Top Loading Cartridge for an Inkjet Technology Aerosol Smoking System

Abstract

An aerosol smoking system (100), comprising a smoking liquid cartridge (101) and an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus. The aerosol generation apparatus is configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface, and the aerosol generation apparatus further comprises a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface to bring smoking liquid from the cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus. The smoking liquid cartridge comprises a smoking liquid container, a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame, an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall adjacent to the foam on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, a wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface, and a mouthpiece. The smoking liquid container is shaped such to form a passage for aerosols flowing between the die and the mouthpiece, and in the aerosol generation apparatus, the piercing pin is further configured to pierce the membrane.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an inkjet technology aerosol smoking system, more specifically to a cartridge for this system.

BACKGROUND ART

Aerosol smoking systems are configured to generate aerosol as a result of heat generated by electrical power sources, and to deliver aerosol that is intended to be drawn into the mouth of a user. Aerosol smoking systems may provide components of tobacco in an aerosol form. Aerosol smoking systems as used by smokers are commonly referred to as electronic cigarettes. As used herein, the term “aerosol” is meant to include vapors, gases and aerosols of a form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether or not visible, and whether or not of a form that might be considered to be “smoke-like.”

US publication U.S. Ser. No. 10/548,351B2 discloses an example of an aerosol delivery system which makes use of bubble jet technology, more specifically bubble jet heads. A bubble jet head is a component configured to heat a fluid, e.g., an aerosol precursor composition, to produce a bubble of vapor that applies pressure to the fluid and ejects one or more droplets of the fluid therefrom. Bubble jet heads may be defined as including an inlet, e.g., a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a nozzle, e.g., a precursor nozzle, which may be housed within, or defined by, a wafer, substrate, or housing. The aerosol delivery device may include a reservoir at least partially filled with the aerosol precursor composition. Further, the aerosol delivery device may include a bubble jet head in fluid communication with the reservoir. The bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir. Additionally, the aerosol delivery device may include an atomizer configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition dispensed by the bubble jet head to produce an aerosol. The bubble jet head and the atomizer may be fixedly coupled to one another. A typical aerosol delivery system comprises a control body which may be reusable, and a cartridge with the reservoir for the aerosol precursor composition, whereby the cartridge may be disposable. In this regard, whereas certain components within the cartridge may degrade or be depleted, other components such as the bubble jet head within the control body may maintain full functionality despite repeated use.

The aerosol generating system, including the bubble jet head and all related technology is comparatively costly and may under circumstances be used to consume a plurality of capsules. It is therefore reasonable to integrate the bubble jet head in the reusable part of the aerosol smoking system, i.e., the aerosol generation apparatus, rather than including it in a disposable cartridge. This may pose technical design challenges as a die from the bubble jet head may be exposed “in the open” on a docking surface of the aerosol smoking apparatus configured to load the cartridge on an outer periphery of the aerosol smoking apparatus and become soiled with time as the plurality of cartridges are successively consumed.

US publication U.S. Ser. No. 10/525,220B2 discloses a droplet delivery device (breathe actuated device/inhaler) including an ejector mechanism. Further, this publication discloses that the ejector mechanism which comprises a piezoelectric actuator, reservoir, and a housing/mouthpiece function to generate a plume or aerosol of fluid. The publication further discloses that the reservoir may be coupled to or integrated with the ejector mechanism to form a combination drug reservoir/ejector mechanism module. Further, it appears from the presented figures that the reservoir is loaded on the outer periphery of the ejector. The reservoir includes a flexible drug ampule packaged within a hard-shell structure and also includes a foil lidding. The hard-shell structure may include one or more puncture elements that are turned or otherwise put into position to puncture foil lidding once the reservoir is put into position on the base of the droplet delivery device. Once the foil lidding is perforated, the fluid within the flexible drug ampule is able to flow out to the ejector mechanism.

The invention aims at providing an alternative aerosol smoking system utilizing inkjet technology and disposable cartridges of smoking liquid, which provides improved hygiene and sustainability of use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides an aerosol smoking system (100), comprising a smoking liquid cartridge (101) and an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus. The aerosol generation apparatus is configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface, and the aerosol generation apparatus further comprises a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface to bring smoking liquid from the cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus. The smoking liquid cartridge comprises a smoking liquid container, a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame, an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall adjacent to the foam on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, a wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface, and a mouthpiece. The smoking liquid container is shaped such to form a passage for aerosols flowing between the die and the mouthpiece, and in the aerosol generation apparatus, the piercing pin is further configured to pierce the membrane.

In a preferred embodiment, in the aerosol generation apparatus, the piercing pin further comprises a conduit connecting one extremity of the piercing pin to the die, and is configured to bring smoking liquid from the smoking liquid cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus.

In a further preferred embodiment, the foam is configured to bring smoking liquid to the membrane by capillarity.

