positioned on the heating element (both not
illustrated in figure 17). The
right-side part of the figure illustrates the elongated heating element 172
having a cavity 174
corresponding to the protuberating part 171, engaging with the protuberating
part 171 by spring force
exerted from the elongated heating element 172 once the consumable article is
positioned on the
heating element.
In figure 18, a wall 180 of a groove 22 comprises a cavity 181. The left-side
part of the figure illustrates
an elongated heating element 182 being slid relative to the wall 180 in
direction 183 at a time where the
consumable article is positioned on the heating element (both not illustrated
in figure 18). The right-side
part of the figure illustrates the elongated heating element 182 having a
protuberating part 184
corresponding to the cavity 181, engaging with the cavity 181 by spring force
exerted from the elongated
heating element 182 once the consumable article is positioned on the heating
element.
Figure 19 is a frontal view of a shell 21 with a groove 22 formed in the wall
of the shell 21. An elongated
heating element 190 is configured to be inserted into the groove 22 at a time
where the consumable
article is positioned on the heating element (both not illustrated in figure
19), and form-fit with it. The
form-fit designates the interaction between the individual groove 22 and the
corresponding elongated
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heating element 190. The geometrical shape of the elongated heating element
replicates the
geometrical shape of the groove with a relative small difference, whereby the
width 191 of the groove
22 is large enough to allow to engage the elongated heating element 190 with a
width 192, but small
enough to generate a friction to maintain the consumable article in place.
5
Figure 20 is a further frontal view of a shell 21 with a groove 22 formed in
the wall of the shell 21. An
elongated heating element 200, preferably of flexible nature such as that of a
spring, having a cavity
201, is configured to be inserted into the groove 22 at a time where the
consumable article is positioned
on the heating element (both not illustrated in figure 20), and form-fit with
it. The groove has a shape
10 complementary to that of the elongated heating element 200, i.e.,
it comprises a protuberating element
202, or locking pin, that engages with the cavity 201. This type of form-fit
may be called bayonet style
locking.
The details and embodiments described above for an aerosol generation device
are applicable to an
15 electronic cigarette comprising a heater 10, a consumable article
20 or a system 30 comprising a heater
10 and a consumable article 20.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain preferred
embodiments, numerous
modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments, and
equivalents thereof, are
possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, it is that the
invention not be limited to the described embodiments and be given the
broadest reasonable
interpretation in accordance with the language of the appended claims.
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