Patent Publication Number: US-2023144176-A1

Title: Cover assembly and aerosol generating device including the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a cover assembly and an aerosol generating device to which the cover assembly is applied. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, various types of devices to which mouthpieces are applied have been used. However, foreign materials may flow into mouthpieces through an externally exposed mouth portion, and thus there is a problem in terms of hygiene. 
     In addition, there is a disadvantage in that an appearance is not good and portability of a user is poor due to the exposed mouth portion. Accordingly, there is a need for a cover assembly including a mouthpiece with improved hygiene, aesthetics, and portability. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     A cover assembly and an aerosol generating device to which the cover assembly is applied are provided. Specifically, when one end of the mouthpiece is pressed, the cover assembly may be opened or closed by rotating around the other end of the mouthpiece. Accordingly, the mouthpiece may be easily opened and closed, and when not in use, the mouthpiece may prevent foreign materials from entering the mouthpiece. 
     The problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to the above-described problems, and undescribed problems may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. 
     Technical Solution 
     A cover assembly may include a mouthpiece that includes one end, which comes into contact with a mouth of a user, and another end, the one end being opened and closed by rotation of the mouthpiece around the other end, and an accommodation unit for accommodating the one end of the mouthpiece when the one end is closed, wherein the accommodation unit includes a button unit that is in contact with the one end of the mouthpiece and is displaced in a longitudinal direction when the one end is pressed, and a locking unit including a first portion in contact with the one end of the mouthpiece and a second portion in contact with the button unit. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a mouth portion of a mouthpiece may be in a closed position so as not to be exposed to the outside, and thus, hygiene may be improved, and a protrusion portion of the device is minimized to increase aesthetics and portability. In addition, a mouthpiece may be opened and closed semi-automatically, and thus, convenience of a user may be increased. 
     Effects of embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and undescribed effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is a view illustrating a cover assembly coupled to an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  1 B  is an exploded view of the cover assembly of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a front cross-sectional view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2 B  is a view illustrating one aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2 A ; 
         FIG.  2 C  is a view illustrating another aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2 A ; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a side cross-sectional view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ; 
         FIG.  3 C  is a view illustrating one aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ; 
         FIG.  3 D  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 C ; 
         FIG.  3 E  is a view illustrating another aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ; 
         FIG.  3 F  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 E ; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a plan view of a cover assembly according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a plan view of a cover assembly according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a view illustrating one aspect of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG.  5 B  is a view illustrating another aspect of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     According to one or more embodiments, a cover assembly is provided. The cover assembly includes: a mouthpiece including one end, that is configured to come into contact with a mouth of a user, and another end opposite to the one end, the mouthpiece configured to move to an open position and a closed position by rotation of the mouthpiece around the other end; and an accommodation unit for accommodating the one end of the mouthpiece in the closed position. The accommodation unit includes: a button unit including a body, the button unit configured to contact the one end of the mouthpiece and to be displaced in a longitudinal direction based on the one end being pressed; and a locking unit including a body, the body of the locking unit including a first portion that is configured to contact the one end of the mouthpiece and a second portion that is configured to contact the button unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the first portion of the locking unit is configured to be coupled to the mouthpiece such as to fix the mouthpiece, and is further configured to be separated from the mouthpiece by being moved in a transverse direction based on the second portion being pressed by the button unit being longitudinally displaced. 
     According to an embodiment, the one end of the mouthpiece is configured to move to the open position based on the locking unit being separated from the mouthpiece. 
     According to an embodiment, the first portion of the body of the locking unit includes a protrusion portion, and the mouthpiece includes a groove having a shape that is configured to couple to the protrusion portion. 
     According to an embodiment, the protrusion portion includes a curved surface. 
     According to an embodiment, the second portion of the body of the locking unit includes a sliding portion that is an inclined surface, and the body of the button unit includes an inclined surface that has a shape corresponding to the sliding portion. 
     According to an embodiment, the cover assembly further includes: a first elastic body in contact with at least a part of an outer surface of the locking unit; and a second elastic body coupled to the other end of the mouthpiece, wherein the first elastic body is configured to return the locking unit to a position after the locking unit is moved, and the second elastic body is configured to rotate the other end of the mouthpiece based on the mouthpiece being separated from the locking unit. 
