Reservoir for a refilling device, device and method for refilling an article of an aerosol provision system, nozzle for fluid dispensing, and refillable article for an electronic aerosol provision system

Abstract

A reservoir for use in a refilling device includes a fluid storage volume bounded by one or more side walls and an end wall; an outlet orifice in or near the end wall, configured to form, or engage with, a fluid conduit engagable with an inlet orifice of an article of an aerosol provision system to provide a fluid flow path from the fluid storage volume to a storage area in the article when the reservoir and the article are installed in the refilling device; and a moveable wall disposed opposite to the end wall to close the fluid storage volume, the movable wall configured to slide towards the end wall, and engagable with a pushing element of the refilling device operable to push the moveable wall towards the end wall in order to reduce a capacity of the fluid storage volume such that fluid in the fluid storage volume is moved through the outlet orifice to the fluid flow path in order to fill the storage area of the article.

1 . A reservoir for use in a refilling device, the reservoir comprising:
 a fluid storage volume bounded by one or more side walls and an end wall;   an outlet orifice in or near the end wall, configured to form, or engage with, a fluid conduit engagable with an inlet orifice of an article of an aerosol provision system to provide a fluid flow path from the fluid storage volume to a storage area in the article when the reservoir and the article are installed in the refilling device; and   a moveable wall disposed opposite to the end wall to close the fluid storage volume, the movable wall configured to slide towards the end wall, and engagable with a pushing element of the refilling device operable to push the moveable wall towards the end wall in order to reduce a capacity of the fluid storage volume such that fluid in the fluid storage volume is moved through the outlet orifice to the fluid flow path in order to fill the storage area of the article.   
     
     
         2 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more side walls and the end wall define a cylindrical fluid storage volume, and the moveable wall is circular. 
     
     
         3 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice is in the end wall. 
     
     
         4 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice comprises a nozzle extending from the end wall. 
     
     
         5 . A reservoir according to  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle forms the fluid conduit and has a distal end remote from the end wall which is configured to engage with the inlet orifice of the article. 
     
     
         6 . A reservoir according to  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle comprises a venting channel configured to carry air from the storage area which is displaced by fluid filling the storage area. 
     
     
         7 . A reservoir according to  claim 6 , comprising a venting chamber within the end wall which is in fluid communication with an outlet of the venting channel. 
     
     
         8 . A reservoir according to  claim 7 , wherein the venting chamber is shaped such that any fluid drawn along the venting channel and entering the venting chamber flows away from the outlet of the venting channel under gravity. 
     
     
         9 . A reservoir according to  claim 8 , wherein the reservoir is configured to be installed in the refilling device with the end wall lowermost, and the venting chamber has a floor which slopes downwardly away from the outlet of the venting channel when the reservoir is in this orientation. 
     
     
         10 . A reservoir according to  claim 3 , further comprising at least one socket wall portion extending from the end wall around the outlet orifice and defining a socket into which the article is wholly or partly received for engagement with the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         11 . A reservoir according to  claim 10 , comprising one or more guiding elements on the inner surface of the at least one socket wall portion configured to cooperate with shaping on an outer surface of the article to guide the article into engagement with the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         12 . A reservoir according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one socket wall portion extends beyond a distal end of the outlet orifice. 
     
     
         13 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more side walls are formed from a transparent material such that the interior of the fluid storage volume can be observed from outside the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , comprising a window of transparent material in the one or more side walls to allow observation of the interior of the fluid storage volume. 
     
     
         15 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable wall comprises a sealing element at its perimeter which contacts an inner surface of the one or more side walls. 
     
     
         16 . A reservoir according to  claim 15 , in which the sealing element comprises one or more flanges integrally formed with the moveable wall. 
     
     
         17 . A reservoir according to  claim 15 , in which the sealing element is a separate component fitted onto or around the moveable wall. 
     
     
         18 . A reservoir according to  claim 1 , further comprising aerosol generating material in the fluid storage volume. 
     
