Patent Description:
With the continuous increase of attention to physical health, people have gradually realized the harm on the body from the traditional smoking method, which produces smoke by burning smoke products for inhalation. Therefore, non-combustion smoking devices have been developed.

The existing non-combustion smoking devices typically generate smoke from smoking devices by heating. Such non-combustion smoking devices comprise a heating cavity containing smoke products. By inserting a smoke product into the heating cavity of the non-combustion smoking device and starting the heater to heat the smoking device, the smoke product generates smoke for users.

Documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose smoking devices, wherein the airflow channels extend outside or around the extractors.

The prior art shown in <FIG> discloses an aerosol-generating device comprising a housing, a heating element, an air inlet <NUM> and an air flow channel <NUM>. The housing has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises at least one outer surface and one inner surface. The inner surface at the proximal end defines an end-opening cavity, in which an aerosol-forming substrate is housed. The cavity has a longitudinal extending portion between its proximal and distal ends. A heating element is located within the cavity and configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cavity. The airflow channel <NUM> extends from the air inlet <NUM> to the distal end of the cavity between the inner surface and the outer surface of the housing.

The applicant discovered that in actual use, since the airflow channel <NUM> is arranged between the inner surface and the outer surface of the housing, the airflow channel is relatively narrow. After foreign matters such as dust enter during suction, the airflow channel becomes narrowed or even blocked, resulting in poor suction. Moreover, users often cannot easily clean such a narrow airflow channel arranged between the inner surface and the outer surface of the housing. In addition, the housing of the aerosol-generating device not only forms the air flow channel, but houses various components such as battery, control circuit and the like. It is generally difficult for a user to separately remove the housing for cleaning.

Therefore, the present disclosure intends to provide a non-combustion smoking device that can resolve one of the above-mentioned issues in the prior art, and more particulary the problem of the cleaning of the airflow channel.

Accordingly the present disclosure provides a non-combustion smoking device as defined in claim <NUM>.

Preferably, the inner peripheral wall of the extractor has a non-circular profile, and a gap between the inner peripheral wall of the non-circular profile and the outer peripheral wall of the smoke product forms the air inlet channel in the form of a groove.

Preferably, the grooves are linear grooves extending straightly from the second end to the first end.

Preferably, the grooves are spiral grooves extending spirally from the second end to the first end.

Preferably, the air inlet channel comprises an air inlet provided at the second end of the extractor, and the air inlet is in fluid communication with a corresponding groove.

Preferably, the first end can comprise a gauze or screen fabric that allow air to flow through.

Preferably, a thermal isolation groove is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the extractor and/or a cavity wall of the heating cavity. In an embodiment, a thermal isolation material can be provided in the thermal isolation groove.

One skilled in the art can understand the features, advantages, and details of the respective embodiments and various other embodiments provided with the following detailed description of the respective embodiments with reference to the drawings listed below. Besides, various features of the drawings discussed below do not necessarily have to be drawn to scale. The various features and dimensions of elements in the drawings can be enlarged or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure.

The disclosure is further described below with reference to the drawings and embodiments, wherein the same reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements throughout the drawings and the description thereof.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

As used herein, the terms "aerosol-forming substrate" or "smoke substrate" (which are interchangeable) relate to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate can conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating product or a smoke product. It is known for one skilled in the art that an aerosol is a suspension of solid particles or droplets or both solid particles and droplets in a gas, such as air.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating product" or "smoke product" (which are interchangeable) refers to a product that comprises an aerosol-forming substrate or a smoke substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form aerosol. The aerosol-generating product or smoke product generates an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into a user's lungs through the user's mouth. Aerosol-generating product or smoke product can typically be disposable. The term "smoke product" is generally used hereinbelow.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in detail below.

A non-combustion smoking device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically shown with reference to <FIG>. The non-combustion smoking device comprises a housing <NUM>, a body <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and an extractor <NUM>. The body <NUM> comprises a cavity wall <NUM> for forming a heating cavity. The housing <NUM> is arranged outside the heating cavity of the body <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is arranged in the heating cavity. The extractor <NUM> is provided in the heating cavity of the body <NUM>. A receiving cavity for receiving a smoke product <NUM> is provided inside the extractor <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the extractor <NUM> can be in the form of a sleeve, comprising and has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end has an end wall. The second end is open for inserting a smoke product into the receiving cavity. The end wall of the first end supports or bears against the smoke device <NUM> during usage. A hole through which the heater <NUM> passes is provided in the end wall of the first end. The smoke product <NUM> is inserted into the extractor <NUM> from the open second end of the extractor <NUM>, and is inserted until it comes into contact with the end wall of the first end. In the present embodiment, the cavity wall <NUM> is in the form of a generally cylindrical tube with an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the extractor <NUM> so that the extractor <NUM> can be slidably received in the heating cavity.