     According to an embodiment, a speed at which the second elastic body is configured to rotate the other end of the mouthpiece is faster than a speed at which the first elastic body is configured to return the locking unit to the position. 
     According to an embodiment, the first elastic body is a compression spring, and the second elastic body is a torsion spring. 
     According to an embodiment, the accommodation unit further includes a guide unit including a body, the guide unit configured to limit displacement of the button unit to a predetermined range. 
     According to an embodiment, the mouthpiece further includes a passage extending from the one end to the other end such as to allow an aerosol to pass therethrough. 
     According to an embodiment, a cross-sectional area of the one end of the mouthpiece is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the other end of the mouthpiece. 
     According to one or more embodiments, an aerosol generating device is provided. The aerosol generating device includes the cover assembly and a medium storage. 
     According to an embodiment, the mouthpiece further includes a passage extending from the one end to the other end such as to allow an aerosol to pass therethrough, and the medium storage communicates with the passage based on whether the mouthpiece is in the open position or the closed position. 
     According to an embodiment, the medium storage includes a liquid cartridge or a granular cartridge. 
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     With respect to the terms used to describe the various embodiments, general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of new technology, and the like. Also, in a special case, there may be terms that are arbitrarily selected by the applicant. In this case, the meanings of the terms will be described in detail in the description of the present disclosure. Thus, the terms used herein will be defined based on not simply the names of the terms but the meanings thereof and contents of the present disclosure. 
     As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. For example, the expression, “at least one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “over,” “above,” “on,” “below,” “under,” “beneath,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it can be directly over, above, on, below, under, beneath, connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly over,” “directly above,” “directly on,” “directly below,” “directly under,” “directly beneath,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and/or operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof. 
     In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” or “second” used in the present specification may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. Terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component. 
     In addition, some of components in the drawings may be illustrated to be somewhat exaggerated in size or ratio. In addition, components illustrated in some drawings may not be illustrated in other drawings. 
     Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. 
       FIG.  1 A  is a view illustrating a cover assembly coupled to an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, and  FIG.  1 B  is an exploded view of the cover assembly of  FIG.  1 A . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1 A , an aerosol generating device  20  according to an embodiment may include a case  40 , a medium storage  30 , and a cover assembly  10 . Specifically, the medium storage  30  may be included in the case  40 . In addition, the cover assembly  10  may be adjacent to at least part of the medium storage  30 , and at least some components of the cover assembly  10  are included in the case  40 , and at least part of a mouthpiece  100  (refer to  FIG.  1 B ) constituting the cover assembly  10  may be exposed to the outside of the case  40 . 
     Meanwhile, those skilled in the art related to the present embodiment will be able to understand without difficulty that the aerosol generating device  20  according to another embodiment may further include other general-purpose components for generating an aerosol as well as the components illustrated in  FIG.  1 A . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1 B , the cover assembly  10  may include the mouthpiece  100 , an accommodation unit  200 , a button unit  210 , a locking unit  220 , a guide unit  230 , a first elastic body  300 , a second elastic body  400 , a rotation shaft  500 , and a shaft support  600 . Hereinafter, a specific structure of each component and a coupling relationship with other components will be described. 
     The mouthpiece  100  may include one end  110  that comes into contact with a mouth of a user and the other end  120  opposite to the one end  110 , and as the mouthpiece  100  rotates around the other end  120 , the one end  110  may be moved to an opened or closed position. In addition, the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  may be coupled to a rotation shaft  500  and the second elastic body  400 . 
     In addition, the shaft support  600  may be in contact with at least part of the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  to be coupled to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  together with the rotation shaft  500 . 
     The accommodation unit  200  may include the button unit  210  that is in contact with the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  and is displaced in a longitudinal direction by pressing the one end  110 . According to one embodiment, when the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is pressed by a user, the button unit  210  in contact with the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  may also be pressed by the mouthpiece  100  to be displaced in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction may be a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device  20 . 
     In addition, the accommodation unit  200  may include the locking unit  220  that includes a first portion in contact with the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  and a second portion in contact with the button unit  210 . According to one embodiment, as the first portion of the locking unit  220  is coupled to the mouthpiece  100 , the mouthpiece  100  may be fixed, and as the second portion is pressed by the longitudinal displacement of the button unit  210  to move the locking unit  220  in a transverse direction, the locking unit  220  may be separated from the mouthpiece  100 . 
