Replaceable cartridge for aerosol-generating device with slidable sealing element

Abstract

A replaceable cartridge configured to be detachably connected to an aerosol-generating device is provided, the replaceable cartridge including: a liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion including a liquid outlet configured to direct the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion; a slidable sealing element configured to seal the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element; and a wicking element arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet and being configured to absorb and to supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. An aerosol-generating system including the replaceable cartridge is also provided. A method of operating an aerosol-generating system is also provided.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A replaceable cartridge configured to be detachably connected to an aerosol-generating device, the replaceable cartridge comprising:
 a liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion comprising a liquid outlet configured to direct the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion;   a slidable sealing element configured to seal the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element; and   a wicking element arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet and being configured to absorb and to supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the wicking element is located in an interior of the liquid storage portion. 
     
     
         18 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the wicking element abuts the liquid outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the wicking element is located between the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , further comprising a central hollow portion comprising an upstream opening and a downstream opening, the central hollow portion being configured to provide an air-flow-path through the replaceable cartridge between the upstream opening and the downstream opening. 
     
     
         21 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , further comprising a flexible biasing member configured to hold the sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet when no pressure is applied to the sealing member. 
     
     
         22 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein the flexible biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         23 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the replaceable cartridge is configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         24 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 23 , further comprising device connection elements configured to connect with the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         25 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , further comprising mouthpiece connection elements configured to detachably connect the replaceable cartridge to a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         26 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 25 ,
 further comprising a central hollow portion comprising an upstream opening and a downstream opening,   wherein the mouthpiece connection elements are located at inner walls of the central hollow portion.   
     
     
         27 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the slidable sealing element is ring-shaped. 
     
     
         28 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the replaceable cartridge is configured to partly receive one of an aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 a replaceable cartridge according to  claim 16 ; and   one or both of:
 an aerosol-generating article, and 
 an aerosol-generating device including a cavity, the cavity being configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. 
   
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 29 ,
 further comprising the aerosol-generating article,   wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a substrate portion, the substrate portion including a solid aerosol-forming substrate.   
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 30 , wherein the substrate portion comprises one or both of tobacco or a non-tobacco-containing substrate. 
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 30 , wherein the substrate portion comprises an aerosol-former. 
     
     
         33 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 32 , wherein the aerosol-former is selected from polyhydric alcohols, esters of polyhydric alcohols, aliphatic esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 29 ,
 further comprising the aerosol-generating device,   wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity, the heating element comprising a compartment wall, and   wherein a first part of the compartment wall is located in the cavity and a second part of the compartment wall extends outside the cavity.   
     
     
         35 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 34 , wherein the second part of the compartment wall is configured to push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet. 
     
     
         36 . A method of operating an aerosol-generating system according to  claim 34 , the aerosol-generating system further comprising the aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating device, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving the aerosol-generating article in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device;   connecting the replaceable cartridge to the aerosol-generating device, either the second part of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device pushing away the slidable sealing element or the aerosol-generating article pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, so that liquid agent contacts either the second part of the compartment wall or the aerosol-generating article; and   heating the aerosol-generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article and the liquid agent.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising detaching the replaceable cartridge from the aerosol-generating device, the sealing element sliding over the liquid outlet, thereby sealing the liquid outlet.