Patent Description:
Aerosol generation devices such as electronic cigarettes are relatively well known and are becoming increasingly popular with consumers in recent years. A common operating principle for such electronic cigarettes is to heat a consumable without burning it to provide an aerosol (also referred to as a vapour) to a user for inhalation. Examples of such consumables include charges of tobacco material or capsules of liquid containing flavourants and active ingredients such as nicotine.

Aerosol generation devices often comprise a heater, a power source for supplying electricity to the heater and a receptacle, such as a heating chamber, for receiving the consumable in the vicinity of the heater such that the consumable may be heated to produce the vapour for inhalation.

In recent years the popularity of multiple use aerosol generation devices has surpassed that of single use devices which are disposed of after use. Since, the consumable can only provide the required active ingredients or flavourants for a limited duration of heating before these components are depleted, in multiple use devices the consumable must be replaced. This is generally achieved by removing the depleted consumable from the heating chamber and replacing with a new consumable.

There are however several shortcomings with such aerosol generation devices and systems. In particular, the replacement of the consumable is often an awkward process for the user, given the size of the components and the requirement to manoeuvre the aerosol generating device into the appropriate orientation while removing the spent consumable and replacing with a new consumable. This process has to be carried out regularly which exacerbates the problem.

In particular, the consumable may be difficult to remove from the heating chamber because the consumable has been attached to the heating chamber. This attachment may comprise friction between the heating chamber and the consumable, for example if there is a tight fit between the chamber and consumable. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment may comprise a bond formed between the consumable and the chamber when the consumable is heated in the chamber. For example, the consumable may undergo thermal expansion when heated, making it more difficult to remove the consumable after use than it was to insert the consumable for use. As another example, heating the consumable may produce or release a sticky substance such as tar that adheres the consumable to the heating chamber.

Therefore, there is need to provide an aerosol generation device and system which addresses one or more of these shortcomings.

<CIT> describes a consumable cartridge and an inhaler device. The consumable cartridge comprises a casing defining a cavity, the casing comprising a first region and a second region. An elastic bladder is located within the cavity of said casing and encloses a vaporizing liquid. The first region of the casing comprises a pierceable portion, and the second region comprises a pre-perforated portion. The bladder is disconnected from the casing in the first region, and is configured to rupture or to be cut when it is pierced by a piercing member of the inhaler device such that the ruptured or cut area of the bladder creates an opening which is significantly larger than the cross sectional area of the piercing. When the inhaler device is prepared to be used, the mouthpiece section is separated from the power supply unit and a consumable cartridge is inserted into the cartridge chamber. Once the consumable cartridge is depleted, the inhaler device may be opened and the consumable cartridge can be removed. The consumable cartridge maybe manually removed by pulling it out from the cartridge chamber. In order to facilitate the removal of the consumable cartridge, a grip, such as a protrusion or a flap can be located on a first end region or a second end region of the outer casing of the consumable cartridge. The grip is located on the end region exposed to the user and which is disengaged from the cartridge chamber when the power supply unit is separated from the mouthpiece section. Alternatively, the inhaler device may further comprise a consumable cartridge ejection mechanism. In a simple embodiment, a consumable cartridge ejection mechanism may comprise a resilient member such as a coil spring or a leaf spring. It would also be possible to provide the inhaler device with a mechanical cartridge ejection mechanism, which may be activated by a lever.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generation device comprises a chamber, a housing and a cover. The chamber is adapted to receive a consumable. The housing contains the chamber and comprises an opening through which the consumable can be removed from the chamber. The cover is configured to move between an open position where the opening of the housing is exposed and a closed position where the opening of the housing is closed. The aerosol generation device is adapted to generate an inhalable vapor from the consumable. The cover comprises one or more dislodging elements adapted to dislodge the consumable such that, when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position: an attachment is weakened between the chamber and the consumable, and the consumable is partially ejected from the chamber without becoming attached to the cover.