     The transverse direction may be a direction crossing both a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device  20  and a direction facing the one end  110  of the closed mouthpiece  100 . 
     The locking unit  220  may be separated from the mouthpiece  100  by moving in the transverse direction by being pressed by the button unit  210  that is displaced in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, as the first portion of the locking unit  220  is separated from the mouthpiece  100 , the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  may be moved to an opened position. That is, as the one end  110  is pressed, the mouthpiece  100  may be separated from the locking unit  220  to be opened semi-automatically. 
     In contrast to this, when the mouthpiece  100  is closed, the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit  220  may be coupled to each other to fix the mouthpiece  100  in a closed state. 
     The locking unit  220  may include a protrusion portion  221 . Specifically, the locking unit  220  may include the protrusion portion  221  in at least part of the first portion, and the mouthpiece  100  may include a groove  111  having a shape couplable to the protrusion portion  221 . 
     In addition, the protrusion portion  221  may include a curved surface, and the groove  111  of the mouthpiece  100  may also include a curved surface having a shape corresponding to the curved surface of the protrusion portion  221 . Specifically, the curved surface of the protrusion portion  221  may be convex, and the curved surface of the groove  111  may be concave. 
     As the protrusion portion  221  and the groove  111  include the curved surfaces, the button unit  210  may be easily displaced by pressing the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100 . Specifically, when the mouthpiece  100  is closed, the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  may be displaced within a predetermined range. For example, when the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is pressed in the longitudinal direction, the protrusion portion  221  and the groove  111  may be finely separated, and the mouthpiece  100  may be displaced in the longitudinal direction, and accordingly, the button unit  210  may be pressed. 
     Meanwhile, the locking unit  220  may include a sliding portion  222  having the second portion formed as an inclined surface, and the button unit  210  may include an inclined surface having a shape corresponding to the sliding portion  222 . Specifically, when the button unit  210  is pressed by the mouthpiece  100  to be displaced in the longitudinal direction, sliding occurs on the inclined surface, and the sliding portion  222  of the locking unit  220  may be pressed in the transverse direction. Accordingly, as the locking unit  220  moves in the transverse direction, the mouthpiece  100  may be separated from the first portion, and the mouthpiece  100  no longer receives a binding force. Accordingly, the mouthpiece  100  rotates around the other end  120 , and the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  may be moved to the opened position. 
     The cover assembly  10  may further include the first elastic body  300  and the second elastic body  400 . The first elastic body  300  may be in contact with at least part of an outer surface of the locking unit  220 . Specifically, when the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is in the closed position, the first elastic body  300  may be inserted in a finely deformed state into a space between the locking unit  220  and the case  40  to apply an elastic force to the locking unit  220 . For example, a direction of the elastic force of the first elastic body  300  may be the aforementioned transverse direction. 
     Here, a state in which the first elastic body  300  is finely deformed may mean a deformed state to the extent that the first elastic body  300  may apply a fine elastic force to the locking unit  220  so that the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit  220  may be maintained in a coupled state in the first portion or the curved surface. 
     In addition, when the locking unit  220  is pressed by the button unit  210  to move, the first elastic body  300  may be further deformed. That is, the first elastic body  300  may be in a more deformed state than the finely deformed state described above. Because an elastic body generates an elastic force in proportion to the degree of deformation according to Hook&#39;s Law, when the locking unit  220  moves, the first elastic body  300  may apply a greater elastic force to the locking unit  220  to return the locking unit  220  to an original position. 
     Meanwhile, the first elastic body  300  may correspond to a compression spring or an elastic pad. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art related to the present embodiment may understand without difficulty that various types of elastic bodies capable of providing elasticity to the locking unit  220  may be included in the present disclosure. 
     As described above, the second elastic body  400  may be coupled to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  together with a rotation shaft  500 . Specifically, when the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is in the closed position, the second elastic body  400  may be coupled to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  in a slightly deformed state to apply an elastic force to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100 . 
     Here, the slightly deformed state may refer to a state in which, when the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit  220  are separated from each other, the second elastic body  400  applies a rotational force to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  to move the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  to the opened position. 
