Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of general cigarettes has increased.

For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device that generates the aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material such as cigarettes or cartridges, rather than by combusting cigarettes.

Accordingly, studies on a heating-type cigarette and a heating-type cartridge have been actively conducted. <CIT> relates to an extractor for an aerosol-generating device. The device is configured to receive a smoking article including an aerosol-forming substrate and comprises a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. The extractor is for extracting a smoking article received in the aerosol-generating device. The extractor comprises a sliding receptacle for receiving the smoking article, and a sleeve for receiving the sliding receptacle. The sliding receptacle is slidable in the sleeve between a first position in which the aerosol-forming substrate of the smoking article is positioned so as to be heated by the heater, and a second position in which the aerosol-forming substrate is substantially separated from the heater. The sliding receptacle includes a support to support the aerosol-forming substrate of the smoking article as the sliding receptacle and the smoking article are being moved from the first position to the second position. <CIT> relates to an elongated aerosol-generating device that is capable of receiving an aerosol-generating article and comprises a heater for heating the aerosol-generating article and an extractor for extracting an aerosol-forming article received in the aerosol-generating device. The heater extends longitudinally with respect to the elongated aerosol-generating device and is configured for penetrating an internal portion of the aerosol-generating article. The extractor is movably coupled to the aerosol-generating device between a first position and a second position, the first position being an operating position defined by the heater being in contact with the aerosol-generating article, and the second position being an extraction position defined by the heater being separated from aerosol-generating article. <CIT> relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising a housing having a chamber. An induction coil is disposed around at least a portion of the chamber. The device comprises a heating compartment for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The heating compartment is detachably insertable into the chamber of the housing. The heating compartment comprises a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article. The device further comprises a heating element which is arrangeable within the cavity of the heating compartment. The heating element extends into the cavity in a longitudinal direction of the cavity. The heating element is configured to penetrate an aerosol-forming substrate comprised in the aerosol-generating article and received in the cavity.

Aerosol generating devices may include an ejector for easily ejecting an aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device. An aerosol generating article may be inserted into the ejector, and the ejector may be detachably coupled to an accommodating portion for accommodating the aerosol generating article.

However, conventional ejector may wrap the outer surface of the aerosol generating article, so that the efficiency of heat transfer to the aerosol generating article may be reduced. Residues generated after the use of the aerosol generating article may be deposited in the ejector. When the efficiency of heat transfer is reduced and the deposition of residues is repeated, the flavor of the aerosol inhaled by a user may be reduced. In addition, residues in the aerosol generating device may adversely affect the user in terms of hygiene and health.

Embodiments provide an aerosol generating device including an ejector having at least one hole portion.

Embodiments provide an aerosol generating device including an ejector having a through hole which includes an expanding portion.

The technical problems to be solved by the present embodiments are not limited to the technical problems as described above, and other technical problems may be derived from the following embodiments.

In order to solve said problems, the present invention provides an aerosol generating device as defined in the present claim <NUM>.

An aerosol generating device according to the present invention includes an ejector having at least one hole portion. Through the at least one hole portion of the ejector, the inside and outside of the ejector may communicate with each other. Heat generated outside the ejector may be efficiently transferred into the ejector through the at least one hole portion. Efficient heat transfer into the ejector may enhance the flavor of the generated aerosol, increase the amount of atomization, and eliminate heating imbalance of the aerosol generating article.

Generally, in the ejector of the aerosol generating device, foreign substances such as residues of the cut tobacco of the aerosol generating article and dust may be accumulated. Deposition of the residues may reduce the thermal efficiency of the aerosol generating device and reduce the flavor of the generated aerosol.

In the aerosol generating device according to the present embodiments, it may be easy to access to the inside of the ejector through the at least one hole portion. Through the access to the inside of the ejector, the user can easily remove the residues deposited in the ejector.

The ejector according to the present invention includes a through hole having an expanding portion which has a diameter increasing along a longitudinal direction of the ejector. Air passing through the through hole along an inclined wall may expand inside the ejector as it flow along the inclined wall. Accordingly, pressure loss in the ejector and the aerosol generating article may be prevented, and an airflow path is expanded to increase the inflow of air.