Optionally, the attachment comprises: friction between the consumable and the chamber; and/or a bond formed between the consumable and the chamber when the consumable is heated in the chamber.

Optionally, the open position is configured such that a new consumable can be inserted through the opening, and the closed position is configured such that a user may operate the aerosol generation device to generate and inhale the inhalable vapor from the consumable.

Optionally, the one or more dislodging elements comprise two or more dislodging elements.

Optionally, the dislodging elements are adapted to engage with a flange part of the consumable.

Optionally, the dislodging elements are snap-fit connectors.

Optionally, the one or more dislodging elements each comprise an engagement member configured to move substantially perpendicular to a direction of motion of the cover so as to form a snap-fit connection.

Optionally, the engagement member is a resilient member.

Optionally, the cover comprises a resilient seal arranged such that, when the cover is in the closed position, the resilient seal contacts the flange part of the consumable.

Optionally, the aerosol generation device comprises a sensor arranged to detect when the cover is pressed against the housing, and the resilient seal is arranged to bias the cover away from the housing.

Optionally, the aerosol generation device further comprises control circuitry configured to control the aerosol generation device to start generation of the inhalable vapor when the sensor detects that the cover is pressed against the housing.

Optionally, the cover is attached to the housing in the open position.

Optionally, the cover is attached to the housing by a hinge.

Optionally, the hinge comprises a detent axle configured such that the cover is stable at each of the open position and the closed position.

Optionally, the hinge comprises a torsion spring, and a magnet is comprised in the cover or the housing, wherein the torsion spring is configured to bias the cover towards the open position, and the magnet is configured to hold the cover in the closed position.

Optionally, the one or more dislodging elements are each arranged to partially oppose the hinge.

Optionally, a first dislodging element of the one or more dislodging elements is arranged such that, when the first dislodging element dislodges the consumable, the consumable is between the first dislodging element and the hinge.

Optionally, the aerosol generation device is elongate along a longitudinal direction, and the hinge is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Optionally, the cover comprises a mouthpiece and a flow channel through which the inhalable vapor can flow.

Optionally, the housing comprises an abutting surface against which the cover can abut, the surface comprising the opening, and the chamber is recessed within the housing relative to the abutting surface.

Optionally, the dislodging element is arranged to extend through the opening when the cover is in the closed position.

<FIG> schematically illustrate an aerosol generation device <NUM> according to the present invention. The aerosol generation device <NUM> comprises a chamber <NUM> adapted to receive a consumable <NUM>, and further comprises a housing <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. <FIG> also sequentially illustrate a method of inserting the consumable into the aerosol generation device in preparation for generating an inhalable vapor.

As shown in <FIG>, the chamber <NUM> is contained in the housing <NUM>, which has an opening through which the consumable <NUM> can be added to or removed from the chamber <NUM>. The housing may be an elongate housing adapted for a user to hold the aerosol generation device.

The chamber <NUM> is a heating chamber for containing the consumable while it is heated by a heater (not shown) that is also within the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the heater may additionally or instead be included in the cover <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is configured to close the opening of the housing <NUM> when it is in a closed position as shown in <FIG>, and is configured to move between the closed position and an open position where the opening of the housing is exposed as shown in <FIG>. In the open position, the cover <NUM> is out of the way so that a consumable <NUM> can be inserted in or removed from the chamber <NUM> through the opening of the housing <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> comprises one or more dislodging elements <NUM> adapted to dislodge the consumable <NUM> when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position. In this specification, "dislodge" means that the dislodging elements <NUM> weaken an attachment between the chamber <NUM> and the consumable <NUM>. Due to this weakening of the attachment, the consumable is partially ejected from the chamber. This means that, as the cover opens, the consumable may either be loosened while remaining in the chamber <NUM> or may pop out from the aerosol generation device <NUM> due to the force exerted by the dislodging elements <NUM>. However, the dislodging elements <NUM> are not configured to hold the consumable <NUM> in the open position, and the consumable <NUM> does not become attached to the cover <NUM>. The dislodging elements <NUM> may be configured to hold the consumable <NUM> at or near the closed position and release the consumable <NUM> as the cover <NUM> moves to the open position. Alternatively, the dislodging elements <NUM> may be configured not to hold the consumable <NUM> at all. In this case, the dislodging elements <NUM> are further configured to brush past the consumable <NUM> as the cover <NUM> moves from the closed position to the open position and thereby perform the dislodging.