     Meanwhile, the second elastic body  400  may be a torsion spring. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and various types of elastic bodies capable of providing a rotational force to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  may be included in the present disclosure. 
     According to one embodiment, a speed at which the mouthpiece  100  is opened may be faster than a speed at which the locking unit  220  returns. For example, a speed at which the second elastic body  400  rotates the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  may be faster than a speed at which the first elastic body  300  returns the locking unit  220 . 
     Specifically, the second elastic body  400  may be made of a material or a dimension that generates a greater elastic force than the first elastic body  300 . For example, an elastic modulus of the second elastic body  400  may be an elastic body having a value greater than an elastic modulus of the first elastic body  300 . 
     The accommodation unit  200  may further include a guide unit  230  for limiting displacement of the button unit  210  to a predetermined range. The guide unit  230  may be located between the locking unit  220  and the button unit  210 , and a position of the guide unit  230  may be fixed by being in contact with at least part of the button unit  210  and/or at least part of the locking unit  220 . 
     The accommodation unit  200  may include an empty space between the button unit  210  and the locking unit  220 , and as the button unit  210  is displaced into the empty space due to impact or so on of the cover assembly  10 , the locking unit  220  may not move in the transverse direction and the mouthpiece  100  may not be opened. 
     In order to prevent this, the guide unit  230  may be located in at least part of the empty space, and the guide unit  230  may guide the button unit  210  so that the button unit  210  may be displaced within a certain range inside the accommodation unit  200 . 
     In addition, the guide unit  230  may include a locking projection  231  for limiting longitudinal displacement of the button unit  210  to a predetermined range, and the button unit  210  may include a protrusion  211  that may be caught on locking projection  231 . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the button unit  210  pressed by the locking unit  220 , which is returned to an original position again by receiving an elastic force of the first elastic body  300 , from being displaced to a position where the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is accommodated, after the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is moved to the opened position. 
     Referring to the above description, as the guide unit  230  is further included in the accommodation unit  200 , coupling between the locking unit  220  and the button unit  210  may be more solid, and the mouthpiece  100  may be semi-automatically opened and closed more smoothly. 
       FIG.  2 A  is a front cross-sectional view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment,  FIG.  2 B  is a view illustrating one aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2 A , and  FIG.  2 C  is a view illustrating another aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2 A . 
     The cover assembly according to an embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS.  2 A to  2 C . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2 A , the mouthpiece  100 , the locking unit  220 , the button unit  210 , the guide unit  230 , the first elastic body  300 , and the case  40  are illustrated. Specifically, the mouthpiece  100 , while in the closed position, may be accommodated in the accommodation unit  200  comprising the locking unit  220 , the button unit  210 , and the guide unit  230 , and the protrusion portion  221  of the locking unit  220  and the groove  111  of the mouthpiece  100  may be combined and fixed in an accommodated state. 
     In addition, the mouthpiece  100  may further include a passage extending from the one end  110  to the other end  120  so that an aerosol may pass therethrough. A cross section of the passage is illustrated in a circular shape but is not limited thereto, and a passage having a cross section of various shapes may be included therein. 
     The locking unit  220  may include the protrusion portion  221 , including a curved surface, and a second portion that is spaced apart from the protrusion portion  221  and in contact with the button unit  210 . In addition, the second portion may include the sliding portion  222 . In addition, the locking unit  220  may be composed of two members having symmetrical properties. 
     When the locking unit  220  is composed of two members, the mouthpiece  100  and the button unit  210  may include two of the groove  111  and two of the inclined surface and two of the protrusion  211 , respectively. Accordingly, semi-automatic opening and closing of the mouthpiece  100  may be made more balanced. 
     Meanwhile, there may be a predetermined space between the locking unit  220  and an inner wall of the case  40  so that the locking unit  220  may move in the transverse direction. The first elastic body  300  may be inserted into at least part of the predetermined space. 
     The button unit  210  may include the two of the inclined surface and the two of the protrusion  211 . The inclined surfaces may each have a shape corresponding to a respective one of the sliding portion  222  of the locking unit  220  and may convert longitudinal displacement of the button unit  210  to a transverse movement of the locking unit  220 . In addition, the protrusion  211  may have a shape that may be caught on a respective one of the locking projection  231  included in the guide unit  230 . 
