Aerosol-generating device with sealed compartment

• US 10,362,804 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bessant, Michel, Golay, Laurent, Kesici, Omer, Ricketts, Nikolaus Martin Ernest Wilhelm, Seydoux, Laurent, Tabasso, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang T
• Application Number:
  US15/400,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20170196269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 219716, 219705, 219709, 219710, 219711, 219712, 219713, 219714, 219720, 219707, 219494, 219510, 131329, 131270, 131273, 320108, 320115
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining at least one internal compartment. The housing may be waterproof. The aerosol-generating device may further include a power supply, an electric heater, and/or a haptic feedback device. Each of the power supply, electric heater, and/or haptic feedback device may be positioned within one or more of the at least one internal compartment.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device comprising:

a housing defining at least one internal compartment, the housing being waterproof with regard to the at least one internal compartment;

a power supply positioned within the at least one internal compartment;

an electric heater positioned within the at least one internal compartment; and

a haptic feedback device positioned within the at least one internal compartment.

2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input device positioned within the at least one internal compartment.

3. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the input device includes at least one of a capacitive sensor, an electro-optical sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.

4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback device includes at least one of an eccentric rotating mass motor, a linear resonant actuator, and a piezoelectric device.

5. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is hermetically sealed.

6. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the electric heater is an inductive heater.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless data connector positioned within the at least one internal compartment.

8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, wherein the wireless data connector is configured for wireless communication using at least one wireless protocol selected from Near Field Communication, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and Ultra-wideband.

9. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless power connector positioned within the at least one internal compartment.

10. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 9, wherein the power supply is rechargeable, and the wireless power connector is an inductive charging coil configured to recharge the power supply using electrical power received inductively from an external source.

11. An aerosol-generating system comprising:

the aerosol-generating device according to claim 1; and

an aerosol-generating article including a liquid storage portion and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate within the liquid storage portion, the electric heater of the aerosol-generating device configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate during an operation of the aerosol-generating system.

12. An aerosol-generating system comprising:

an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate; and

the aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, the housing of the aerosol-generating device further defining a cavity configured to receive the aerosol-generating article, the electric heater of the aerosol-generating device configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate when the aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes tobacco.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes a first aerosol-forming substrate including a nicotine source and a second aerosol-forming substrate including an acid source.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply, the electric heater, and the haptic feedback device are positioned within a same compartment of the at least one internal compartment.