     
         19 . A refilling device configured for refilling of an article of an aerosol provision system received in the refilling device with aerosol generating material from a reservoir, the refilling device comprising a reservoir according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A method of refilling a storage area with fluid, the method comprising:
 dispensing fluid from a reservoir according to  claim 1  into the storage area.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the storage area is within an article of an aerosol provision system, and the fluid comprises aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         22 . A refilling device for refilling an article from a reservoir, comprising:
 a reservoir interface for receiving a reservoir containing fluid, the reservoir having a moveable wall configured to be inwardly pushable to reduce a capacity of the reservoir and move fluid in the reservoir out of an outlet orifice of the reservoir;   an article interface for receiving an article of an aerosol provision system having a storage area for fluid, such that a fluid flow path is formed between the outlet orifice of the reservoir and the storage area of the article;   a motor;   a plunger configured to be driven by the motor to provide linear movement comprising advancement of the plunger from a retracted position to engage with and inwardly push the moveable wall of a received reservoir, and retraction of the plunger away from the moveable wall; and   a controller configured to control the motor to drive the plunger.   
     
     
         23 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor with a lead screw and a lead screw nut, the plunger being coupled to the lead screw nut such that rotation of the lead screw produces the linear movement of the plunger. 
     
     
         24 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the linear movement of the plunger is along a direction which is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the lead screw. 
     
     
         25 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the linear movement of the plunger is along a direction which is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the lead screw. 
     
     
         26 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize when a reservoir is received in the reservoir interface, and control the motor to advance the plunger to engage with the moveable wall. 
     
     
         27 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize when an article is received in the article interface, and control the motor to advance the plunger to inwardly push the moveable wall to move fluid out of the reservoir, along the fluid flow path, and into the article. 
     
     
         28 . A refilling device according to  claim 27 , wherein the refilling device comprises a sensor configured to sense an amount of fluid in the article and provide an indication of the sensed amount of fluid to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the motor to cease or prevent advancement of the plunger in response to an indication that the sensed amount of fluid is at or above a predetermined threshold, leaving the plunger in engagement with the moveable wall. 
     
     
         29 . A refilling device according to  claim 28 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after controlling the motor to cease advancement of the plunger, control the motor to retract the plunger from engagement with the moveable wall so as to reduce pressure on fluid in the reservoir such that fluid ceases to move out of the outlet orifice. 
     
     
         30 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the refilling device is configured to move one or both of an article received in the article interface and a reservoir received in the reservoir interface towards one another to form the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         31 . A refilling device according to  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize when a reservoir is received in the reservoir interface and an article is received in the article interface, and in response, control the refilling device to move the article and/or the reservoir in order to form the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         32 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize when the reservoir has been emptied of fluid, and to control the motor to retract the plunger to the retracted position. 
     
     
         33 . A refilling device according to  claim 22  wherein refilling device comprises an access cover openable to allow a reservoir to be inserted into the reservoir interface or removed from the reservoir interface, and the controller is configured to recognize that the access cover is open, and in response, to control the motor to retract the plunger to the retracted position, to allow insertion or removal of a reservoir. 
     
     
         34 . A refilling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the article interface comprises a cavity for holding an article, the cavity having a boundary wall with oppositely disposed cut-out portions through which the article may be gripped during insertion into and removal from the article interface. 
     
     
         35 . A refilling device according to  claim 34 , wherein the cavity is shaped to hold an article during refilling with a mouthpiece end of the article facing downwards and an opposite end of the article having an inlet orifice for refilling facing upwards. 
     
     
         36 . A refiling device according to  claim 22 , wherein the refilling device comprises an outer housing, the outer housing including an aperture through which an amount of fluid in a reservoir received in the reservoir interface, or the presence of a reservoir received in the reservoir aperture, can be observed by a user. 
     