As an example, a user may suspend the aerosol generation device over a waste collection apparatus (e.g. a bin) with the closed cover directed towards the waste collection apparatus such that, when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position (i.e. the cover opens), the consumable <NUM> is dislodged by the dislodging elements <NUM> and falls into the waste collection apparatus. Alternatively, the user may hold the aerosol generation device with the closed cover directed upwards such that, when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the consumable <NUM> is dislodged by the dislodging elements <NUM> and partially ejected from the chamber <NUM> but remains partially in the chamber <NUM> or rests on the housing <NUM> such that the user may easily remove the consumable <NUM>.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> is adapted to generate an inhalable vapor from the consumable <NUM>, and the aerosol generation device <NUM> and the consumable <NUM> can be regarded together as constituting an aerosol generation system or as a kit for aerosol generation. More specifically, when the consumable <NUM> is in the chamber <NUM> and is heated by the heater, a vapor is generated. The vapor passes to a mouthpiece <NUM> of the aerosol generation device <NUM> where it can be inhaled by a user of the aerosol generation device <NUM>. In this embodiment, the mouthpiece <NUM> forms part of the cover <NUM>, but in other embodiments the mouthpiece <NUM> may form part of the housing <NUM>, or may be replaced with an alternative means for releasing the inhalable vapor in uses of the invention where a mouthpiece is not required. The mouthpiece <NUM> may be made from a soft or flexible material in order to be comfortable for a user.

The cover <NUM> may additionally be adapted such that, in the closed position, the user may operate the aerosol generation device <NUM> to generate and inhale the inhalable vapor from the consumable <NUM>. On the other hand, the aerosol generation device <NUM> may be adapted to disable generation of the vapor when the cover <NUM> is in the open position.

In this embodiment, the cover <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM>, even when the cover <NUM> is in the open position. More specifically, the cover <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> by a hinge <NUM>. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the hinge <NUM> is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongate aerosol generation device (i.e. a direction through the mouthpiece <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is in a closed position and through a base of the housing <NUM>). In alternatives, the cover <NUM> may be detachable such that the open position includes any position where the opening of the housing <NUM> is exposed. Furthermore, the cover <NUM> may be permanently attached to the housing <NUM> without being constrained to one specific open position, for example if the cover <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> via a flexible member or a string. More generally the only required constraint on the movement of the cover <NUM> is that, when the cover <NUM> moves from the closed position, the dislodging elements <NUM> dislodge the consumable <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically show a consumable <NUM> and elements of an aerosol generation device in order to illustrate the principle of operation of the one or more dislodging elements <NUM>.

More specifically, <FIG> illustrates a cross-section of the aerosol generation system in which a cover <NUM> is in a closed position over a chamber <NUM> containing a consumable <NUM>. Two dislodging elements <NUM> are adapted to engage with a flange part <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>.

Although two dislodging elements <NUM> are shown in this example, the dislodging effect of the invention may be achieved with only one dislodging element <NUM> or with more than two dislodging elements <NUM>. However, using at least two dislodging elements has the advantage of improving control of how the consumable <NUM> moves when dislodged from the chamber <NUM>, while minimizing the number of dislodging elements to be no more than two has the advantage of simplifying manufacturing of the aerosol generation device <NUM>.

