Aerosol Generating Device with Improved Modularity

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns an aerosol generating device (12) comprising: an outer casing (16); a receiving cavity (18); a power supply (22); power connectors (26) arranged in the receiving cavity (18) for connecting a cartridge (14) to the power supply (22), the cartridge comprising a precursor storage portion (31) delimited transversally by a storage portion wall; and a socket (20) delimited transversally by a socket lateral wall. The socket is configured to be in a disengaged configuration in which the socket is away from the receiving cavity and in an engaged configuration in which the socket is inserted at least partially in the receiving cavity. The socket housing is adapted to receive the cartridge such that the storage portion wall faces at least partially the socket inner surface (35). The socket is adapted to guide the cartridge for electrical connection to the power connectors.

1 . An aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising:
 an outer casing ( 16 ;  116 ) defining an internal volume;   a receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) arranged in the outer casing ( 16 ;  116 ) and delimited by a cavity inner surface extending along the longitudinal axis (X);   a power supply ( 22 ;  122 ) arranged in the internal volume;   power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ) arranged in the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) for connecting a cartridge ( 14 ) to the power supply ( 22 ), the cartridge ( 14 ) extending along a cartridge axis (Y) and comprising a precursor storage portion ( 31 ) for storing an aerosol precursor, the precursor storage portion ( 31 ) being delimited transversally by a storage portion wall extending along the cartridge axis (Y);   a socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprising a socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) extending along a socket axis (Z), the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) delimited transversally by a socket lateral wall extending along the socket axis (Z), the socket lateral wall defining a socket outer surface ( 33 ;  133 ) and a socket inner surface ( 35 ;  135 ) opposite to the socket outer surface ( 33 ;  133 );   the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) being configured to be in a disengaged configuration in which the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is away from the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) and in an engaged configuration in which the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is inserted at least partially in the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) so as the socket axis (Z) coincides with the longitudinal axis (X) and the cavity inner surface faces the socket outer surface ( 33 ;  133 );   the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) being adapted to receive said cartridge ( 14 ) so as the storage portion wall faces at least partially the socket inner surface ( 35 ;  135 ;   the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) being adapted to guide said cartridge ( 14 ) for electrical connection to the power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ).   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is able to be switched from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration by a movement of translation along the longitudinal axis (X) without possible rotation in respect with the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ). 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cartridge ( 14 ) comprises an interfacing bottom, the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprising an interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ) extending perpendicularly to the socket axis (Z) and adapted to be in contact with the interfacing bottom of said cartridge ( 14 ). 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ) comprises at least a through-passage ( 36 ;  136 ) arranged to allow the power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ) to traverse the interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ) and be uncovered in the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) when the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is in the engaged configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprises electrical connectors traversing the interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ) of the socket ( 20 ;  120 ), the electrical connectors being arranged to provide electrical contact between the power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ) of the aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) and the cartridge ( 14 ). 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any of  claims 3  to  5 , wherein the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprises magnetic attachment members arranged on the interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ), the magnetic attachment members being adapted to magnetically engage with complementary magnetic engagement members of the cartridge ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer casing ( 16 ;  116 ) comprises an end edge ( 21 ;  121 ) defining an opening to the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ), the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprises an outward flange ( 32 ) arranged for abutting on the end edge ( 21 ) of the outer casing ( 18 ;  118 ). 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprises removable fastening means configured to removably fix the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) in the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) in the engaged configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device ( 12 ;  112 ) comprises a frame arranged in the internal volume of the outer casing ( 16 ;  116 ) and adapted for attachment of the power supply ( 22 );
 the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) comprising at least a clipping member ( 29 ), such as a tab, adapted to engage with a complementary clipping member, such as a side recess, arranged on the outer casing ( 16 ;  116 ) and/or the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device ( 12 ;  112 ) further comprises an electronic circuit board ( 24 ) arranged in the internal volume, the power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ) being attached to the electronic circuit board ( 24 );
 the device ( 12 ;  112 ) further comprising a sealing member ( 40 ;  140 ) arranged between the electronic circuit board ( 24 ) and the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ).   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member ( 40 ;  140 ) comprises through-passages adapted to receive the power connectors ( 26 ;  126 ), the through-passages being arranged to prevent liquid ingress from the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) to the electronic circuit board ( 24 ). 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to  claims 3  and  11 , wherein the sealing member ( 40 ;  140 ) comprises shape-fitting means complementary to shape-fitting means arranged on the interfacing wall ( 34 ;  134 ) of the socket ( 20 ;  120 ). 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) extends at least according to the half, advantageously the three quarter, in particular of the whole length of the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) according to the longitudinal axis (X), when the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is in the engaged configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) is in a tight contact with the cavity inner surface, when the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is in the engaged configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device ( 12 ;  112 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:
 the receiving cavity ( 18 ;  118 ) is adapted to receive a first type cartridge ( 14 A) when the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is in the disengaged configuration;   the socket housing ( 30 ;  130 ) is adapted to receive a second type cartridge ( 14 B) when the socket ( 20 ;  120 ) is in the engaged configuration.