As shown in the figure, the smoke product <NUM> has an elongated cylindrical shape, and comprises an aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> and a filter tip rod. The aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> and the filter tip rod are successively arranged and aligned coaxially. The aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> and the filter tip rod are wrapped with an external paper wrapper. Here is only a schematic representation of a smoke product, which can comprise other components.

The heater <NUM> extends through an eyelet in the first end of the extractor <NUM> and is inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of the smoke product <NUM> located in the receiving cavity of the extractor <NUM>.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, an air inlet channel extending from the second end to the first end of the extractor <NUM> is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM>.

Preferably, the air inlet channel is a groove <NUM> formed on the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM>. Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the air inlet channel is a plurality of grooves <NUM> formed evenly on the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> along the inner periphery of the extractor <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the groove <NUM> is a linear groove extending straightly from the second end of the extractor to the first end.

Alternatively and preferably, the groove <NUM> is a spiral groove (not shown) that extends spirally from the second end of an extractor to the first end. In this case, a spiral airflow as formed can take away more heat emitted from the smoke product. Furthermore, dust or other debris carried by an air flow is more likely to accumulate near the second end of the extractor under a drive of a centrifugal force, which is more convenient for subsequent cleaning.

Alternatively, the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> in the form of a sleeve can have a non-circular profile (not shown), such as an oval profile, a triangular profile, a polygonal profile and the like. A gap between the inner peripheral wall of the non-circular profile and the outer peripheral wall of the circular profile of the smoke product <NUM> forms an air inlet channel in the form of a groove. Certainly, in a case where the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> has a non-circular profile, the outer peripheral wall of the smoke product <NUM> can have any profile different from it. As long as a gap can be formed therebetween, such air inlet channel can be formed. For example, the extractor has a pentagonal inner peripheral wall, while the smoking device has a hexagonal outer peripheral wall, and so on. In order to keep a smoke product in an extractor without shaking, a part of the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> can be formed with a profile matching the outline of the outer peripheral wall of the smoke product.

The air inlet channel has an air inlet <NUM> at the second end of the extractor <NUM>. Each air inlet <NUM> is in fluid communication with a corresponding groove. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the air inlet <NUM> is actually an end of the corresponding groove <NUM>. The size of the air inlet <NUM> can be selected by the designer and can be selected to provide a desired suction resistance via the device.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, a through hole <NUM> is provided by penetrating the end wall of the first end of the extractor <NUM>. Preferably, the number and size of through holes <NUM> correspond to the number and size of grooves <NUM>. Each through hole <NUM> can be aligned with a corresponding groove <NUM>. Similarly, the number, position and size of the through holes can be changed according to specific operating parameters. Certainly, a groove (not shown) for guiding an airflow into the aerosol-forming substrate can be formed inside the end wall.

During usage, the user places the smoke product <NUM> comprising an aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> in the receiving cavity of the extractor <NUM>. The heater <NUM> extends through an eyelet in the end wall of the first end of the extractor <NUM> and is inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of the smoke product <NUM>. The user activates the heater <NUM> and the heater <NUM> heats the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> to form an aerosol. At the same time, with the suction of a user on a filter tip rod of the smoke product <NUM>, an air from the external environment flows from the air inlet <NUM> located at the second end of the extractor <NUM> (i.e., the upper end in <FIG>) into a groove <NUM> between the extractor and the smoke product. Then, the air travels along the groove <NUM> to the vicinity of the first end of the extractor <NUM> and enters the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of the smoke product through a gap between the inner wall of the first end of the extractor <NUM> and the aerosol-forming substrate end of the smoke product <NUM>; and/or enters a gap between the body <NUM> and the first end of the extractor <NUM> through the through hole <NUM>, and then enters the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of the smoke product via the eyelet, through which the heater passes, or other eyelets. Subsequently, the air that enters the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> travels through the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> carrying the aerosol formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM>. Finally, the air arrives at the filter tip rod of the smoke product <NUM> and thereby can be drawn into the user's mouth for smoking.

In the present disclosure, an air inlet is provided at the second end of the extractor, instead of on the housing or the side of the body as typically provided in the prior art. In this position, the possibility of an inadvertent blockage of the air inlet by a user's hand during usage is very small, which ensures smooth suction.