The airflow introduced into the ejector and the aerosol generating article while expanding may be effectively mixed with the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol generating article, and therefore, the aerosol flavor delivered to the user may be improved and the amount of atomization may be increased.

An aerosol generating device according to the present invention includes an accommodating portion in which an aerosol generating article including a cut tobacco portion is accommodated, a heater for heating the aerosol generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion, and an ejector that is detachably coupled to the accommodating portion and includes a cavity into which the aerosol generating article is inserted and at least one hole portion through which the cavity and the accommodating portion communicate with each other and the cut tobacco portion is exposed.

The at least one hole portion may include a plurality of hole portions formed on an outer circumference of the ejector, and a distance between adjacent two hole portions among the plurality of hole portions may be constant.

The at least one hole portion may have a round portion curved along a circumference of the at least one hole portion such that the aerosol generating article is prevented from escaping from the ejector through the at least one hole portion when the aerosol generating article is pushed into the cavity.

A guide portion may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ejector, and a groove portion that is engaged with the guide portion may be formed on the accommodating portion.

The guide portion may be engaged with the groove portion by sliding into the groove portion, and the ejector may be held in the accommodating portion by the engagement of the guide portion and the groove portion.

The guide portion may be a dot guide portion having a spherical shape.

A through hole is formed on a bottom surface of the ejector such that the bottom surface of the ejector faces one end portion of the aerosol generating article when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the cavity.

The through hole includes an expanding portion having a diameter that increases along a direction from one side of the bottom surface toward the other side of the bottom surface.

A portion of the through hole other than the expanding portion has a diameter of a constant size.

A maximum diameter of the through hole may be <NUM> times to <NUM> times a diameter of the aerosol generating article.

An aerosol generating system according to another embodiment may include an aerosol generating device according to the present invention and an aerosol generating article that is accommodated in the aerosol generating device and has a cut tobacco portion.

With respect to the terms in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like.

Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction" of a component may be one direction in which the component extends, and the component extends longer in the one direction than in the other direction across the one direction.

Meanwhile, terms used in the present specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment and an aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes an accommodating portion <NUM> in which the aerosol generating article <NUM> including a cut tobacco portion <NUM> is accommodated, a heater <NUM> for heating the aerosol generating article <NUM> accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, and an ejector that is detachably coupled to the accommodating portion <NUM> and includes a cavity <NUM> into which the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted and at least one hole portion <NUM> through which the cavity <NUM> and the accommodating portion <NUM> communicate with each other and the cut tobacco portion is exposed.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes an accommodating portion <NUM> for accommodating the aerosol generating article <NUM> and a heater <NUM> for heating the aerosol generating article <NUM> accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>.

The accommodating portion <NUM> may have a shape and size corresponding to the aerosol generating article <NUM> to accommodate the aerosol generating article <NUM>. For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, the accommodating portion <NUM> may also have a cylindrical shaped cavity <NUM> to accommodate the aerosol generating article <NUM>. However, the shapes of the aerosol generating article <NUM> and the accommodating portion <NUM> are not limited thereto, and may be changed as necessary.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes a heater <NUM> for heating the aerosol generating article <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be arranged near the accommodating portion <NUM> such that teat from the heater <NUM> may be transferred to the accommodating portion <NUM> to heat the aerosol generating article <NUM>. The aerosol generating article <NUM> may receive heat from the heater <NUM>, and then an aerosol may be generated. The generated aerosol may be inhaled by a user.

The heater <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be, for example, an electric resistive heater <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater <NUM> may be heated as current flows through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater <NUM> is not limited to the above described example, and may be applied without limitation as long as the heater can be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or set to a temperature wanted by the user.

As another example, the heater <NUM> may be a heater of an induction heating type. Specifically, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive coil for heating the aerosol generating article <NUM> by an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a susceptor capable of being heated by the heater <NUM> of the induction heating type.