In a further preferred embodiment, the aerosol smoking system further comprises holding means configured for removably holding the smoking liquid cartridge in intimate contact with the docking surface, and for positioning the membrane against the piercing pin and pierce the membrane.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a smoking liquid cartridge for use with an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus. The cartridge comprises a smoking liquid container, a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame, an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the outer frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the liquid container and the membrane forms a wall on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, a wiper mounted to the frame and enabled to wipe a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus, and a mouthpiece. The smoking liquid container is shaped such to form a passage enabling aerosols to flow through the cartridge to the mouthpiece.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for assembling a smoking liquid cartridge and an inkjet aerosol generation apparatus into an aerosol smoking system. The method comprises providing the aerosol generation apparatus configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and in which a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface, providing the smoking liquid cartridge comprising a smoking liquid container, a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame, an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, and a wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface. The method further comprises loading the smoking cartridge by a sliding motion onto the docking surface, and wiping the die, and piercing the membrane by means of a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface and configured to bring smoking liquid from the smoking liquid cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method further comprises providing the smoking liquid cartridge with a mouthpiece, and shaping the smoking liquid container such to form a passage for aerosols to flow between the die and the mouthpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood through the description of example embodiments, and in reference to the figure, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an aerosol smoking system according to an example embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for assembling a smoking liquid cartridge and an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus into an aerosol smoking system according to an example embodiment of the invention.

Same references will be used to designate same or similar features throughout all the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the term “smoking liquid” includes materials that provide vaporized components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. “Smoking liquid” includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. “Smoking liquid” also may include other, non-tobacco, products.

“Smoking liquid” may for example be in the form of a liquid. “Smoking liquid” may for example also be a combination or a blend of liquids.

A “smoking liquid cartridge” is an article or component that includes or contains in use the smoking liquid which in use is heated to volatilize.

“inkjet technology” is used herein to designate all components necessary in conjunction with a inkjet head or die required as a part of an aerosol generation apparatus to produce the aerosol from the smoking liquid. One example of an inkjet technology, more precisely a use of a bubble jet technology variant is discussed in the above referenced US publication U.S. Ser. No. 10/548,351B2, but this is merely one embodiment of prior art, and many variations and different embodiment may be known from prior art or future developments in the field of inkjet technology for use in aerosol smoking systems. Inkjet technology is understood to encompass various variants such as thermal inkjet, piezo inkjet, thermal bubble jet technology etc.

There is a need for new easy, more hygienic, and more sustainable aerosol smoking system utilizing the inkjet technology and disposable cartridges of smoking liquid.

FIG. 1 contains a schematic illustration of an example embodiment of an aerosol smoking system 100 according to the invention. The system 100 comprises a smoking liquid cartridge 101 and an aerosol generation apparatus 102, which, because of its specificity, may also be denominated as an inkjet technology generation apparatus.

The aerosol generation apparatus 102 may comprise components to operate the inkjet technology, including a main board 103, to which is connected a USB interface 104 configured to give an access to the main board 103 from an outside of a casing 105 of the aerosol generation apparatus 102. The latter further comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 106 connected to the main board 103, and a die 107 which are part of the inkjet technology.

The smoking liquid cartridge 101 comprises a smoking liquid container 108 configured to hold the smoking liquid. A capacity of the smoking liquid container can for example correspond to approximately 200 puffs of aerosol.

The aerosol generation apparatus further comprises a mouthpiece 109, which conveniently may be integral with the smoking liquid cartridge 101.

The aerosol generation apparatus 102 is configured to load the smoking liquid cartridge 101 on a docking surface 110 on an outer periphery 111 of the aerosol generation apparatus, which can be delimited by the casing 105. The die 107 of the inkjet technology is also located on the docking surface 110.

The smoking liquid cartridge 101 may be configured to load on and off from the docking surface 110 by a sliding motion according to a loading direction illustrated by a double arrow 112.

Returning to the smoking liquid cartridge 101, this further comprises a frame 113 which is configured to hold the smoking liquid container 108 inside a periphery 114 of the frame 113.

The smoking liquid cartridge 101 further comprises an extracting structure 115 comprising a foam 116 and a membrane 117 located in the frame 113 and in contact with the smoking liquid container 108 in such a manner that the foam 116 is enabled to contact smoking liquid 118 from within the smoking liquid container 108. The membrane 117 forms a wall substantially corresponding to an outer periphery 119 of the frame 113, such that smoking liquid 118 may transit through the foam 116 to the membrane 117 by capillary action. The membrane 117 is a sealing part that may be pierced inside the aerosol smoking system 100 to extract the smoking liquid as will be explained herein below.

The smoking liquid cartridge further comprises a wiper 120 mounted to the frame 113 and configured to come into contact with the docking surface 110 and wipe the die 107 before the smoking liquid cartridge 101 is entirely loaded on the docking surface 110.

The smoking liquid container 108 is shaped such to form a passage 121 for aerosol (aerosol not illustrated in FIG. 1) flowing between the die 107 and the mouthpiece 109. Returning again to the aerosol generating apparatus 102, this further comprises a piercing pin 122 protruding above the docking surface 110 to bring smoking liquid 118 from the cartridge 101 to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus 102. For this purpose, the piercing pin 122 can comprise a conduit 123 connecting one extremity of the piercing pin 122 to the inkjet technology, enabling a flow of smoking liquid 118 to the inkjet technology. Accordingly, the piercing pin 122 is further configured to pierce the membrane 117 when the smoking liquid cartridge 101 is entirely loaded on the docking surface 110 to initiate a flow of the smoking liquid 118 from the cartridge 101 to the inkjet technology.

