Patent Description:
In recent years, with the increasing attention to health, people are aware of the harm of traditional cigarettes to health. The adverse effects of traditional cigarettes on health and environment have been concerned by countries all over the world. Tobacco producers have committed to provide consumers with less harmful tobacco products. Therefore, low-temperature heating and none-burning tobacco products, as a new form of tobacco consumption, have gradually gained popularity in the market and have been increasingly accepted by cigarette consumers over the world.

In the prior art, low-temperature heating and none burning tobacco products are usually provided with a heating cavity for accommodating a special cigarette, which the heater pierces for heating the tobacco so as to generate an aerosol. After smoking, the user can directly take out the cigarette and replace it with a new one. However, since the tobacco residue tends to adhere to the surface of the heater after heating, it is difficult to clean the heater. Also because of the adhesion force of the heater to the tobacco, the integrity of the cigarette is likely to be destroyed when directly taken out, resulting in the tobacco being scattered in the heating cavity and the removal difficulty.

PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S. disclosed an aerosol-generating device configured to receive a smoking article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The device comprises a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. An extractor is configured to extract the smoking article received in the aerosol-generating device, and includes a sliding receptacle configured to receive the smoking article, and a sleeve configured to receive the sliding receptacle. The sliding receptacle is slidable in the sleeve between a first position, in which the substrate of the smoking article is positioned so as to be heated by the heater, and a second position, in which the substrate is substantially separated from the heater. In this technical solution, by the sliding receptacle sliding from the first position to the second position, the tobacco residue adhering to the surface of the heater can be scraped off, and the integrity of the cigarette is maintained. The cigarette is taken out when the receptacle is at the second position, and it is possible to prevent the tobacco left in the sliding receptacle. However, this aerosol-generating device does not have a mouthpiece, and one end of the cigarette is directly exposed to the outside. Moreover, the cigarette is fixed directly in the sliding receptacle by a clamping device on the sliding receptacle in the first position. If a user does not slide the sliding receptacle from the first position to the second position after smoking, and directly pulls it out at the first position, part of the tobacco will be left in the device since the cigarette is still clamped in the sliding receptacle by the clamping device, and making the removal difficult.

In addition, China Tobacco Industry (Hubei) Co. also disclosed an electric heating device similar to the above where the cigarette can be taken out easily. No mouthpiece is provided, and one end of the cigarette is directly exposed to the outside. The electric heating device is not provided with a clamping device for fixing the cigarette. During smoking, the cigarette may fall off, and the tobacco residue generated in the heating process is also likely to fall off, and may hurt the user. Defect of no mouthpiece setting also include the cigarette being pulled out by mistake.

<CIT> discloses an aerosol-generating device, comprising an extractor, comprising a storage portion and a mouthpiece which are detachably connected to each other, the storage portion and the mouthpiece jointly defining a cavity for accommodating an aerosol-generating substrate, and a main body, which is detachably connected to the extractor and further comprises a heater configured to extend into the cavity and for heating the aerosol-generating substrate, wherein, the storage portion is disposed between the main body and the mouthpiece. In case, the storage portion and the mouthpiece are separated, the risk occurs that the user may directly und unintentionally pulls out the aerosol-generating substrate with the result that parts of the aerosol-generating substrate may remain in the cavity.

Therefore, to provide an aerosol-generating device that fixes the aerosol-generating substrate during smoking and prevents the user from pulling out the aerosol-generating substrate directly during removal is a problem to be solved in the art.

The technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol-generating device which fixes an aerosol-generating substrate during smoking and prevents the user from pulling out the aerosol-generating substrate directly during removal of the aerosol-generating substrate.

An aerosol-generation device according to the present invention is defined in independent claim <NUM>. The aerosol generation device comprises:.

Further, the storage portion and the mouthpiece are connected by engaging or screw threading.

Further, the storage portion is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body.

Further, the inner side of the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body is provided with a gap, and the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body can be deformed inward when subjected to a radially inward force.

