Patent Publication Number: US-2023144523-A1

Title: Aerosol Generation Device with a Movable Panel for Hiding Interfaces

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to an aerosol generation device. In particular, the invention relates to an aerosol generation device with a panel for hiding one or more interfaces of the device, wherein the panel is movable and/or removable for exposing the one or more interfaces. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     Aerosol generation devices commonly have a device housing that comprises one or more interfaces for interacting with an outside of the device such as, among others, charging ports for a power source of the device, data communication ports for transferring and receiving data to and from the device, or access ports for accessing an inside of the device for, for example, cleaning purposes. 
     Aerosol generation devices are typically mobile devices that are transported by user in a user&#39;s hand, a bag, a shirt pocket, a trouser pocket, a jacket pocket or in similar transportation conditions. In this process, the aerosol generation device is subjected to dirt, debris, liquids and external forces that may damage the device or inadvertently cause incorrect operation of the device. 
     Leaving such interfaces exposed and unprotected to the outside and against external influences without any protection may result in these interfaces becoming dirty or damaged, leading to malfunctioning of the device or even irreversible damage to the device. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a device housing that offers improved protection against harmful external influences for the interfaces while providing reliable and convenient access to the interfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above objective is solved by the invention as defined by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims. 
     A first aspect of the invention is an aerosol generation device comprising a housing that forms an exterior surface of the device, one or more interfaces, and a panel attached in a fixed position to the housing to conceal the one or more interfaces, and movable from the fixed position to expose the one or more interfaces to the outside of the device. Concealing the one or more interfaces with a panel offers increased protection against harmful external influences. It should be noted that concealing means rendering the one or more interfaces not visible from the outside of the housing of the aerosol generation device. Provision of the panel in movable manner for exposing the interfaces provides easy and convenient access to the interfaces. 
     According to a second aspect, in the preceding aspect, the panel is guided to make a sliding and/or rotating movement between the fixed position and a second position different from the fixed position. The second position contributes to providing a reliable, reproducible, predictable and well-defined movement and thus behavior of the movable panel to facilitate correct operation of the movable panel by a user. 
     According to a third aspect, in the preceding aspect, the panel and/or the housing is provided with a first magnet configured to engage with the housing and/or panel, respectively, to define the fixed position, and/or a second magnet configured to engage with the housing and/or panel, respectively, to define the second position. The use of magnets is less susceptible to wear and tear and damage due to excessive or false operation of the panel than the use of, e.g., mechanical elements on the housing and panel configured to mechanically engage with each other. 
     According to a fourth aspect, in any one of the second or third aspects, the panel is detachable from the housing when it is in the second position, but not when it is in the fixed position. Allowing the panel to be detached from the housing facilitates repair or cleaning of the panel as well as the housing. Allowing detachment in the second position only prevents the panel from inadvertently being removed when the interfaces are concealed in the fixed position and ensures correct operation of the device and the panel. 
     According to a fifth aspect, in any one of second or third aspects, the panel is movable to a third position. 
     According to a sixth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the panel is detachable from the housing when it is in the third position, but not when it is in the fixed position and not when it is in the second position. The fifth and sixth aspects further improve safe and correct operation of the panel by separating a position for exposing the interfaces and a position for detaching the panel, thus preventing inadvertent detaching of the panel. 
     According to a seventh aspect, in any one of the fifth or sixth aspects, the panel and/or the housing is provided with a third magnet configured to engage with the housing and/or panel, respectively, to define the third position. This provides the same advantages as detailed for the third aspect. 
     According to an eighth aspect, in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the panel is movable to the third position from the fixed position. 
     According to a ninth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the panel is movable to the third position by sliding and/or rotating the panel in a direction opposite to the direction for moving the panel from the fixed position to the second position. This mode of operation of the panel for either exposing the interfaces or detaching the panel prevents inadvertent detaching of the panel and improves safe and correct operation of the device and the panel. 
     According to a tenth aspect, in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the panel is movable to the third position from the second position. Restricting movement to the third position to either start from the fixed position or the second position provides an even better-defined movement and thus behavior of the panel for either exposing the interfaces or detaching the panel, thus even further preventing inadvertent detaching of the panel and improving safe and correct operation of the device and the panel. 
     According to an eleventh aspect, in the first aspect, the panel is detachable from the housing in the fixed position. This provides a simple and cost-efficient manner for exposing the interfaces. 
     According to a twelfth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the aerosol generation device comprises a light-emitting indicator which is concealed by the panel in the fixed position. 