The shape and size of the heater <NUM> is not limited to that shown in the drawings. The heater <NUM> may include at least one of a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, and a rod-type heating element and may heat an inside or an outside of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to a shape of a heating element.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment includes the ejector <NUM> that is detachably coupled to the accommodating portion <NUM> and eject the aerosol generating article <NUM> from the accommodating portion <NUM>. A cavity <NUM> into which the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted is formed in the ejector <NUM>.

The cavity <NUM> formed in the ejector <NUM> may have a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the aerosol generating article <NUM> inserted into the ejector <NUM>. For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, the cavity <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape corresponding to the aerosol generating article <NUM> to accommodate the aerosol generating article <NUM> of the cylindrical shape.

The cavity <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> has a shape and size such that the aerosol generating article <NUM> accommodated in the ejector <NUM> may be removed from the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may contact the ejector <NUM>. The shapes and sizes of the ejector <NUM> and cavity <NUM> are not limited to shapes and sizes shown in the drawings.

The ejector <NUM> is detachably coupled to the aerosol generating device <NUM>. As an example, the ejector <NUM> may be detached from the aerosol generating device <NUM>, thereby ejecting the aerosol generating article <NUM>. As another example, the ejector <NUM> may eject the aerosol generating article <NUM> by moving a certain distance while being accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

One end portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> that is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may be formed as a cut tobacco portion <NUM>.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a cut tobacco portion <NUM> including cut tobacco filler at one end portion. The cut tobacco filler may be tobacco containing nicotine. The cut tobacco portion <NUM> may be manufactured in various shapes. The cut tobacco portion <NUM> may be manufactured as, for example, a sheet or a strand. The cut tobacco portion <NUM> may be manufactured in the shape of shreds obtained by finely cutting a tobacco sheet.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a substrate portion (not shown) including an aerosol generating material. The substrate portion may be arranged adjacent to the cut tobacco portion <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto.

On the outer circumferential surface of the ejector <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment, at least one hole portion <NUM> through which the cavity <NUM> and the accommodating portion <NUM> communicate with each other is formed. The at least one hole portion <NUM> may be formed to extend along at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the ejector <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> and the accommodating portion <NUM> communicate with each other through the at least one hole portion <NUM>. Air, heat, etc. in the accommodating portion <NUM> may be introduced into the cavity <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> through the at least one hole portion <NUM>.

Components of the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment are not limited to the components illustrated in the drawings, and may further include components of the general aerosol generating device <NUM>.

For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may further include a battery (not shown) that supplies electric power to the heater <NUM>. The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to an embodiment may receive electric power from the battery to heat the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The battery supplies electric power used for operation of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the battery may supply electric power so that the heater <NUM> can be heated. In addition, the battery may supply electric power required for operating a display, a sensor, a motor, and the like, which may be installed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view of an ejector <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a front view showing a state in which the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the ejector <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The hole portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> may be formed on a plurality of areas of the ejector <NUM>. The plurality of hole portions <NUM> may be evenly spaced apart from each other. In other words, a distance between adjacent two hole portions among the plurality of hole portions may be constant. As an example, two hole portions <NUM> may be formed to face each other and may have the same shape.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM>, a certain portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be exposed to the accommodating portion <NUM> through the hole portion <NUM> at a position corresponding to the hole portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. At this time, the certain portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> exposed through the hole portion <NUM> may be limited to the cut tobacco portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. That is, only the cut tobacco portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be exposed to the accommodating portion <NUM> through the hole portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>.

The length of the cut tobacco portion <NUM> formed at one end portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be longer than the length of the hole portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>, the cut tobacco portion <NUM> may contact the hole portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing another aspect of the ejector <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In another aspect of the ejector <NUM>, the hole portion <NUM> may have a round portion <NUM> having a curved shape. The round portion <NUM> may prevent the aerosol generating article <NUM> from escaping from the ejector <NUM> through the hole portion <NUM> when a user inserts the aerosol generating article <NUM> into the cavity <NUM>.