Further, the radially inward force is a radially inward force applied by the main body to the mouthpiece during the separation of the extractor from the main body.

Further, the storage portion is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body; the mouthpiece is engaged with the main body, and the end of the mouthpiece is inserted into the main body.

The mouthpiece has two or more cantilevers, by which the mouthpiece is engaged with the storage portion and the main body.

Further, the cantilever is provided with a convex, the main body is provided with a concave, and the cantilever and the main body are engaged through the convex on the cantilever and the concave on the main body,
alternatively, the cantilever is provided with a concave, the main body is provided with a convex, and the cantilever and the main body are engaged through the concave on the cantilever and the convex on the main body.

Further, the main body is provided with a guiding slot, along which the cantilever slides to a predetermined engaging position; and the aerosol-generating device is further provided with a heating indicator, the end of the mouthpiece away from the main body is eccentrically provided with a suction hole communicating with the cavity, and when the extractor slides to the predetermined engaging position, the suction hole is biased to the side where the heating indicator is.

Further, the storage portion is provided with a guiding portion on its outer surface, and the cantilever is provided with a guiding groove on its inner surface, wherein the mouthpiece and the storage portion can be engaged at a predetermined engaging position by fitting of the guiding portion with the guiding groove.

Further, the end of the cantilever connected to the main body has an uneven outer surface.

Further, the end of the storage portion away from the main body is provided with an eyelet, through which the heater can be at least partially inserted into the cavity.

In summary, the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating device. The cavity defined together by the storage portion and the mouthpiece for accommodating the aerosol-generating substrate can effectively fix the aerosol-generating substrate, hereby preventing the aerosol-generating substrate or a tobacco residue from falling during a smoking process. In addition, when a user directly pulls an extractor out of a main body, that is, the storage portion and the mouthpiece are subjected to an axially force, the mouthpiece can radially expand outward such that the mouthpiece is separated from the storage portion. Before the extractor is detached from the main body, the main body would restrict the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body from radially expanding outward. In this way, before the extractor is detached from the main body, the storage portion and the mouthpiece cannot be separated because the mouthpiece cannot radially expand outward, thereby preventing the user from directly and unintentionally pulling out the aerosol-generating substrate so as to ensure the cleanness of the cavity.

The present disclosure is further described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings, Although the description of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the various embodiments, it is not intended that the features of the disclosure are limited to the embodiments. On the contrary, the purpose of the disclosure in conjunction with these embodiments is to cover other alternatives or modifications that may be extended according to the scope of the claims. In order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure, the following description will include many specific details which may not be used in the present disclosure. In addition, some specific details will be omitted in the description in order to avoid confusion of the major features of the present disclosure.

In addition, "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "top", and "bottom" used in the following description are set to better describe the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. It should not be construed as a limitation of the disclosure.

The aerosol-generating device provided by the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, comprises an extractor <NUM> and a main body <NUM>. The extractor <NUM> comprises a storage portion <NUM> and a mouthpiece <NUM> that are detachably connected to each other, the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> jointly defining a cavity for accommodating an aerosol-generating substrate; the main body <NUM> which is detachably connected to the extractor <NUM> and further comprises a heater <NUM> configured to pierce into the cavity and for heating the aerosol-generating substrate; wherein, the storage portion 220is disposed between the main body <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM>; when the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> are respectively subjected to forces in directions that are opposite in the axial direction, the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> expands radially outward, so that the mouthpiece <NUM> is detached from the storage portion <NUM>; and prior to the extractor <NUM> being detached from the main body <NUM>, the main body <NUM> restricts the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> from expanding radially outward. In this way, before the extractor <NUM> is detached from the main body <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> cannot be separated because the mouthpiece <NUM> cannot radially expand outward, thereby preventing the user from directly and unintentionally pulling out the aerosol-generating substrate <NUM> so as to ensure the cleanness of the cavity.

