Flavor inhaler, flavor inhalation system, and method for deforming consumable material

Abstract

Provided is a flavor inhaler. This flavor inhaler comprises a housing portion that houses at least a portion of a consumable material, and a heating portion that is inserted into the consumable material housed in the housing portion and heats the consumable material from the interior thereof, wherein the heating portion causes the outer shape of the consumable material, when inserted into the housing portion, to deform according to the shape of the heating portion.

1 . A flavor inhaler comprising:
 an accommodating unit configured to accommodate at least a portion of a consumable material; and   a heating unit configured to be inserted into the consumable material accommodated in the accommodating unit and heat the consumable material from inside,   wherein the heating unit deforms an outer shape of the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit to a shape that follows a shape of the heating unit.   
     
     
         2 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heating unit deforms the outer shape of the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit to an elliptical shape in cross section, and   wherein a major axis of the consumable material after being accommodated in the accommodating unit is longer than a diameter of the consumable material before being accommodated in the accommodating unit, and a minor axis of the consumable material after being accommodated in the accommodating unit is shorter than the diameter of the consumable material before being accommodated in the accommodating unit.   
     
     
         3 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heating unit is flat-plate-shaped.   
     
     
         4 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the heating unit has a maximum width of greater than 30% of a length of a major axis of the consumable material after being accommodated in the accommodating unit.   
     
     
         5 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a perimeter of the heating unit in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit increases along a direction from an end adjacent to an opening in the accommodating unit toward an end opposite to the end adjacent to the opening.   
     
     
         6 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an urging section provided on an inner peripheral surface of the accommodating unit and configured to urge the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit toward the heating unit.   
     
     
         7 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the urging section protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating unit toward the heating unit, and protrudes a maximum distance at a position at which the heating unit has a maximum perimeter in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit.   
     
     
         8 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an end portion of the heating unit adjacent to an opening in the accommodating unit has a sharp shape.   
     
     
         9 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a guide section defining an opening in the accommodating unit and configured to deform a cross-sectional shape of the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heating unit.   
     
     
         10 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein an end portion of the heating unit adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit protrudes toward the opening beyond an end portion of the guide section opposite to an end portion adjacent to the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heating unit includes
 a heating element that generates heat, and 
 at least two base members that sandwich the heating element. 
   
     
     
         12 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the heating unit is a PTC heater.   
     
     
         13 . A flavor inhalation system comprising:
 a consumable material; and   the flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . The flavor inhalation system according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the consumable material includes an insertion portion into which the heating unit configured to heat the consumable material from inside is inserted, and   wherein the insertion portion includes an annular sheet disposed to surround the heating unit inserted into the insertion portion.   
     
     
         15 . A method for deforming a consumable material inserted into a flavor inhaler,
 wherein the flavor inhaler includes an accommodating unit configured to accommodate at least a portion of the consumable material and a heating unit configured to heat the consumable material from inside, and   wherein the method comprises:   a step of causing a guide section provided on the accommodating unit to deform a cross-sectional shape of the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit;   a step of causing the heating unit to deform a shape of the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit to a shape that follows a shape of the heating unit; and   a step of causing an urging section provided on the accommodating unit to urge the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit toward the heating unit.