     According to a thirteenth aspect, in in the preceding aspect and any one of the second to tenth aspects, the light-emitting indicator is exposed to the outside of the device in the second position and/or the or when the panel is detached from the housing from the second position. The light-emitting indicator may serve to provide information about an operational or functional state of the device, and/or may serve to indicate correct positioning of the panel in the second position to ensure safe and correct operation of the movable panel. 
     According to a fourteenth aspect, in the eleventh or twelfth aspects, the light-emitting indicator is exposed to the outside of the device when the panel is detached from the housing. 
     According to a fifteenth aspect, in any one of the twelfth to fourteenth aspects, the panel is provided with a light guide or a transparent or translucent element at a position corresponding to the light-emitting indicator when the panel is in the fixed position. This allows the light-emitting indicator to be visible to the exterior of the device while providing a protective element for the light-emitting indicator against external influences. 
     According to a sixteenth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the housing is provided with a safety vent for a battery provided within the housing, which is concealed by the panel in the fixed position. 
     According to a seventeenth aspect, in the preceding aspect and anyone of the second to tenth aspects, the safety vent is exposed to the outside of the device in the second position. 
     According to an eighteenth aspect, in the eleventh and sixteenth aspects, the safety vent is exposed to the outside of the device when the panel is detached from the housing. 
     Providing a safety vent according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects increases the safety of a user in case of malfunctioning of a battery, in particular lithium ion batteries, that may be provided as a power source in the aerosol generation device. 
     According to a nineteenth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the one or more interfaces are the only interfaces on the housing that are capable of interacting with the outside of the device. This ensures that all interfaces provided on the device are protected by the panel. 
     According to a twentieth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the one or more interfaces include an electrical interface for charging a battery of the device and/or a communication interface for data transmission. 
     According to a twenty-first aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the one or more interfaces include an access port which allows access to an internal structure of the housing. Providing access to an internal structure of the housing facilitates any maintenance or repairs of the device. 
     According to a twenty-second aspect, in the preceding aspect, the internal structure is a chamber for generating aerosol from an aerosol generation substrate, and the access port is suitable for allowing the chamber to be cleaned. Allowing the chamber to be cleaned and maintained ensures correct functioning of the aerosol generation device. 
     According to a twenty-third aspect, in the preceding aspect, the access port functions as an air inlet for the chamber when in use. This reduces manufacturing costs as well as manufacturing complexity since the need for an additional air inlet is removed. 
     According to a twenty-fourth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the housing is provided with an opening for discharging the generated aerosol to the outside of the device and an associated closing mechanism for the opening, and the housing and the panel form a seamless outer surface of the device, with the exception of a boundary between the housing and the panel, the opening, and the associated opening and closing mechanism. The closing mechanism for the opening for discharging generated aerosol prevents ingress of any unwanted particles and substances into the device when not in use, thereby further protecting the device against harmful external influences. By reducing the amount of seams between different parts of the device and the device housing, the amount of ingress points can be minimized, which further improves the protection of the device. 
     According to a twenty-fifth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the shape of the panel essentially corresponds to the shape of the surface of the housing on one side of the housing. 
     According to a twenty-sixth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the size of the panel essentially corresponds to the size of the surface of the housing on one side of the housing. 
     According to a twenty-seventh aspect, in any one of the preceding claims, the fixed positions and/or the second position and/or the third position are predetermined positions. It should be noted that a predetermined position is a position that is defined in advance and prior to use of the aerosol generation device and in a clearly discernible manner. In other words, a predetermined position must be reproducible and cannot be the result of happenstance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generation device according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  show schematic illustrations of a front view and a top view, respectively, of an aerosol generation device with the panel in the fixed position, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  3 A,  3 B and  3 C  show schematic illustrations of a front view of an aerosol generation device with the panel in the second position, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  show schematic illustrations of a front view of an aerosol generation device with the panel in the second position and in the third position, respectively, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  show schematic illustrations of a front view of an aerosol generation device with the panel in the second position and in the third position, respectively, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  show schematic illustrations of a top view of an aerosol generation device with a closing mechanism, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG.  7    shows a schematic illustration of a front view of an aerosol generation device with a light-guide, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  show schematic illustrations of a front view of an aerosol generation device comprising magnets, according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     An aerosol generation loo as depicted in  FIG.  1    commonly comprises a housing  200  with an opening  210  through which an aerosol generation substrate  110  such as a liquid or tobacco stick may at least partially be inserted into an aerosol generation chamber  120  of the device. The device loo further comprises a power source  130  that may be a rechargeable and/or exchangeable power source such as a battery, and circuitry  140  for controlling operation of the aerosol generation device  100 . 