Further, the main body <NUM> further includes a circuit control portion and a power supply device. The circuit control portion includes a button <NUM>, a circuit control board <NUM>, and a circuit board bracket <NUM> for fixing the circuit control board <NUM>. Press the button <NUM> to control the start and stop of the heater <NUM> through the circuit control board <NUM>, and the button <NUM> is provided with an indicator <NUM> for displaying the working state of the main body <NUM>. The power supply device may be an external power supply or a single-use battery, as long as it can be used to supply power to the circuit control portion and the heater. Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the power supply device is composed of a charging board <NUM> and a battery <NUM>. The charging board <NUM> can charge the battery <NUM> to ensure that the power supply device can be used repeatedly.

Further, the main body <NUM> further includes a support <NUM>, a case <NUM> and a bottom cover <NUM>. The case <NUM> and the support <NUM> may be two independent structures as shown in <FIG>, or may be an integrally formed structure, as long as the case <NUM> and the support <NUM> can realize the aforementioned function that the main body <NUM> restricts the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> from expanding radially outward.

Further, the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> can be connected via a detachable connection common in the art, from the aspects of convenient operation and simplified structure, preferably, in one embodiment, the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> are connected by the snap-fit shown in <FIG>, in another embodiment, the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> can also be connected by screw threading (not shown).

Further, the storage portion <NUM> is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM>, hereby, when the user pulls out the mouthpiece <NUM> from the main body <NUM>, in other words, when the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> are respectively subjected to forces in directions that are opposite in the axial direction, the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> must expand radially outward, so that the mouthpiece <NUM> is detached from the storage portion <NUM>.

Further, prior to the extractor <NUM> being detached from the main body <NUM>, the main body <NUM> restricts the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> from expanding radially outward. As shown in <FIG>, the storage portion <NUM> is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body; when the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> are connected by engaging or screw threading, a portion of the mouthpiece <NUM> connected to the storage portion <NUM> needs to be deformed outward, that is, the portion has a certain amount of radial outward expansion to allow the storage portion <NUM> to be directly pulled out from the mouthpiece <NUM>. In the present disclosure, prior to the extractor <NUM> being detached from the main body <NUM>, as the storage portion <NUM> is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body, the main body <NUM> restricts the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> from expanding radially outward, it is effective to avoid directly pulling the storage portion <NUM> out of the mouthpiece <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the inner side of the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> is provided with a gap, and the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> can be deformed inward when subjected to a radially inward force. the radially inward force may be a force applied by the main body <NUM> to the mouthpiece <NUM> during the separation of the extractor <NUM> from the main body <NUM>, or may be a force applied by the user pressing the locking region, which separates the extractor <NUM> from the main body <NUM>. By the gap provided inside the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM>, the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM> can be deformed inward to further lock the mouthpiece <NUM> and the extractor <NUM> when subjected to a radially inward force, The mouthpiece <NUM> and the storage portion <NUM> are prevented from being separated due to the axial pulling force when the extractor <NUM> is pulled out.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the storage portion <NUM> is sleeved by the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> adjacent to the main body <NUM>; the mouthpiece <NUM> is engaged with the main body <NUM>, and the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> is inserted into the main body <NUM>, in such a configuration, before the extractor <NUM> is separated from the main body <NUM>, since the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> is located inside the main body <NUM>, the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> inserted into the main body <NUM> can be effectively prevented from being deformed outward, thereby avoiding directly pulling the storage portion <NUM> out of the mouthpiece <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the mouthpiece <NUM> has two or more cantilevers <NUM>, by which the mouthpiece <NUM> is engaged with the storage portion <NUM> and the main body <NUM>, respectively. The engagement between the main body <NUM> and the cantilever <NUM> may be that the cantilever <NUM> is provided with a convex, the main body <NUM> is provided with a concave, and the cantilever <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are engaged through the convex on the cantilever <NUM> and the concave on the main body <NUM>, alternatively, the cantilever <NUM> is provided with a concave, the main body <NUM> is provided with a convex, and the cantilever <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are engaged through the concave on the cantilever <NUM> and the convex on the main body <NUM>.