It is beneficial that a path between the piercing pin 122 and the die 107 of the inkjet technology is as short as possible to reduce a risk of contamination when changing smoking liquid cartridges.

The docking surface 110 may preferably be located on a top side of the aerosol generating apparatus 102, i.e., a side that is intended to be oriented towards the user's mouth once the smoking liquid cartridge 101 is entirely loaded and in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol smoking system 100 may comprise holding means (not illustrated in FIG. 1) which are configured for removably holding the smoking liquid cartridge 101 in intimate contact with the docking surface 110, and for positioning the membrane 117 against the piercing pin 122 and pierce the membrane 117. The holding means may comprise structural means distributed between the smoking liquid cartridge 101 and the aerosol generation apparatus 102, and that cooperate, for example, to make the smoking liquid cartridge 101 slide into position in close contact with the docking surface 110 while at the same time wiping the die 107 by means of the wiper 120.

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides a smoking liquid cartridge as such, i.e., separated from the aerosol smoking system, whereby the smoking liquid cartridge corresponds to the cartridge described hereinabove.

In still a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method for assembling a smoking liquid cartridge and an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus into an aerosol smoking system. The method is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 2. In a first step 200, the method provides the aerosol generation apparatus configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and in which a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface. The method also comprises a step 201 of providing the smoking liquid cartridge. As previously described in the present description, the smoking liquid cartridge comprises a smoking liquid container, a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame, an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, and a wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface. In step 202, the smoking cartridge is loaded by a sliding motion onto the docking surface and wipes the die. The method ends with step 203 of piercing the membrane by means of a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface and configured to bring smoking liquid from the cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus.

In still a further preferred embodiment, the method further comprises providing the smoking liquid cartridge with a mouthpiece, and shaping the smoking liquid container such to form a passage for aerosols to flow between the die and the mouthpiece.

The invention provides at least the advantage to the user of having both mouthpiece and smoking liquid cartridge in a single structure, and reducing the cost of the smoking liquid cartridge by enabling that the components of the inkjet technology are on the aerosol generating apparatus side only.

Claims

1. An aerosol smoking system (100), comprising a smoking liquid cartridge (101) and an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus, wherein the aerosol generation apparatus is configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface, andthe aerosol generation apparatus further comprises a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface to bring smoking liquid from the cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus,the smoking liquid cartridge comprisinga smoking liquid container,a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame,an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall adjacent to the foam on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane,a wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface, anda mouthpiece,whereby the smoking liquid container is shaped such to form a passage for aerosols flowing between the die and the mouthpiece,andin the aerosol generation apparatus, the piercing pin is further configured to pierce the membrane.

2. The aerosol smoking system of claim 1, wherein in the aerosol generation apparatus, the piercing pin further comprises a conduit connecting one extremity of the piercing pin to the die, and is configured to bring smoking liquid from the smoking liquid cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus.

3. The aerosol smoking system of any one of claim 1 and 2, wherein the foam is configured to bring smoking liquid to the membrane by capillarity.

4. The aerosol smoking system of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising holding means configured for removably holding the smoking liquid cartridge in intimate contact with the docking surface, and for positioning the membrane against the piercing pin and pierce the membrane.

5. A smoking liquid cartridge for use with an inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus, the cartridge comprisinga smoking liquid container,a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame,an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the outer frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the liquid container and the membrane forms a wall on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane,a wiper mounted to the frame and enabled to wipe a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus, anda mouthpiece,whereby the smoking liquid container is shaped such to form a passage enabling aerosols to flow through the cartridge to the mouthpiece.

6. A method for assembling a smoking liquid cartridge and an inkjet aerosol generation apparatus into an aerosol smoking system, the method comprising, providing the aerosol generation apparatus configured to load the cartridge on a docking surface on its outer periphery and in which a die of the inkjet technology aerosol generation apparatus is located on the docking surface,providing the smoking liquid cartridge comprising a smoking liquid container,a frame configured to hold the smoking liquid container inside a periphery of the frame,an extracting structure comprising a foam and a membrane, the extracting structure being located in the frame and in contact with the smoking liquid container such that the foam is enabled to contact smoking liquid from within the smoking liquid container and the membrane forms a wall on an outer periphery of the frame such that smoking liquid may transit through the foam to the membrane, anda wiper mounted to the frame such to come into contact with the docking surface and configured to wipe the die before the smoking liquid cartridge is loaded on the docking surface, andloading the smoking cartridge by a sliding motion onto the docking surface, and wiping the die, andpiercing the membrane by means of a piercing pin protruding above the docking surface and configured to bring smoking liquid from the smoking liquid cartridge to the inside of the aerosol generation apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the smoking liquid cartridge with a mouthpiece, andshaping the smoking liquid container such to form a passage for aerosols to flow between the die and the mouthpiece.