As shown successively in <FIG>, when the cover <NUM> moves from the closed position to the open position, in this case pivoting around hinge <NUM>, the dislodging elements <NUM> engage with the flange <NUM> and thereby exert a force on the consumable <NUM> to dislodge the consumable from the chamber <NUM>. However, this force on the consumable <NUM> also biases the dislodging elements toward disengaging with the flange <NUM> and, by the time the cover <NUM> arrives at the open position, the dislodging elements <NUM> are disengaged from the flange <NUM> and the consumable <NUM> does not become attached to the cover <NUM> in the open position. Thus, it will be understood that the dislodging elements <NUM> have a flicking effect which lightly grips the flange <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is in the closed position and, when the cover <NUM> moves from the closed position to the open position, the dislodging elements have a slight dislodging effect which ensures that the consumable is not stuck in place in the chamber <NUM>.

The dislodging elements <NUM> may be snap-fit connectors. The dislodging elements may each comprise an engagement member <NUM> configured to move substantially perpendicular to a direction of motion of the cover. The ability of the engagement members to undergo this substantially perpendicular motion allows the dislodging elements <NUM> to engage with the flange <NUM> and form a snap-fit connection. This ability also causes the dislodging elements <NUM> to disengage from the flange <NUM> as the cover <NUM> moves to the open position. Here "substantially perpendicular" means that that the engagement member moves sideways as shown in <FIG>. In particular, snap-fit connectors are often resilient members that work by bending before snapping into place as shown in <FIG>, and such bending motion includes a component of motion which is antiparallel to the direction of motion when forming the snap-fit connection. Accordingly, in such cases, the motion is not truly perpendicular but is nevertheless substantially perpendicular.

In other embodiments, the above described perpendicular motion for engaging and disengaging could instead be achieved by mechanical or electronic control systems which control the entire engagement member to move at appropriate positions for engaging and disengaging, rather than relying on natural bending of a resilient member. For example, a motion of the engagement member could be mechanically linked to the angle of the hinge <NUM> between the housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover <NUM> including dislodging elements <NUM> engaged with a flange <NUM> of a consumable. This represents an inside view of the cover in the closed position. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment where both the cover <NUM> and the consumable <NUM> have a circular cross-section. However, this need not be the case, and both of the aerosol generation device and the consumable may, for example, instead have a polygonal cross-section.

<FIG> illustrates that the dislodging elements <NUM> may be arranged around a protruding part <NUM> of an inner surface of the cover <NUM>, and illustrates a direction of motion <NUM> of the dislodging elements <NUM> in the plan view. This direction <NUM> is towards and away from a centre of the cover <NUM> (i.e. a radial motion in the case of a circular cross-section). An angle between a dislodging element <NUM> and the hinge <NUM>, relative to the centre of the cover <NUM>, is labelled as phi φ. It should be noted that phi φ for the dislodging elements <NUM> in <FIG> is <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees, whereas phi φ for both of the dislodging elements <NUM> in <FIG> is <NUM> degrees.

<FIG> schematically illustrate additional details of the aerosol generation device <NUM> of this embodiment. It should be noted that <FIG> is a cut-away view where the hinge is omitted.

In particular, as shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> comprises a resilient seal <NUM>. This seal is arranged such that, when the cover is in the closed position shown in <FIG>, the seal contacts the flange part <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. For example, the resilient seal <NUM> may be an elastomeric lip seal.

Additionally, as shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> comprises a flow channel <NUM> through which inhalable vapor can flow from the consumable <NUM> to the mouthpiece <NUM>. When the consumable <NUM> is designed to generate inhalable vapor at a top surface surrounded by the flange <NUM>, the resilient seal <NUM> ensures that the inhalable vapor flows through the flow channel <NUM> to the mouthpiece <NUM>, and does not escape through any gap between the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the seal <NUM> is mounted on the protruding part <NUM> of the inner surface of the cover <NUM>, the protruding part being surrounded by a flat part <NUM>. The protruding part also comprises the dislodging elements <NUM>. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the dislodging elements <NUM> form smooth extensions of an outer surface of the protruding part <NUM>, making the dislodging elements <NUM> more robust and less vulnerable to snapping off.