The round portion <NUM> may be curved along a portion of the circumference of the hole portion <NUM> in a direction closer to a center of the hole portion <NUM>. The round portion <NUM> may be formed in each of the at least one hole portion <NUM>. For example, one or more round portions <NUM> may be formed in a plurality of hole portions <NUM>, respectively. The number of round portions <NUM> may correspond to the number of hole portions <NUM>. The shape of the round portion <NUM> is not limited by the drawings and may be changed as necessary.

The round portion <NUM> curved along the circumference may reduce the width of the hole portion <NUM>, and the reduced width of the hole portion <NUM> may be smaller than the width (e.g., diameter) of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the aerosol generating article <NUM> from escaping through the hole portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing another aspect of the ejector <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ejector shown in <FIG> is inserted into the aerosol generating device.

In another aspect of the ejector <NUM>, at least one guide portion <NUM> may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ejector <NUM>, and at least one groove portion <NUM> that is engaged with the guide portion <NUM> may be formed on the accommodating portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the guide portion <NUM> for holding the ejector <NUM> in the accommodating portion <NUM> may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the ejector <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the groove portion <NUM> that is engaged with the guide portion <NUM> may be formed on the accommodating portion <NUM>. When the ejector <NUM> is mounted in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the guide portion <NUM> and the groove portion <NUM> may be engaged with each other. The ejector <NUM> may be held in the accommodating portion <NUM> by the engagement of the guide portion <NUM> and the groove portion <NUM>.

When a user pushes the ejector <NUM> into the accommodating portion <NUM>, the guide portion <NUM> may slide toward the groove portion <NUM> and engage with the groove portion <NUM>.

A rail portion (not shown) in contact with the guide portion <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the accommodating portion <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of the accommodating portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be engaged with the groove portion <NUM> after moving along the rail portion. That is, the guide portion <NUM> may guide the ejector <NUM> so that the ejector <NUM> can move stably in a certain direction in the accommodating portion <NUM>.

The guide portion <NUM> may be a dot guide portion <NUM> having a spherical shape. The guide portion <NUM> may have a shape of at least a portion of the sphere. A plurality of the guide portions <NUM> may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by a certain distance. However, the shape, number, and position of the guide portion <NUM> are not limited thereto, and may be changed as necessary.

As shown in <FIG>, a through hole <NUM> is formed on a bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> is a surface facing the cut tobacco portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the cavity <NUM>. When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted, the bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> may contact an end portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

When the user puffs on the aerosol generating article <NUM>, air may flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM> through the through hole <NUM> formed on the bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. The air flowed into the aerosol generating article <NUM> may then be mixed with the aerosol to be provided to the user.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the ejector <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The through hole <NUM> includes an expanding portion <NUM> that expands from one side of the bottom surface <NUM> toward the other side of the bottom surface150. That is, a diameter of the through hole <NUM> may increase along a direction from the one side of the bottom surface <NUM> toward the other side of the bottom surface <NUM> (i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the ejector <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, the one side of the bottom surface <NUM> may be a side facing the outside of the ejector <NUM> based on the bottom surface <NUM>, and the other side of the bottom surface <NUM> may be a side facing the inside of the ejector <NUM> based on the bottom surface <NUM>.

As an example, the remaining portion of the through hole <NUM> other than the expanding portion 156may have a diameter of a constant size. The expanding portion <NUM> may be a portion closer to the inner side of the bottom surface <NUM>.

As another example, the expanding portion <NUM> may be formed throughout the through hole <NUM>. That is, the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the through hole <NUM> may increase all the way from one side of the bottom surface <NUM> toward the other side of the bottom surface <NUM>. The size, shape, and the like of the through hole <NUM> are not limited by what is shown in the drawings, and may be changed as necessary.

As the through hole <NUM> has the expanding portion <NUM> that expands along a direction from one side of the bottom surface toward the other side of the bottom surface, the through hole <NUM> may have a maximum diameter at a certain point. The maximum diameter of the through hole <NUM> may be <NUM> times to <NUM> times the diameter of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an airflow into a conventional ejector <NUM>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an airflow into the ejector <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> showing the conventional ejector <NUM> and the airflow into the conventional ejector <NUM>, a through hole <NUM> may be formed on a bottom surface <NUM> of the conventional ejector <NUM>. At this time, a diameter of the through hole <NUM> formed on the bottom surface <NUM> of the conventional ejector <NUM> may have a constant size. That is, in the conventional ejector <NUM>, the through hole <NUM> may be formed to have a cylindrical shape of the same diameter.