     As described above, the first elastic body  300  may be inserted into a space between the locking unit  220  and the inner wall of the case  40 . Specifically, the first elastic body  300  may be in contact with at least part of an outer surface of the locking unit  220  and in contact with at least part of the inner wall of the case  40 . 
     According to  FIGS.  2 A to  2 C , two of the first elastic body  300  are illustrated to be provided in lower portions of spaces between the locking unit  220  and the case  40  but are not limited thereto, and the first elastic body  300  may be provided in another place where a position of the locking unit  220  moved by being pressed by the button unit  210  may be returned. In addition, more than two of the first elastic body  300  may be included in the cover assembly  10 . 
     Hereinafter, a semi-automatic opening/closing mechanism of the mouthpiece  100  included in the cover assembly  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS.  2 B and  2 C . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2 B , after the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is pressed, a positional relationship of each component of the cover assembly  10  may be known. 
     Specifically, when the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is pressed, slip occurs on the groove  111  of the mouthpiece  100  and on a curved surface of the protrusion portion  221  of the locking unit  220 , and at the same time, the mouthpiece  100  may press at least part of the button unit  210  to displace the button unit  210  in the longitudinal direction. 
     In addition, the button unit  210  is displaced in the longitudinal direction along the sliding portion  222  of the protrusion portion  221  by the mouthpiece  100 , and at the same time, the locking unit  220  is pressed on the sliding portion  222  by the protrusion portion  221  to move in the transverse direction, and thus, the mouthpiece  100  may be separated from the locking unit  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2 C , after the pressing on the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is removed, a positional relationship of each component of the cover assembly  10  in which the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit  220  are separated from each other may be seen. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2 C , when the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit  220  are separated from each other, the second elastic body  400  rotates the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100 , and thus, the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  may be exposed. 
     In this case, a speed at which the second elastic body  400  rotates the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  may be faster than a speed at which the first elastic body  300  returns the moved locking unit  220 . Accordingly, only after the mouthpiece  100  is opened, the compressed first elastic body  300  may return the locking unit  220  to an original position thereof. In response to this operation, the button unit  210  may be returned to an original position thereof. 
       FIG.  3 A  is a side cross-sectional view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment,  FIG.  3 B  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ,  FIG.  3 C  is a view illustrating one aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ,  FIG.  3 D  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 C ,  FIG.  3 E  is a view illustrating another aspect of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 A ,  FIG.  3 F  is a partial plan view of the cover assembly illustrated in  FIG.  3 E . 
     Hereinafter, a cover assembly according to an embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS.  3 A to  3 F . In order to aid understanding, the second elastic body  400  is enlarged. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3 A , it can be seen that the mouthpiece  100  is closed and the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is accommodated in the accommodation unit  200 . That is,  FIG.  3 A  may correspond to  FIG.  2 A , and illustrates a state in which the mouthpiece  100  is fixed by a locking unit. 
     In a state where the mouthpiece  100  is closed, the second elastic body  400  may be in a deformed state. That is, the second elastic body  400  applies a torque to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100 , but the locking unit is coupled to the mouthpiece  100 , and thus, the mouthpiece  100  may be in a fixed state so as not to rotate. 
     The mouthpiece  100  may include a passage  130  extending from the one end  110  to the other end  120  so that the aerosol may pass therethrough, and the passage  130  may further include a distal portion  132  arranged close to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100  and a proximal portion  131  arranged close to the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100 . 
     Specifically, the proximal portion  131  refers to a hole through which an aerosol exits through the passage  130  of the mouthpiece  100 , and the distal portion  132  refers to a hole through which an aerosol generated from the medium storage  30  enters the passage  130  of the mouthpiece  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3 C , it can be seen that the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is in a pressed state. In addition, it can be seen that the button unit  210  is displaced in the longitudinal direction when the mouthpiece  100  is pressed. That is,  FIG.  3 C  may correspond to  FIG.  2 B  and illustrates that the button unit  210  is displaced in the longitudinal direction, the locking unit moves in the transverse direction, and the mouthpiece  100  and the locking unit are separated from each other. In addition, the distal portion  132  of the mouthpiece  100  may be in a state in which the distal portion  132  is not connected to the medium storage  30 . 