Correspondingly, as shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment an inner surface of the housing <NUM> comprises an abutting surface <NUM> against which the cover <NUM> can abut. The abutting surface <NUM> comprises the opening through which the consumable can be added to or removed from the chamber <NUM>, where the chamber <NUM> is recessed within the housing <NUM> relative to the abutting surface <NUM>. For example, the inner surface of the housing <NUM> may further comprise a consumable support surface <NUM> arranged adjacent to the chamber <NUM> to support the consumable <NUM> in the chamber, and a connecting wall <NUM> between the abutting surface <NUM> and the consumable support surface <NUM>.

When the cover <NUM> is in the closed position, the flat part <NUM> of the inner surface of the cover aligns with the abutting surface <NUM>, and the dislodging elements <NUM> (and optionally the protruding part of the inner surface of the cover <NUM>) extend through the opening.

The consumable support surface <NUM> may be adapted with an additional recess <NUM> as shown in <FIG> to enable an engagement means <NUM> of the dislodging element <NUM> to extend past and engage with the consumable <NUM> while it is supported by the consumable support surface <NUM>.

As further shown in <FIG>, the engagement members <NUM> of this embodiment take the form of protrusions arranged to catch the edges of the flange <NUM> of consumable <NUM>. In this figure, arrow <NUM> (previously shown in the plan view of <FIG>) illustrates the motion of the dislodging element <NUM> in a vertical cross-section view. More specifically, the dislodging element bends radially outward and bends upwards towards the cover <NUM> to allow the engagement member <NUM> to disengage from the flange <NUM> when the consumable <NUM> has been dislodged.

Referring again to <FIG>, it can also be seen that, in this embodiment, the dislodging elements <NUM> are each arranged to partially oppose the hinge <NUM>. In other words, when the dislodging elements dislodge the consumable, the consumable is between each dislodging element and the hinge. It should be understood that, here, "between" has a broad meaning that includes the case where the consumable <NUM> is between any part of the dislodging element <NUM> and any part of the hinge <NUM>, for example as shown previously in <FIG>. More specifically, each of the dislodging elements <NUM> and the hinge <NUM> are arranged around a centre of the cover <NUM>, where the angle phi φ around the centre of the cover <NUM> between the hinge <NUM> and each of the dislodging elements <NUM> is at least <NUM> degrees. For example, the angle phi φ for a dislodging element <NUM> may be <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> degrees. By arranging the dislodging elements <NUM> in this way to be on an opposing side of the consumable <NUM> from the hinge <NUM>, the force applied by each dislodging element <NUM> on the flange <NUM> and vice versa is reduced for a given torque applied to open the cover <NUM> around the hinge <NUM>. This means that the energy required to bend the engagement member <NUM> to release the consumable <NUM> is applied over a longer distance and weaker materials can be used for the dislodging elements <NUM> without breaking when dislodging the consumable <NUM>. Additionally, by arranging the dislodging elements at least <NUM> degrees from the hinge <NUM>, the dislodging elements are not arranged on one side of the consumable, and the consumable is pushed towards a wall of the chamber <NUM> and towards the consumable support surface <NUM> when the cover <NUM> rotates around the hinge <NUM>. This increases the friction between the consumable <NUM> and the wall of the chamber <NUM> or the consumable support surface <NUM> until the dislodging elements <NUM> experience enough resistance to bend and disengage from the flange <NUM>. It should be noted that this need not be the case for all of the dislodging elements <NUM> and an advantage is obtained if even one of the dislodging elements is located at an angle phi φ of at least <NUM> degrees. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the angle phi φ for the left dislodging element in each figure is greater than <NUM> degrees (specifically <NUM> degrees) and the angle phi φ for the right dislodging element in each figure is less than <NUM> degrees (specifically <NUM> degrees).