       FIG.  2 A  shows a front view of an aerosol generation device comprising a housing  200  and a panel  300  attached to the housing  200  in the fixed position. While the panel  300  is depicted to have substantially the same size as a front surface of the housing  200 , the panel  300  may be smaller in size such that is has only partially the size of a front surface of the housing  200 . In the fixed position, all interfaces may be covered by the panel and are thus not visible and inaccessible from an outside of the aerosol generation device. In  FIG.  2 B , showing a top view of the aerosol generation device, it can be seen that the only seam runs between the housing  200  and the panel  300 . 
       FIG.  3 A  shows an aerosol generation comprising a housing  200  and a panel  300  in the second position in which the panel  300  has made a rotational movement from a fixed position as shown in  FIG.  2 A . The rotational movement may be realized by, e.g., a swivel, rotating joint, or a similar configuration. The rotation exposes an interface  230  to an exterior of the device for interaction with the device. While the interface  230  is depicted as a single element, the interface  230  may comprise one or more of an electrical interface for charging a battery of the device, a communication interface for data transmission, an access port which allows access to an internal structure of the housing, wherein the access port preferably allows an internal aerosol generation chamber to be cleaned, and an air inlet. The housing  200  may also comprise a battery safety vent for releasing internal pressure in case of a malfunction of a battery that may be provided as a power source in the aerosol generation device. The panel  300  may remain attached to the housing  200  in the second position, or alternatively can be detachable from the housing  200  in the second position. Detaching the panel  300  may comprise moving the panel in a certain direction or further rotating the panel  300 . 
       FIG.  3 B  shows an aerosol generation device that may be an aerosol generation device as described in the context of  FIG.  3 A . The panel  300  is in a second position in which the panel  300  has made a sideways sliding movement instead of a rotational movement. The sliding movement may be realized by the panel  300  being movably attached to the housing  200  by means of one or more protrusions and corresponding one or more grooves, provided on the housing and the panel or vice versa, and engaging with each other.  FIG.  3 C  shows an aerosol generation device that may be an aerosol generation device as described in the context of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . The panel  300  is in a second position in which the panel  300  has made an upwards sliding motion. 
       FIG.  4 A  shows an aerosol generation device that may be an aerosol generation device as described in the context of  FIG.  3 A . The panel  300  is in a second position in which the panel has made a rotational movement from the fixed position as shown in  FIG.  2 A  to the second position. In the second position, the interface  230  is exposed and the panel  300  may not be detachable from the housing  200 .  FIG.  4 B  shows the panel  300  in the third position in which the panel  300  has made a further rotational movement from the second position in the same rotational direction as the rotational movement from the fixed position to the second position. In the third position, the panel  300  may be detached from the housing  200 . 
       FIG.  5 A  shows an aerosol generation device that may be an aerosol generation device as described in the context of  FIG.  3 B . The panel  300  is in a second position in which the panel has made a sliding movement in an upwards direction from the fixed position as shown in  FIG.  2 A , to the second position. In the second position, the interface  230  is exposed and the panel  300  may not be detachable from the housing  200 .  FIG.  5 B  shows the panel  300  in the third position, in which the panel  300  has made a sliding movement in the direction opposite to the sliding motion from the fixed position to the second position. The panel  300  may move to the third position either directly by making a downward sliding motion from the fixed position, or may require the panel  300  to first be moved to the second position by making an upward sliding motion. In the third position, the panel  300  may be detached from the housing  200 , and the interface  230  may or may not be exposed by the panel in the third position. 
     It should be noted that while the panel  300  is described in the above embodiments to be configured for making either a rotational movement or a sliding movement, the panel  300  may also be configured for making a combination of a sliding and a rotational movement. For example, the panel  300  may move to a second position by making a sliding movement, and move to a third position from either the second position or the fixed position by making a rotational movement. Alternatively, a movement may consist of a rotation and translation (sliding) at the same time. 
       FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  show a top view of an aerosol generation device, with a housing  200  comprising an opening  210  for discharging aerosol generated in the aerosol generation device using an aerosol generation substrate. The opening  210  may be provided with a closing and opening mechanism  220  to close off and protect the opening  210  when the aerosol generation device is not in use. The closing and opening mechanism  220  may be movable by a sliding movement or a rotational movement or a combination thereof. As further shown, the aerosol generation device comprises seams only between the housing  200 , the opening  210 , the closing and opening mechanism  220 , and the panel  300 . 
