Aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device for an aerosol-generating article is provided, the device including: a receiving chamber to removably receive the article and having an inner surface and a center axis, along which the inner surface includes first and second axial portions, and an intermediate axial portion between the first and the second axial portions, the first and the second axial portions including a plurality of first and second protrusions, respectively, to contact first and second support elements of the article, respectively, and to retain the article in the chamber, the pluralities extending in a direction towards the center axis beyond the intermediate axial portion, the intermediate axial portion having a length of at least 20% of an overall length of the inner surface or of the chamber in the direction of the center axis and to surround a substrate element of the article when the article is received in the chamber.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating device for an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a receiving chamber configured to removably receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, the receiving chamber having an inner surface and a center axis,   wherein along the center axis the inner surface comprises a first axial portion, a second axial portion, and an intermediate axial portion located between the first axial portion and the second axial portion,   wherein the first axial portion comprises a plurality of first protrusions and the second axial portion comprises a plurality of second protrusions,   wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are configured to contact a first support element and a second support element of the aerosol-generating article, respectively, and to retain the aerosol-generating article in the receiving chamber,   wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions extend in a direction towards the center axis beyond the intermediate axial portion,   wherein the intermediate axial portion has a length of at least 20% of an overall length of the inner surface or of the receiving chamber in the direction of the center axis and is configured to surround a substrate element of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is received in the receiving chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate axial portion is without any protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the protrusions of the plurality of first protrusions or at least one of the protrusions of the plurality of second protrusions extends in a direction substantially along the center axis of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , further comprising one or more end stops arranged at a distal end of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more end stops are configured to cause an increase of the resistance to draw of at most 50 percent as compared to the aerosol-generating device without any end stops. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more end stops cover at most 50 percent of a total cross-sectional area of all interstices defined in between neighboring first protrusions or in between neighboring second protrusions as seen in a plane perpendicular to the center axis. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more end stops are ring segments. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one protrusion of the plurality of first protrusions or at least one protrusion of the plurality of second protrusions has a constant radial distance to the center axis over a respective length of the respective protrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the receiving chamber comprises a first part and a second part,   wherein the second part is inserted into the first part, and   wherein the second part is a sleeve comprising the second axial portion, whereas the first part comprises the first axial portion.   
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the receiving chamber is a sleeve and is inserted into a main body of the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions is a rib extending in an axial direction with respect to the center axis. 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions is chamfered at at least one of a side facing an insertion opening of the receiving chamber and at an opposite side facing away from an insertion opening of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ; and   an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate,   wherein at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article is removably received or removably receivable in the receiving chamber of the aerosol-generating device.   
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises at least a first support element, a second support element, and a substrate element comprising the aerosol-forming substrate and being located between the first support element and the second support element, and   wherein upon receiving the aerosol-generating article in the receiving chamber the first support element is in contact with the first axial portion and the second support element is in contact with the second axial portion, and the substrate element is surrounded by the intermediate axial portion without being in contact with the intermediate axial portion.