EP-4736688-A2 - AEROSOL GENERATING APPARATUS

Abstract

Provided is an assembly for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material to generate an inhalable aerosol. The assembly having a structure delimiting an opening through which aerosolizable material can be removably inserted into the apparatus, a door coupled to the structure and movable between an open position where access to the opening is unrestricted and a closed position where access to the opening is restricted, and a latching arrangement configured to hold the door in at least one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position until an external force is applied, in use, to release the latching arrangement.

Inventors

• WU, Ze Xin
• FUNG, Chi Wai
• WEI, Guang Yan
• SHERIDAN, JAMES

Assignees

• Nicoventures Trading Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20200403

Claims (15)

1. An assembly for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material to generate an inhalable aerosol, the assembly comprising: a structure delimiting an opening through which aerosolisable material can be removably inserted into the apparatus; a door coupled to the structure and movable between an open position where access to the opening is unrestricted, and a closed position where access to the opening is restricted; and a latching arrangement configured to hold the door in at least one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position until an external force is applied, in use, to release the latching arrangement.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latching arrangement comprises a first part in the structure and a second, separate part in the door, and wherein the first part is configured to interact with the second part to hold the door in the one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position.
3. The assembly according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the latching arrangement is further configured to bias the door towards the one of the open position and the closed position when the door is between the one of the open position and the closed position and an intermediate position that is between the open and the closed positions.
4. The assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one guide for guiding the movement of the door relative to the structure.
5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the guide comprises at least one of a male or female member for engaging with a corresponding other of a male or female member of the structure.
6. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the latching arrangement is a magnetic latching arrangement.
7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic latching arrangement comprises at least one stationary magnet disposed in the structure and at least one door magnet disposed in the door, wherein the latching arrangement is configured to magnetically hold the door in one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position.
8. The assembly according to either claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the magnetic latching arrangement is configured to: magnetically hold the door in the open position when the door is in the open position; and magnetically hold the door in the closed position when the door is in the closed position.
9. The assembly according to either claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the at least one door magnet has a first and a second magnetic pole, and the at least one stationary magnet has a first and a second magnetic pole, and wherein: the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet have opposite polarity; the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet are oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of motion of the door; and the first pole of the door magnet and the first pole of the stationary magnet are facing in substantially opposite directions and are of the same polarity.
10. The assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the at least one door magnet has a first and a second magnetic pole, and the at least one stationary magnet has a first and a second magnetic pole, and wherein: the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet have opposite polarity; the first and second magnetic poles of each magnet are oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the door; and the first pole of the door magnet and the first pole of the stationary magnet are facing in substantially opposite directions and are of the same polarity.
11. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a sleeve configured to encompass a perimeter of the apparatus for heating aerosolisable material, wherein the structure is a top panel structure and the top panel structure is removably fixed to the sleeve.
12. The assembly according to claim 11, comprising retaining means for retaining the top panel structure to the sleeve.
13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the retaining means comprises a plurality of clips.
14. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a gasket to provide a seal between the structure and an interior of the apparatus for heating aerosolisable material.
15. A system comprising a heating apparatus arranged to heat aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material, and an assembly according to any of claims 1 to 14 for use with the heating apparatus, wherein the heating apparatus comprises: at least one heater element arranged within a heater housing, the heater element configured to heat the aerosolisable material in use.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to assemblies for use with apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material and systems comprising apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material. BACKGROUND Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. SUMMARY A first aspect of the present invention provides an assembly for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatalise at least one component of the aerosolisable material to generate an inhalable aerosol, the assembly comprising: a structure delimiting an opening through which aerosolisable material can be removably inserted into the apparatus; a door coupled to the structure and movable between an open position where access to the opening is unrestricted, and a closed position where access to the opening is restricted; and a latching arrangement configured to hold the door in at least one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position until an external force is applied, in use, to release the latching arrangement. In an exemplary embodiment, the latching arrangement comprises a first part in the structure and a second, separate part in the door, wherein the first part is configured to interact with the second part to hold the door in the one of the open position and the closed position when the door is in the one of the open position and the closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the latching arrangement is further configured to bias the door towards the one of the open position and the closed position when the door is between the one of the open position and the closed position and an intermediate position that is between the open and the closed positions. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly further comprises at least one guide for guiding the movement of the door relative to the structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide comprises at least one of a male or female member for engaging with a corresponding other of a male or female member of the structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the latching arrangement is a mechanical latching arrangement. In an exemplary embodiment, the mechanical latching arrangement comprises a cam, the cam comprising a cam element disposed in one of the door and the structure and at least one follower disposed in the other of the door and the structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the door defines the cam element, the cam element comprises one or more detents, and the at least one follower is configured to engage with the one or more detents when the door is in the one of the open and the closed position to hold the door in the respective open or closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly is configured so that the at least one follower is biased towards the cam element. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one follower is biased towards the cam element by a spring. In an exemplary embodiment, a surface of the cam element is configured to engage with the at least one follower to depress the at least one follower when the door is between the open and the closed positions. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprises a spring plunger, the spring plunger comprising a depressible member movably retained in a housing and biased towards the cam element, wherein the at least one follower is the depressible member. In an exemplary embodiment, the depressible member is configured to roll relative to the cam element when the door is moved relative to the structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the depressible member is spherical or cylindrical. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more detents comprises at least two detents located at opposite end portions of the door in a direction of motion of the door. In an exemplary embodiment, the latching arrangement is a magnetic latching arrangement. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic latching arrangement comprises at least one stationary magnet disposed in the structure and at least one door magnet disposed in the door, wherein the latching arrangement is configured to magnetically hold the door in one of the open position or the second position when the door is in the open position or the closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic latching arrangement is configured to: magnetically hold the door in the open position when the door is in the open position; and magnetically hold the door in the closed po