Referring to <FIG>, additional details of the hinged motion of the aerosol generation device of the present embodiment are illustrated. <FIG> illustrates the cover <NUM> in the closed position relative to the housing <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates the cover <NUM> moving around the hinge <NUM> between the closed position and the open position, and <FIG> illustrates the cover <NUM> in the open position relative to the housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the open position, the angle theta θ between the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM> may be greater than <NUM> degrees, which has the advantage that it is easy to access the consumable <NUM> in the chamber <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the hinge <NUM> is adapted to be bistable with the cover <NUM> in the closed position of <FIG> and the open position of <FIG>, while being unstable in an intermediate position such as shown in <FIG>. This means that the hinge <NUM> will snap to either the open position or the closed position, and is biased against remaining in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position.

The cover <NUM> and housing <NUM> may respectively comprise a Hall effect magnet <NUM> and a Hall effect sensor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The Hall effect sensor detects the presence of the Hall effect magnet and thus detects when the cover <NUM> is in the closed position.

Two embodiments of the bistable hinge <NUM> are illustrated using <FIG>. However, other bistable hinges may be used. Furthermore, in embodiments where a hinge <NUM> is included, it is not necessary for the hinge to be bistable, and the hinge may be free around the open position. It is however advantageous for the hinge to be stable at least in the closed position so that the aerosol generation device is less likely to accidentally open.

Firstly, in <FIG>, a bistable hinge <NUM> comprises a detent axle <NUM> together with a sprung plunger <NUM>. The spring of the sprung plunger <NUM> biases the plunger towards the detent axle <NUM>, and one of the detent axle <NUM> and the sprung plunger <NUM> is fixed as the cover <NUM> moves between the closed position and the open position, meaning that the plunger <NUM> moves around the detent axle <NUM>. Recesses in the detent axle <NUM> provide stable positions at which the plunger <NUM> can extend further towards the detent axle <NUM>, and moving between these stable positions requires compression of the spring of the sprung plunger <NUM>. Thus, by configuring the detent axle with a respective indent at each of the closed position and the open position, a bistable hinge is achieved wherein the cover <NUM> is stable at each of the open position and the closed position. A further advantage of the detent axle embodiment is that it may be entirely concealed within a hinge assembly. It should be noted that the sprung plunger <NUM> is not essential for embodiments which use a detent axle <NUM> and could be replaced with any biasing means for biasing towards the indents of the detent shaft. Furthermore, the embodiment could be inverted such that the detent shaft has indents on an internal surface which rotates around an axle comprising the biasing means.

This type of bistable hinge requires that the plunger <NUM> must pass a peak between the two indents in the detent axle <NUM> in order to switch between the two stable positions. Therefore, there is a minimum angle by which the cover <NUM> must be opened before it will stably settle on the open position when starting from the closed position. This minimum angle is set according to the shape of the detent axle but is half of the total range of motion in the case of a symmetrical detent axle.

Secondly, in <FIG>, a bistable hinge <NUM> comprises a torsion spring <NUM> and an axle pin <NUM>. In this case, the torsion spring is configured to bias the cover <NUM> towards the open position, and the stable open position is fixed by a limit of the range of motion of the cover <NUM> around the hinge <NUM> due to contact with the housing <NUM>. However, a torsion spring <NUM> configured with such a bias cannot also provide a stable closed position. Therefore, this embodiment also comprises one or more magnets in the cover <NUM> and/or the housing <NUM> arranged such that, when the cover <NUM> is in the closed position, the cover <NUM> is attracted to the housing <NUM> with a force that balances the bias provided by the torsion spring <NUM>, and is held in the closed position. The strength of the magnet(s) can be set such that, when the cover <NUM> moves even a small distance from the closed position, the force of the torsion spring <NUM> exceeds the force of the magnet(s), and the cover <NUM> will spring to the open position. Thus, the bistable hinge of this embodiment could instead be described as "semi bistable".