       FIG.  7    shows an aerosol generation device that may be an aerosol generation as described in the context of any one of the preferred embodiments of the invention. While the aerosol generation device is shown to comprise a panel  300  that is in a second position relative to a housing  200  by making a rotational movement from the fixed position, in which the interface  230  is concealed, the panel may be configured to make a sliding movement or a combination of a rotational movement and a sliding movement, and the panel may further be moved to a third position. The panel  300  may comprise a light guide  320  provided on an outer surface of the panel  300 . The housing may be provided with a light-emitting indicator that may only be visible by illuminating the light guide  320  when the panel is in the second position as shown in  FIG.  7   . The light-emitting indicator may be configured to indicate a technical state of the aerosol generation device, such as a charging status or level of a power source of the aerosol generation device. The light-emitting indicator may additionally, or alternatively, indicate that the panel  300  has correctly finished movement to the second position. Additionally, or alternatively, the housing may be provided with another light-emitting indicator that may only be visible when illuminating the light guide  320  when the panel  300  is in a third position different from the second position. 
     In any embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , the aerosol generation device may have one or more magnets or magnetic elements  310  provided at the housing  200  and/or the panel  300  for defining the fixed position and the second position of the panel. In the fixed position as shown in  FIG.  8 A , the magnet  310  labelled “ 1 ” provided on the panel  300  couples with a metallic or magnetic positioning element provided on the housing  200  at a location corresponding to the location of the magnet  310  labelled “ 1 ”. When the panel  300  is moved towards the second position, the magnet  310  labelled “ 2 ” engages with the metallic or magnetic positioning element provided on the housing. The panel  300  may be provided with a further magnet or magnetic element to define the position of a third position of the panel  300 , to which the panel  300  is movable. Alternatively, the housing  200  may be provided with a magnetic positioning element and the panel  300  may be provided with one or more metallic elements instead of the magnets  310  that may engage with the magnetic positioning element provided on the housing to define the fixed position and/or the second position and/or the third position. 
     It should be noted that, in any of the embodiments described in the context of  FIGS.  1  through  8 B , the fixed position and/or the second position and/or the third position may be predetermined positions. A predetermined position is a position that is defined in advance, typically during manufacture and/or assembly of the aerosol generation device, typically prior to use of the aerosol generation device, and in a clearly discernible manner. In other words, a predetermined position is reliably reproducible and not the result of happenstance. For example, in case of a rotating or sliding movement of the cover  300 , a predetermined position may be defined by a maximum rotation angle or sliding distance of the cover  300 . For example, a sliding or rotating mechanism may be configured to allow a maximum sliding distance or rotation angle in a first sliding and/or first rotation direction and/or in a second sliding and/or second rotation direction opposite the first sliding and/or rotation direction. Such a maximum sliding distance or rotation angle may be inherently defined by the sliding or rotation mechanism provided or may be achieved by means of stopping or restrictive element. Additionally, or alternatively, a predetermined position may be a position that is defined by an attraction of the predetermined position causing the cover  300  to remain in the predetermined position once the cover  300  is in the predetermined position. In other words, a force required to cause the cover  300  to leave the predetermined position is substantially larger than a force required to cause movement of the cover  300  once the cover  300  has left the predetermined position. For example, a predetermined position may be defined by an attractive or restrictive element provided at the housing  200  cooperating with a respective cooperating element respectively provided at the cover  300 . As a non-limiting example, the housing  200  may be provided with a magnetic coupling element and the cover  300  may be provided with a magnetic counter-coupling element, and a predetermined position is defined as a position in which the magnetic coupling element interacts with the magnetic counter-coupling element in an attractive coupling state. As another non-limiting example, the housing  200  may be provided with a groove or dimple or similar element, and the cover  300  may be provided with a cooperating protrusion or similar element, or vice versa, and a predetermined position is defined as a position in which the cooperating protrusion interacts with the groove or dimple. The cooperating protrusion interacting with the groove or dimple may comprise the cooperation protrusion being positioned in the groove or dimple. It should be noted that a plurality and any combination of the above described means for defining a predetermined position may be employed. 
     While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure, as defined by the independent and dependent claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED 
       100 : aerosol generation device 
       110 : aerosol generating substrate 
       120 : aerosol generation chamber 
       130 : power supply 
       140 : circuitry 
       200 : device housing 
       210 : opening 
       220 : closing and opening mechanism 
       230 : interface 
       300 : panel 
       310 : magnet 
       320 : light guide