In the present disclosure, an air inlet channel in the form of a groove is located between the inner peripheral wall of the extractor and the outer peripheral surface of the smoke product. An airflow formed during suction takes away the heat emitted from the smoke product. Therefore, the air is preheated before entering the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM>. This preheating of air not only improves the efficiency of the smoking device, but ensures a more uniform temperature distribution within the aerosol-forming substrate. Moreover, compared with an aerosol-generating device disclosed in the prior art, since it is too late to transfer the heat emitted from the smoke product to an extractor, a cavity wall or a housing, which is directly taken away by an airflow, the temperature of the surface of the housing is effectively reduced during usage of the smoking device, which allows the user to hold the smoking device more comfortably.

In particular, when dust or other foreign matters accumulates in the air inlet channel and causes suction failure or even blockage over time, since the air inlet channel in the form of a groove is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the extractor, a receiving cavity of the extractor is relatively large, which allows the user to easily reach the groove for simple cleaning. Furthermore, since an extractor is a separate component, a user can easily dismantle the extractor and fully clean its internal surface by various means, e.g. by chemical immersion or using tools.

Preferably, in order to further reduce the heat transferred from a heater <NUM> to the housing <NUM> and prevent a non-combustion smoking device from becoming hot, a thermal isolation groove can be provided on the outer peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM>, the cavity wall <NUM> and/or the inner peripheral wall of the housing <NUM>. For example, by digging out a part of the inner peripheral wall of the housing <NUM>, a thin layer is left and a recess formed is a thermal isolation groove. Since the thermal isolation groove forms a thermal isolation space, the heat emitted from a heater during a heating process reaches the thermal isolation groove and is blocked by air in the thermal isolation space, thereby reducing the heat transferred to the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, a thermal isolation material can be placed in the thermal isolation groove.

Features described in relation to one aspect or embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to other aspects or embodiments of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, preferably, a smoke product is a heating-type smoke product that comprises an aerosol-forming substrate, which is intended to be heated rather than burned in order to release volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An aerosol formed by heating an aerosol-forming substrate can contain less known harmful components than those that can be generated by combustion or thermal degradation of the aerosol-forming substrate. A smoke product can be a tobacco rod, or can comprise a tobacco rod.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a heater comprises one or more heating elements. A heating element can comprise a resistance material. Alternatively, a heating element can be an infrared heating element, a photon source, or an induction heating element. A heating element can be in any suitable form. For example, a heating element can be the form of a heating blade. Alternatively, a heating element can be the form of a housing or a substrate with different conductive parts, or a resistive metal tube. Alternatively, a heating element can be one or more heating needles or rods that extend through the interior of the aerosol-forming substrate. Other alternative examples comprise heating wires or filaments, such as Ni-Cr (nickel-chromium), platinum, tungsten, or alloy wires or heating plates. Alternatively, a heating element can be deposited in or on a rigid support material.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more eyelets can be provided in the first end of the extractor. The number of eyelets can be more than the number of the heating elements of the heater and can also be equal to the number of the heating elements of the heater. Eyelets should be sized to allow a heater to pass freely. Eyelets can have any suitable shape. For example, eyelets can be rectangular or circular. The shape of eyelets can be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the one or more heating elements. Alternatively, the first end can comprise a gauze or screen fabric that can allow air to flow through.

An aerosol-forming substrate can be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, an aerosol-forming substrate can comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate can comprise a tobacco-containing material that comprises volatile tobacco flavoring compounds released from the substrate upon heating. Alternatively, an aerosol-forming substrate can comprise a tobacco-free material. An aerosol-forming substrate can further comprise an aerosol-forming agent. Examples of suitable aerosol-forming agents are glycerol and propylene glycol.

Claim 1:
A non-combustion smoking device, comprising
a body <NUM> forming a heating cavity;
a heater <NUM> for heating an aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of a smoke product <NUM>; and
an extractor <NUM> which receives the aerosol-forming substrate <NUM> of the smoke product <NUM>, is arranged in the heating cavity of the body <NUM>, and comprises a first end and a second end opposite to the first end,
characterized in that an air inlet channel in the form of a groove <NUM> is provided on an inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM>, and the air inlet channel extends from the second end of the extractor to the first end of the extractor <NUM>, and during usage, the air inlet channel in the form of a groove <NUM> is provided between the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> and an outer peripheral surface of the smoke product <NUM>,
wherein the air inlet channel comprises a plurality of grooves <NUM> formed evenly on the inner peripheral wall of the extractor <NUM> along the inner periphery of the extractor;
a through hole <NUM> is provided by penetrating an end wall of the first end of the extractor <NUM>;
a plurality of through holes <NUM> are provided and each of the through holes <NUM> is aligned with a corresponding groove <NUM>.