Comparing the above two bistable hinge embodiments with respect to the action of the one or more dislodging elements <NUM>, in the case of the detent axle of <FIG>, a user must provide the force to both overcome the sprung plunger <NUM> and to drive the dislodging action of the dislodging elements, because half of the total range of motion of the cover <NUM> would in most cases be further than the consumable <NUM> will move when dislodged. On the other hand, in the case of the spring hinge of <FIG>, the user need only overcome the force of the magnets holding the cover <NUM> in the closed position. After this force has been overcome, the torsion spring <NUM> provides the force to drive the dislodging action of the dislodging elements <NUM> and move the cover <NUM> to the open position. Therefore, by providing a spring hinge as in <FIG> with magnets chosen to be as weak as possible while being capable of holding the cover <NUM> in the closed position, an aerosol generation device can be provided where the cover <NUM> is easy to open and where the consumable <NUM> is easily removed after the cover <NUM> has been opened (or at the same time as the cover <NUM> is opened if, for example, the aerosol generation device is held with the cover <NUM> pointing downward in the closed position).

<FIG> schematically illustrate an indicator <NUM> of an embodiment. The indicator may, for example, indicate an amount of energy remaining in a power supply of the aerosol generation device, or may indicate the presence or absence of a consumable <NUM> in the aerosol generation device.

Furthermore, the indicator <NUM> may indicate a position for a user to operate the aerosol generation device. More specifically, if, as illustrated in <FIG>, the indicator <NUM> is located on an opposing side of the cover <NUM> from a hinge <NUM> between the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, then the indicator <NUM> may indicate a position at which the user can press the cover <NUM> against the housing <NUM> in order to start heating the consumable <NUM> in the chamber <NUM>. In this same position, the indicator <NUM> can indicate where the user should push in order to rotate the cover <NUM> around the hinge <NUM> in order to move the cover <NUM> from the closed position to the open position.

Thus the indicator <NUM> may simultaneously provide many functions of indicating a status of the aerosol generation device, indicating how to control aerosol generation by the device and indicating how to open the aerosol generation device.

Advantageously, the aerosol generation device <NUM> may be configured such that it can be held in one hand along its elongate housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> may be operated with a thumb where, if the thumb presses against the mouthpiece <NUM>, the cover <NUM> moves from the closed position to the open position and, if the thumb presses down on the indicator <NUM>, the aerosol generation device starts heating the consumable <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate further details of a mechanism for controlling an aerosol generation device. <FIG> shows a cross-section of the aerosol generation device, <FIG> shows magnified portion of the cross-section including the mechanism for controlling the aerosol generation device, and <FIG> illustrates the relative positioning of the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in this embodiment, while the chamber <NUM> surrounds a consumable <NUM> that has been inserted in the device, the chamber <NUM> does not fill an internal space of the housing <NUM> and there may be space within the housing <NUM>, for example below the consumable <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, in which other components such as control circuitry and an electrical power source are accommodated.

<FIG> also illustrates that there is some clearance between the consumable support surface <NUM> and the inner surface of the cover <NUM> which is provided by the consumable <NUM> and the seal <NUM>. Similarly, <FIG> illustrates that there is some clearance between the abutting surface <NUM> and the flat part <NUM> of the inner surface of the cover <NUM>.

Due to these clearances, it is possible for the cover <NUM> to pivot on the hinge <NUM> towards the housing <NUM>, when pressed as shown using arrow <NUM>, even when starting from the closed position. Thus, in such embodiments, it is useful to include a sensor <NUM> arranged to detect when the cover <NUM> is pressed against the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may for example be a tactile switch. In this embodiment, the sensor <NUM> is arranged on a PCB <NUM>, and a corresponding notch <NUM>' in the cover <NUM> and extension portion <NUM>" transfer a pressing force to the sensor <NUM>. This pressing is only detected when the cover <NUM> is actively pressed against the housing <NUM> by the user, because the seal <NUM> is arranged to bias the cover <NUM> away from the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the combination of the seal <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> provides a button control for the aerosol generation device. It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the seal <NUM> need not be resilient, and the biasing of the cover <NUM> away from the housing <NUM> could instead be provided, for example, by a torsion spring <NUM> in the hinge <NUM>.