     
         37 . A method of refilling an article from a reservoir, comprising:
 forming a fluid flow path between an outlet orifice of the reservoir and an inlet orifice of the article, wherein the reservoir has a moveable wall configured to be inwardly pushable to reduce a capacity of the reservoir and move fluid out of the outlet orifice, and the article is an article of a vapor provision system having a storage area in fluid communication with the inlet orifice; and   controlling a motor-driven plunger to inwardly push the moveable wall of the reservoir to move fluid out of the outlet orifice, along the fluid flow path and into the inlet orifice in order to fill the storage area of the article with fluid from the reservoir.   
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein forming the fluid flow path comprises placing the reservoir and the article into a reservoir interface and an article interface in a refilling device, the refilling device comprising the motor-driven plunger and a controller configured to control a motor in the refilling device to drive the plunger. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising controlling the motor to advance the plunger to engage with the moveable wall in response to a recognition by the controller that the reservoir has been placed in the reservoir interface. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising controlling the motor to advance the plunger to inwardly push the moveable wall in response to a recognition by the controller that the article has been placed in the article interface. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40 , further comprising controlling the motor to cease or prevent advancement of the plunger in response to an indication received by the controller that an amount of fluid in the article is at or above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , further comprising, after ceasing advancement of the plunger, controlling the motor to retract the plunger from engagement with the moveable wall so as to reduce pressure on fluid in the reservoir such that fluid ceases to move out of the outlet orifice. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising moving the article and/or the reservoir in order to form the fluid flow path in response to a recognition that the reservoir has been placed in the reservoir interface and the article has been placed in the article interface. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising controlling the motor to retract the plunger to a retracted position away from the moveable wall in response to a recognition that the reservoir has been emptied of fluid. 
     
     
         45 . A kit comprising:
 a refilling device according to  claim 22 ; and   an aerosol provision system comprising an article having a storage area for aerosol generating material and a device to which the article can be coupled to form the aerosol provision system, wherein the article is configured to be received in the article interface of the refilling device.   
     
     
         46 . A kit according to  claim 45 , further comprising one or more reservoirs containing fluid, wherein the fluid is aerosol generating material for use in the aerosol provision system, wherein the one or more reservoirs are configured to be received in the reservoir interface of the refilling device. 
     
     
         47 . A nozzle for dispensing fluid, comprising:
 a tubular outer wall extending between a proximal end and a distal end and surrounding a nozzle volume;   an inner wall dividing the nozzle volume into a fluid channel for the flow of fluid from the proximal end to the distal end, and a venting channel for the flow of air from the distal end towards the proximal end;   the inner wall and the outer wall configured such that, at the distal end, the fluid channel extends beyond the venting channel.   
     
     
         48 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein the outer wall has a width of 2 mm or less, and the fluid channel extends beyond the venting channel for at least 3 mm. 
     
     
         49 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein fluid channel extends beyond the venting channel for at least 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         50 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein the inner wall is tubular, the fluid channel is defined by an inner surface of the inner wall, and the venting channel is defined by an outer surface of the inner wall and an inner surface of the outer wall. 
     
     
         51 . A nozzle according to  claim 50 , wherein the inner wall is substantially coaxial with the outer wall. 
     
     
         52 . A nozzle according to  claim 50 , wherein the inner wall is offset from a longitudinal axis of the outer wall. 
     
     
         53 . A nozzle according to  claim 52 , wherein the inner wall is in contact with the inner surface of the outer wall. 
     
     
         54 . A nozzle according to  claim 50 , wherein one or both of the inner wall and the outer wall have a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         55 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein the inner wall extends across the nozzle volume. 
     
     
         56 . A nozzle according to  claim 55 , wherein the inner wall is straight. 
     
     
         57 . A nozzle according to  claim 55 , wherein the inner wall is curved. 
     
     
         58 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein, in a transverse cross-section of the nozzle, the area of the venting channel is greater than the area of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         59 . A nozzle according to  claim 58 , wherein the area of the venting channel is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 times the area of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         60 . A nozzle according to  claim 58 , wherein the area of the venting channel is substantially twice the area of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         61 . A nozzle according to  claim 58 , wherein a ratio of the area of the venting channel to the area of the fluid channel is substantially constant along a length of the nozzle. 
     