     When the mouthpiece  100  is closed, the second elastic body  400  may be in a deformed state. For example, the second elastic body  400  may be in a state in which an arm is twisted by about 90 degrees. Specifically, the deformed second elastic body  400  applies a rotational force to the other end  120  of the mouthpiece  100 , but because the one end  110  of the mouthpiece  100  is pressed, the mouthpiece  100  is not in the opened state. 
     Referring to the plan view illustrated in  FIG.  3 D , it can be seen that the second elastic body  400  having the number of turns of three is coupled to one end of the rotation shaft  500  in a deformed state. In addition, in order to adjust an opening speed of the mouthpiece  100 , the second elastic body  400  having the different number of turns may be coupled to the rotation shaft  500 , and an additional one of the second elastic body  400  may be further coupled to the other end of the rotation shaft  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3 E , it can be seen that the mouthpiece  100  is in an opened state. That is,  FIG.  3 E  may correspond to  FIG.  2 C , and illustrates a state in which the mouthpiece  100  rotates around the other end  120  to be opened. In addition, the distal portion  132  of the mouthpiece  100  may be connected to the medium storage  30 . 
     In a state in which the mouthpiece  100  is opened, the second elastic body  400  may be in a non-deformed state. For example, the arm of the second elastic body  400  may not be twisted. Specifically, the second elastic body  400  may be returned to an original shape, and the mouthpiece  100  may be opened by receiving a rotational force. 
     According to embodiments, the arm of the second elastic body  400  may be twisted by about 20 degrees. Accordingly, even in a state in which the mouthpiece  100  is opened, the second elastic body  400  may apply a predetermined rotational force to the other end  120  in a state of being deformed by a predetermined angle. Accordingly, when a user inhales an aerosol through the mouthpiece  100 , the mouthpiece  100  may not rotate easily in the direction in which the mouthpiece  100  is closed. 
     Referring to the plan view illustrated in  FIG.  3 F , it can be seen that the second elastic body  400  having the number of turns of 3 is coupled to one end of the rotation shaft  500  in a non-deformed state. 
       FIG.  4 A  is a plan view of a cover assembly according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 A , a cross-sectional area of one end  110   a  of a mouthpiece may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the other end  120   a  thereof. Specifically, as the mouthpiece extends from the other end  120   a  to one end  110   a , a width of the mouthpiece may be linearly narrowed. Accordingly, a more precise operation may be required to press the one end  110   a  of the mouthpiece, and the one end  110   a  of the mouthpiece may be prevented from being pressed accidentally. 
     For example, when a user does not intend to open the mouthpiece, it is possible to prevent the mouthpiece from being opened when the one end  110   a  of the mouthpiece comes into contact with an object or a user. In addition, when a user intends to open the mouthpiece, the user may open the mouthpiece by precisely pressing the one end  110   a  of the mouthpiece having a narrow cross-sectional area. 
       FIG.  4 B  is a plan view of a cover assembly according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 B , a cross-sectional area of one end  110   b  of a mouthpiece may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the other end  120   b . For example, a width of the mouthpiece may be changed based on a predetermined point between the other end  120   b  and the one end  110   b.    
     Specifically, the width of the mouthpiece is changed at a midpoint between the one end  110   b  and the other end  120   b , and thus the width of the one end  110   b  may be smaller than the width of the other end  120   b . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the mouthpiece from being opened again by excessively pressing the one end of the mouthpiece when a user moves the one end  110   b  of the mouthpiece to the closed position with a finger. 
     For example, a user may press the one end  110   b  of the mouthpiece with a finger to close the open mouthpiece. As the width of the one end  110   b  is narrow, a finger may touch part of the case  40  at the time when a groove of the one end  110   b  and a protrusion of a locking unit are coupled to each other. 
     In this way, when the mouthpiece is closed, the one end  110   b  of the mouthpiece is prevented from being excessively pressed, and thus, a button unit may be prevented from being displaced in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the mouthpiece may be pressed only until being coupled to the locking unit. 
     Meanwhile, the above-described effects are not limited to the shapes of the mouthpieces illustrated in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  and may be realized by various shapes of mouthpieces that facilitate opening and closing of the mouthpiece. 
       FIG.  5 A  is a view illustrating one aspect of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment, and  FIG.  5 B  is a view illustrating another aspect of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. 