Airflow which has passed through the through hole <NUM> having the same diameter may not uniformly flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Accordingly, it is difficult for the airflow to be effectively mixed with an aerosol generated by heating the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and thus the flavor of the aerosol delivered to the user may be reduced and the amount of atomization may be reduced.

<FIG> shows the ejector <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the airflow into the ejector <NUM> according to an embodiments. As shown in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> is formed on the bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and the through hole <NUM> has the expanding portion <NUM> that expands along a direction from one side of the bottom surface <NUM> of the ejector <NUM> toward the other side of the bottom surface <NUM>.

The airflow that passed through the through hole <NUM> having the expanding portion <NUM> may expand inside the ejector <NUM> along the inclined wall of the through hole <NUM> which corresponds to the expanding portion <NUM>. Accordingly, pressure loss in the ejector <NUM> and in the aerosol generating article <NUM> is prevented, and an airflow path is expanded to increase the inflow of air.

The airflow introduced into the ejector <NUM> and the aerosol generating article <NUM> while expanding may be effectively mixed with an aerosol generated by heating the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and therefore, the flavor of the aerosol delivered to the user may be improved and the amount of atomization may be increased.

An aerosol generating system according to an embodiment may include an aerosol generating device <NUM> and an aerosol generating article <NUM> that is accommodated in the aerosol generating device <NUM> and has a cut tobacco portion <NUM>. At this time, the configurations and effects of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the aerosol generating article <NUM> are the same as described above, and therefore, a detailed description in the overlapping range will be omitted.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the present embodiments include an ejector <NUM> having at least one hole portion <NUM> formed on an outer circumferential surface. The inside (i.e., the cavity <NUM>) and the outside (i.e., the accommodating portion <NUM>) of the ejector <NUM> communicate with each other through the at least one hole portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. Heat generated outside the ejector <NUM> may be efficiently transferred into the ejector <NUM> through the at least one hole portion <NUM>. Efficient heat transfer into the ejector <NUM> may enhance the flavor of the generated aerosol, increase the amount of atomization, and eliminate the imbalance of heating the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

In the aerosol generating device <NUM> according to the embodiments, it may be easy to access to the inside of the ejector <NUM> through the at least one hole portion <NUM>. Through the access inside the ejector <NUM>, the user may easily remove the residues deposited in the ejector <NUM>. As such, the user can maintain the performance of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and prevent the aerosol generating device <NUM> from being damaged due to the residues. In addition, it is possible to prevent health and hygiene problems that may occur due to the residues deposited on the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating device (<NUM>) comprising:
an accommodating portion (<NUM>) configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article (<NUM>) including a cut tobacco portion (<NUM>);
a heater (<NUM>) configured to heat the aerosol generating article (<NUM>) accommodated in the accommodating portion (<NUM>); and
an ejector (<NUM>) that is detachably coupled to the accommodating portion (<NUM>), and includes:
a cavity (<NUM>) into which the aerosol generating article (<NUM>) is insertable; and
a through hole (<NUM>),
wherein the through hole (<NUM>) is formed in a bottom surface (<NUM>) of the ejector (<NUM>) and the bottom surface (<NUM>) faces one end portion of the aerosol generating article (<NUM>) when the aerosol generating article (<NUM>) is inserted into the cavity (<NUM>), and
wherein the through hole (<NUM>) includes an expanding portion (<NUM>) having a diameter that increases along a direction from one side of the bottom surface (<NUM>) toward the other side of the bottom surface (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the ejector (<NUM>) comprises at least one hole portion (<NUM>) through which the cavity (<NUM>) and the accommodating portion (<NUM>) communicate and the cut tobacco portion can be exposed.