     
         62 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , comprising at least one aperture in the outer wall which provides an outlet for air flowing in the venting channel. 
     
     
         63 . A nozzle according to  claim 47 , wherein the nozzle has been fabricated using three-dimensional printing. 
     
     
         64 . A reservoir for storing fluid, the reservoir comprising a nozzle according to  claim 47  for dispensing fluid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         65 . A reservoir according to  claim 64 , further comprising aerosol-generating material stored in the reservoir. 
     
     
         66 . A refilling device configured for refilling an article of an aerosol provision system received in the refilling device with aerosol-generating material from a reservoir, the refilling device comprising a reservoir according to  claim 64 . 
     
     
         67 . A nozzle for dispensing fluid, comprising:
 a tubular inner wall defining a fluid channel for the flow of fluid from a first end to a second end of the nozzle; and   a tubular outer wall surrounding the inner wall and defining a venting channel for the flow of air from the second end towards the first end of the nozzle, the venting channel defined by an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall;   wherein the inner wall is eccentrically located within the outer wall.   
     
     
         68 . A method of refilling a storage area with fluid, the method comprising:
 using a nozzle according to claim  67  to transfer fluid from a reservoir into the storage area.   
     
     
         69 . A method according to  claim 68 , wherein the storage area is within an article of an aerosol provision system, and the fluid comprises aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         70 . An article for an aerosol provision system, comprising:
 an outer housing comprising one or more walls including an inlet wall;   a storage area for aerosol-generating material defined within the outer housing;   an inlet orifice in fluid communication with an interior of the storage area by which aerosol-generating material can be added into the storage area; and   a valve closing the inlet orifice; wherein   the inlet orifice is located in the inlet wall of the outer housing and the valve is integrally formed with inlet orifice and the inlet wall.   
     
     
         71 . An article according to  claim 70  wherein the inlet wall is an end wall of the article opposite to a mouthpiece end of the article. 
     
     
         72 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet wall forms one or more sides of the outer housing. 
     
     
         73 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet orifice comprises an aperture in the inlet wall. 
     
     
         74 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet orifice comprises a tubular inlet extending inwardly from the inlet wall towards an interior of the article, the valve located at a distal end of the tubular inlet remote from the inlet wall. 
     
     
         75 . An article according to  claim 74 , wherein the tubular inlet has a length between the inlet wall and the valve in the range of 5 to 20 mm. 
     
     
         76 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the valve leads directly into the interior of the storage area. 
     
     
         77 . An article according to  claim 70 , further comprising a fluid flow path between the valve and the interior of the storage area. 
     
     
         78 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet wall, the inlet orifice and the valve are integrally formed as a molded component. 
     
     
         79 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet wall, the inlet orifice and the valve are integrally formed as a three-dimensional printed component. 
     
     
         80 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet wall, the inlet orifice and the valve are integrally formed from silicone. 
     
     
         81 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the valve comprises a self-sealing valve. 
     
     
         82 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the valve comprises a slit valve, a cross-slit valve, a dome valve or a flap valve. 
     
     
         83 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet orifice is located substantially centrally within the inlet wall. 
     
     
         84 . An article according to  claim 70 , wherein the inlet orifice is offset from a center of the inlet wall. 
     
     
         85 . An article according to  claim 70 , further comprising at least one surface feature on the outer housing that gives an external surface of the article a lack of rotational symmetry about an axis perpendicular to the inlet wall. 
     
     
         86 . An article according to  claim 85 , wherein the at least one surface feature is at least one protrusion or at least one recess. 
     
     
         87 . An article according to  claim 85 , wherein the at least one surface feature has a height or depth above or below the external surface of 1 mm or less. 
     
     
         88 . An aerosol provision system comprising an article according to  claim 70 . 
     
     
         89 . A wall for an article for an aerosol provision system, the wall configured to define at least part of an outer housing of the article, and comprising:
 an inlet orifice by which aerosol-generating material can be added into a storage area of the article; and   a valve closing the inlet orifice; wherein   the wall, the inlet orifice and the valve are integrally formed.