An aerosol provision device

Abstract

A housing ( 10 ) for an aerosol provision device ( 1 ) comprises an outer body ( 11 ) having a first end ( 12 ) and an opposing second end ( 13 ) spaced from the first end along a longitudinal axis and connected to the first end by a side wall ( 14 ). The housing further comprises a power source receiving compartment ( 15 ) within the outer body. An aperture ( 17 ) is located in the side wall and a panel ( 18 ) is located in the aperture in a first position in which the panel is configured to seal closed the aperture such that the power source receiving compartment is fluidly isolated from the atmosphere. The panel is moveable from the first position to a second position in which the panel is at least partially removed from the aperture, when the internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment exceeds a predefined threshold.

1 . A housing for an aerosol provision device, the housing comprising:
 an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end spaced from the first end along a longitudinal axis and connected to the first end by a side wall;   a power source receiving compartment within the outer body, the power source receiving compartment being sealed closed by an end cap located at the first end of the outer body; and   an aperture located in the side wall;   wherein a panel is located in the aperture in a first position in which the panel is configured to seal closed the aperture such that the power source receiving compartment is fluidly isolated from the atmosphere; and   wherein the panel is moveable from the first position to a second position, in which the panel is at least partially removed from the aperture such that the power source receiving compartment is in fluid communication with the atmosphere, when the internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment exceeds a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being spaced apart longitudinally. 
     
     
         3 . The housing according to  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the panel is located closer to the first end of the outer body than the second end of the panel. 
     
     
         4 . The housing according to  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the panel is located adjacent to the end cap in the first end of the outer body. 
     
     
         5 . The housing according to  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the panel comprises a first attachment element attaching the first end of the panel to the housing and a second portion of the panel comprises a second attachment element attaching the second end of the panel to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The housing according to  claim 5 , wherein the first attachment element requires a smaller force to detach the first end of the panel from the housing than the second attachment element, such that the panel is configured to hinge open about the second end of the panel when the internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment exceeds a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The housing according to  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the panel is releaseably attached to the housing and the second end of the panel is fixedly attached to the housing such that the panel is configured to hinge open about the second end of the panel when the internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment exceeds a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The housing according to  claim 5 , further comprising an internal support configured to prevent deformation of the panel into the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The housing according to  claim 8 , wherein the internal support extends at least partially over the inside of the aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The housing according to  claim 8 , wherein the internal support comprises a hole which provides fluid communication between the power source receiving compartment and the aperture in the outer body. 
     
     
         11 . The housing according to  claim 10 , wherein the panel comprises first attachment element located in the hole when the panel is in its first position. 
     
     
         12 . The housing according to  claim 11 , wherein the first attachment element is a sealing portion located in the hole when the panel is in its first position, the sealing portion being configured to have an interference fit with the hole in the internal support. 
     
     
         13 . The housing according to  claim 8 , when dependent on  claim 5 , wherein the internal support comprises a slot configured to receive the second attachment element. 
     
     
         14 . The housing according to  claim 13 , wherein the second attachment element is a protrusion extending from the inner surface of the panel to fixedly attach the panel to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The housing according to  claim 14 , wherein the slot comprises an inner section and an outer section, the inner section being wider than the outer section, and wherein the protrusion of the second element comprises an anchor portion configured to be located in the inner section of the slot, the anchor portion being wider than the outer section of the slot to prevent removal of the anchor portion through the outer section of the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The housing according to  claim 8 , wherein the internal support is fixed to the second end of the outer body. 
     
     
         17 . The housing according to  claim 7 , wherein the panel further comprises an overlapping projection which contacts an inner surface of the outer body around a periphery of the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The housing according to  claim 17 , wherein the overlapping projection extends from the first end of the panel at least partially along the length of the panel. 
     
     
         19 . The housing according to  claim 17 , wherein the overlapping projection comprises a chamfered outer edge. 
     
     
         20 . The housing according to  claim 17 , wherein the overlapping projection is compressed between the internal support and the inner surface of the outer body around a periphery of the aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises an outer lip configured to overlap an outer surface of the outer body around a periphery of the aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the end cap and the panel are co-moulded or over moulded 
     
     
         23 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the end cap and the panel are formed from different materials. 
     
     
         24 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel is formed from a silicone based material or a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         25 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel extends continuously around at least 25% of the outer body of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         26 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a support structure on its inner surface configured to provide the panel with rigidity to oppose deformation into the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The housing according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol provision device comprising:
 a housing according to  claim 1 ; and   a power source located within a power source receiving compartment in the housing.   
     
     
         29 . An aerosol provision system comprising:
 an aerosol provision device according to claim  28 ; and   an article configured to be received in an article receiving space in a housing of the aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         30 . A method of operating an aerosol provision system, the method comprising:
 operating the aerosol provision device to release aerosol from the article;   moving a panel in the housing of the aerosol provision device from a first position to a second position when the internal pressure in a power source receiving compartment exceeds a predetermined threshold to allow gases to be vented to the atmosphere.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the panel is moved by the internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment acting on an inner surface of the panel. 
     
     
         32 . A housing for an aerosol provision device, the housing comprising:
 an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end spaced from the first end along a longitudinal axis and connected to the first end by a side wall;   a power source receiving compartment within the outer body, the power source receiving compartment being sealed closed by an end cap located at the first end of the outer housing; and   an aperture located in the side wall, wherein the aperture is permanently open and has a diameter of less than 0.1 mm to allow internal pressure in the power source receiving compartment to be vented out of the housing and prevent the ingress of liquid.