     Hereinafter, an aerosol generating device  20  according to an embodiment to which a cover assembly  10  is applied will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B . 
     The aerosol generating device  20  according to the embodiment may include the cover assembly  10  and the medium storage  30  according to the above-described embodiments, and an aerosol generated from the medium storage  30  may exit to the outside through a mouthpiece  100 . 
     According to opening and closing of the mouthpiece  100 , the aerosol generating device  20  according to the embodiment may be changed from one aspect illustrated in  FIG.  5 A  to another aspect illustrated in  FIG.  5 B , and in contrast to this, the aerosol generating device  20  may be changed from the another aspect illustrated in  FIG.  5 B  to the one aspect illustrated in  FIG.  5 A . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5 A , a cover structure in which the mouthpiece  100  is closed and a medium storage  30  are illustrated. The mouthpiece  100  may include a passage  130  connecting one end to the other end of the mouthpiece  100  to allow an aerosol to pass therethrough, and the passage  130  may include a distal portion  132  and a proximal portion  131 . The medium storage  30  may be located inside the case  40  and may further include at least one ejection port  31 . 
     According to one embodiment, the medium storage  30  may communicate with the mouthpiece  100  based on whether the mouthpiece  100  is opened or closed. Specifically, when the mouthpiece  100  is in a closed state, the distal portion  132  of the passage  130  of the mouthpiece  100  is not connected to the ejection port  31  of the medium storage  30  as illustrated in  FIG.  5 A , and thus, the medium storage  30  may not communicate with the passage  130 , and an aerosol in the medium storage  30  may not exit to the outside of the aerosol generating device  20 . 
     Meanwhile, when the mouthpiece  100  is in an open state, the distal portion  132  of the passage  130  of the mouthpiece  100  is connected to the ejection port  31  of the medium storage  30  as illustrated in  FIG.  5 B , and thus, the medium storage  30  and the passage  130  may communicate with each other, and an aerosol in the medium storage  30  may exit from the aerosol generating device  20 . 
     Power of the aerosol generating device  20  may be turned on/off based on whether the mouthpiece  100  is opened or closed. Specifically, when the mouthpiece  100  is in a closed state, the power may be turned off so that the aerosol generating device  20  does not operate to prevent an aerosol from being generated from the medium storage  30 . Meanwhile, when the mouthpiece  100  is in an open state, the power may be turned on so that the aerosol generating device  20  may operate. 
     For example, the aerosol generating device  20  may further include a sensor and a processor, and the sensor may detect a position change signal of a configuration of the aerosol generating device  20  that changes according to whether the mouthpiece  100  is opened or closed. The processor may turn on/off a power of the aerosol generating device  20  based on a signal detected by the sensor. 
     The medium storage  30  may include a liquid cartridge or a granular cartridge. The liquid cartridge may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material including a volatile tobacco flavor component or may be a liquid including a non-tobacco material. In addition, the granulation cartridge may store a material containing the same component as the liquid composition or a similar component to the liquid composition in the form of granules or capsules. 
     The aerosol generating device  20  may accommodate a liquid cartridge and may include a vaporizer that generates an aerosol by heating a liquid in the liquid cartridge. The vaporizer for heating a liquid may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer but is not limited thereto. The aerosol generating device  20  may generate an aerosol through the vaporizer after accommodating the liquid cartridge. 
     The medium storage  30  may be replaceable. Specifically, the medium storage  30  may also be manufactured to be detachable from/attachable to the aerosol generating device  20  or may also be manufactured integrally with the aerosol generating device  20 . 
     The aerosol generating device  20  according to an embodiment may further include components for generating an aerosol therein. For example, the aerosol generating device  20  may include a battery, a processor, and a heater or an ultrasonic vibrator. 
     The configuration and effects of the cover assembly  10 , which is included in the aerosol generating device  20 , may be the same as the cover assembly  10  described above with respect to  FIGS.  1 A- 4 B , and detailed descriptions overlapping the configuration and effects are omitted. 
     Those skilled in the art related to embodiments of the present disclosure may understand without difficulty that general-purpose components for generating an aerosol may be further included in the aerosol generating device  20 . 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiments may understand that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the scope of the characteristics described above. The disclosed methods should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.