Further, the end of the cantilever <NUM> connected to the main body <NUM> has an uneven outer surface. This can help the user quickly to determine the portion at which the mouthpiece <NUM> is engaged with the main body <NUM>, and the extractor <NUM> can be quickly pulled out from the main body <NUM> by pressing the portion.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the aerosol-generating device is further provided with a heating indicator <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is provided with a guiding slot <NUM>, along which the cantilever <NUM> slides to a predetermined engaging position; in order to fit the mouth shape and improve the user's feeling, the end of the mouthpiece <NUM> away from the main body <NUM> is eccentrically provided with a suction hole <NUM> communicating with the cavity, and when the extractor <NUM> slides to the predetermined engaging position, the suction hole <NUM> is biased to the side where the heating indicator <NUM> is, in this way, the user can monitor whether the aerosol-generating device is in working state in real time.

Further, the end of the storage portion <NUM> away from the main body <NUM> is provided with an eyelet, through which the heater <NUM> can be at least partially inserted into the cavity. When the shape of the portion of the heater <NUM> inserted into the cavity is non-circular, if the relative position of the storage portion <NUM> and the main body <NUM> is not fixed, in order to insert the heater <NUM> into the cavity, it is preferable to set the narrowest portion of the eyelet larger than the widest portion of the heater <NUM> inserted into the cavity; and when the extractor is pulled out from the main body <NUM>, preferably, the shape of the eyelet matches the shape of the heater <NUM>, so that the tobacco residue on the surface of the heater <NUM> is scraped off by the storage portion <NUM>. In the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the storage portion <NUM> is provided with a guiding portion <NUM> on its outer surface, and the cantilever <NUM> is provided with a guiding groove <NUM> on its inner surface, wherein the mouthpiece <NUM> and the storage portion <NUM> can be engaged at a predetermined engaging position by fitting of the guiding portion <NUM> with the guiding groove <NUM>. By providing the corresponding guiding portion <NUM> and the guiding groove <NUM>, in addition to making it easier for the user to connect the storage portion <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM>, the mouthpiece <NUM> and the storage portion <NUM> can always be connected at a fixed engaging position, and the extractor <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are also connected at a fixed engaging position, so that the relative position of the storage portion <NUM> and the main body <NUM> are always fixed, hereby, the shape and position of the eyelet in the bottom of the storage portion <NUM> can be set according to the shape and position of heater <NUM>. The eyelet can be slightly larger than the heater <NUM>. When the extractor <NUM> is pulled out from the main body <NUM>, the tobacco residue on the surface of the heater <NUM> is scraped off by the storage portion <NUM>, so as to prevent tobacco residues from falling inside the main body <NUM> and ensure the cleanness of the main body <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
an extractor (<NUM>), comprising a storage portion (<NUM>) and a mouthpiece (<NUM>) having one end adjacent to a main body (<NUM>) and one end pointing away from the main body (<NUM>),
the storage portion (<NUM>) and the mouthpiece (<NUM>) are detachably connected to each other, the storage portion (<NUM>) and the mouthpiece (<NUM>) jointly defining a cavity for accommodating an aerosol-generating substrate (<NUM>); wherein the main body (<NUM>) has a case (<NUM>), the main body (<NUM>) is detachably connected to the extractor (<NUM>) and further comprises a heater (<NUM>) configured to be inserted into the cavity and for heating the aerosol-generating substrate (<NUM>); wherein,
the storage portion (<NUM>) is disposed between the main body (<NUM>) and the mouthpiece (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the mouthpiece (<NUM>) has at least two cantilevers (<NUM>) extending axial in the direction towards the main body (<NUM>),
wherein when the storage portion (<NUM>) and the mouthpiece (<NUM>) are respectively subjected to forces in directions that are opposite in the axial direction, the end of the mouthpiece adjacent to the main body expands radially outward, so that the mouthpiece (<NUM>) is detached from the storage portion (<NUM>); and
prior to the extractor (<NUM>) being detached from the main body (<NUM>), the main body (<NUM>) restricts the end of the mouthpiece (<NUM>) adjacent to the main body (<NUM>) from expanding radially outward.