Search

RU-2861568-C2 - AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH BUTTON ASSEMBLY HAVING MEMBRANE

RU2861568C2RU 2861568 C2RU2861568 C2RU 2861568C2RU-2861568-C2

Abstract

FIELD: aerosols. SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to the field of aerosol generating devices. The aerosol generating device comprises a housing having an outer surface, an inner surface and a through hole connecting the outer surface and the inner surface, a button at least partially disposed in the through hole, and a membrane attached to the housing and extending across the through hole. A form fit is provided between the housing and the button, which is configured to retain the button in the through hole to prevent the button from falling out of the through hole to the outside of the aerosol generating device. EFFECT: reducing the risk of damage to internal parts of the aerosol generating device due to ingress of foreign material into the aerosol generating device, and preventing the button from falling both into the hole along the button pressing direction and out of the device in the direction opposite to pressing. 14 cl, 22 dwg

Inventors

  • TAN, KWANG BENG
  • IVARSSON, BENGT IVAR ANDERS

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20221104
Priority Date
20211104

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An aerosol generating device comprising:
  2. a housing having an outer surface, an inner surface and a through hole connecting the outer surface and the inner surface;
  3. a button at least partially positioned in the through hole; and
  4. a membrane attached to the body and passing across the through hole;
  5. at the same time, the shape of the body and the button is matched;
  6. wherein the conformity in shape is made with the possibility of holding the button in the through hole to prevent the button from falling out of the through hole to the outside of the aerosol generating device.
  7. 2. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is transparent or translucent.
  8. 3. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a recessed area is provided on the inner surface of the housing, and the membrane is attached to the inner surface of the housing within the recessed area.
  9. 4. An aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane is hermetically secured to the housing by at least one of adhesive, vibration welding or laser welding, or the membrane is formed on the housing by two-stage molding.
  10. 5. An aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane is configured to act on the button to support a return movement of the button from the activated position of the button to the resting position of the button.
  11. 6. An aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shape conformity comprises one or more retaining projections of the housing, wherein the one or more retaining projections of the housing extend into the through hole.
  12. 7. An aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the button is separate from the membrane.
  13. 8. An aerosol generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane is in the form of a flat sheet.
  14. 9. An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating article.
  15. 10. A method for activating a switch of an aerosol generating device, comprising the steps of:
  16. moving the button from a resting position inside the aerosol generating device to an activation position, wherein the button is at least partially provided inside a through hole of the housing of the aerosol generating device;
  17. deformation of the membrane of the aerosol generating device by moving the button;
  18. actuating a switch by moving a button, wherein the switch is provided on the opposite side of the membrane relative to the button; and
  19. retaining the button within the through hole to prevent the button from falling out of the through hole to the outside of the aerosol generating device by means of a shape match provided between the housing and the button.
  20. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the membrane seals the through hole.

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device comprising a button. Buttons on aerosol-generating devices typically provide potential entry points for liquids, which can lead to damage to internal components (e.g., water damage to the device's electronics). Therefore, there is a need to help prevent liquid penetration into aerosol-generating devices, particularly around the button on the device. Layouts for emitting light through a slot in an aerosol-generating device's button are subject to design limitations due to the requirement to maintain the button's actuation. Therefore, there is a need for improved illumination of an aerosol-generating device, particularly the button of an aerosol-generating device. According to the first aspect of the present invention, an aerosol-generating device is provided, comprising a housing, a button, and a membrane. The housing has an outer surface, an inner surface, and a through hole connecting the outer surface and the inner surface. The button is at least partially located within the through hole, positioned corresponding to the through hole, or positioned on it. The membrane is attached to the housing and extends over the through hole. The membrane may provide at least a partial separation between the interior of the aerosol-generating device and the exterior of the aerosol-generating device. The membrane may reduce the likelihood of foreign material, such as liquid or dust, entering the interior of the aerosol-generating device through the opening. The membrane may be provided further downstream of the button (or below it) relative to the direction in which the button is pressed. The membrane may be water-resistant. The membrane may reduce the transfer of liquid from the exterior of the aerosol-generating device into the aerosol-generating device. The membrane may reduce the risk of damage to the internal components, particularly the electronic components, of the aerosol-generating device due to liquid entering the aerosol-generating device. The membrane can be transparent or translucent. The membrane can allow light from the inside of the housing to pass through the membrane. Light from the inside of the housing can pass through the membrane to be visible from the outside of the housing. Light from the inside of the housing can pass through the membrane to the button. The light source may be located within the housing. The light source may contain one or more LEDs. The light source may be located downstream of the membrane (or below it) relative to the direction of button actuation. The membrane may be located between the light source and the button. The membrane can be attached to the inner surface of the housing. On the inner surface of the housing, the connection between the membrane and the housing can be protected from damage. Attaching the membrane to the inner surface of the housing can reduce the membrane's unwanted influence on button operation. The membrane may be invisible or nearly invisible from the outside of the aerosol-generating device, thus avoiding deterioration of the aerosol-generating device's appearance and reducing the risk of membrane damage. The membrane may be visible from the outside of the aerosol-generating device only through the gap between the button and the section of the housing wall that defines the through-hole. A recessed region may be provided on the inner surface of the housing. The thickness of the housing wall may be reduced in the recessed region compared to the housing portions surrounding the recessed region. A membrane may be attached to the inner surface of the housing in the recessed region. The membrane may be completely contained within the recessed region. The membrane may be protected within the recessed region. The recessed region may facilitate positioning of the membrane during assembly of the aerosol-generating device. The shape of the recessed region may match the shape of the membrane. The recessed region may be rectangular, circular, or polygonal, for example. A through hole may be provided in the recessed area. A through hole may be provided in the center of the recessed area. A membrane can cover the through-hole. The membrane can prevent foreign materials from entering the aerosol-generating device through the through-hole. The membrane can make the through-hole of the aerosol-generating device waterproof. The membrane may be hermetically sealed to the housing completely around the through-hole. Specifically, the membrane may be hermetically sealed to the inner surface of the housing completely around the through-hole. If the membrane is hermetically sealed to the housing completely around the through-hole, the likelihood of the membrane and housing failing may be reduced. The seal between the membrane and the housing may be watertight. The membrane may be hermetically sealed to the housing, particularly to the inner surface of the housing. The membrane may be hermetically sealed to the ho