Such a button control may be combined with control circuitry configured to control the aerosol generation device to start generation of the inhalable vapor when the sensor <NUM> detects that the cover <NUM> is pressed against the housing <NUM>. For example, control circuitry may be provided in the PCB <NUM> to control a heater for heating the consumable <NUM> in the chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic exploded view of an aerosol generation device showing additional optional features beyond those described above. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the hinge <NUM> comprises a torsion spring and axle pin as in <FIG>, but the features of <FIG> may be combined with other embodiments such as embodiments using a detent axle in the hinge.

<FIG> shows closure magnet pairs <NUM>, <NUM>' provided in the housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> for holding the cover <NUM> in the closed position. Two magnet pairs are shown in this embodiment, but any number of pairs may be used. It is advantageous to provide magnet pairs which are arranged symmetrically relative to the hinge <NUM> so that each magnet pair contributes equally to holding the cover <NUM> in the closed position.

<FIG> also shows LEDs <NUM> which provide the indicator <NUM> in this embodiment. The LEDs <NUM> are mounted on the PCB <NUM>, and light from the LEDs is guided through one or more body light guides <NUM>' in the housing <NUM> and one or more top light guides <NUM>" in the cover <NUM>, so that light from the LEDs is visible to a user as the indicator <NUM> shown in <FIG>, when the cover <NUM> is in the closed position. Referring back to <FIG>, it can be seen that, when the aerosol generation device is assembled, the light guides <NUM>' and <NUM>" are flush with the inner surfaces of the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> also shows a Hall effect sensor <NUM> mounted on PCB <NUM>, and a Hall effect magnet <NUM>' arranged in the cover <NUM>, which are similar to the Hall effect sensor and Hall effect magnet shown in <FIG>. The Hall effect sensor <NUM> may be used by control circuitry to detect when the cover <NUM> is in the closed position. The control circuitry may thereby detect when the indicator <NUM> can be generated using the LEDs and light guides <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" or when generation of the inhalable vapor can be started.

As further shown in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may be provided in two parts with a separate inner surface <NUM> comprising the abutting surface <NUM>, the consumable support surface <NUM> and the connecting wall <NUM>. This may connect into an outer housing <NUM> using, for example, a snap fit or press fit connection when the device is assembled during manufacturing. The separate inner surface <NUM> or the outer housing <NUM> may further comprise a hinge engaging part <NUM> adapted to connect with the hinge <NUM>.

Similarly, the cover <NUM> may be provided in two parts with a separate outer part <NUM> including the mouthpiece <NUM> and the flow channel <NUM>, and a separate inner surface <NUM> including the dislodging element(s) <NUM> and to which the seal <NUM> may be attached.

By providing separate parts for the housing and/or the cover, the individual parts of the housing/cover may be manufactured separately and then assembled around the inner components of the housing/cover (i.e. assembled around the chamber <NUM>, the PCB <NUM>, the light guides, magnets etc.).

Claim 1:
An aerosol generation device (<NUM>) comprising:
a chamber (<NUM>) adapted to receive a consumable (<NUM>);
a housing (<NUM>) containing the chamber (<NUM>) and comprising an opening through which the consumable (<NUM>) can be removed from the chamber (<NUM>); and
a cover (<NUM>) configured to move between an open position where the opening of the housing (<NUM>) is exposed and a closed position where the opening of the housing (<NUM>) is closed;
wherein the aerosol generation device (<NUM>) is adapted to generate an inhalable vapor from the consumable (<NUM>)
characterized in that the cover (<NUM>) comprises one or more dislodging elements (<NUM>) adapted to dislodge the consumable (<NUM>) such that, when the cover (<NUM>) moves from the closed position to the open position:
an attachment is weakened between the chamber (<NUM>) and the consumable (<NUM>), and
the consumable (<NUM>) is partially ejected from the chamber (<NUM>) without becoming attached to the cover (<NUM>).