Aerosol Generating Device With A Heating Chamber Adapted For Convection Heating

Abstract

An aerosol generating device is configured to operate with a tobacco article having a substrate portion and a gripping portion arranged successively along an article axis. The device includesa heating chamber extending according to a chamber axis (Z) and configured to receive the substrate portion of the tobacco article, the heating chamber including a heater extending along the chamber axis (Z); anda maintaining structure configured to be engaged with the gripping portion of the tobacco article to maintain the substrate portion of the tobacco article inside the heating chamber at a distance (G) from the heater.

1 . An aerosol generating device configured to operate with a tobacco article comprising a substrate portion and a gripping portion arranged successively along an article axis (X), the device comprising:
 a heating chamber extending according to a chamber axis (Z) and configured to receive the substrate portion of the tobacco article, the heating chamber comprising a heater extending along the chamber axis; and   a maintaining structure configured to be engaged with the gripping portion of the tobacco article to maintain the substrate portion of the tobacco article inside the heating chamber at a distance (G) from the heater,   
       wherein the maintaining structure defines a reception cavity configured to extend along the chamber axis (Z) and to receive and retain the gripping portion of the tobacco article ( 12 ) along the chamber axis (Z), the reception cavity defining an opening, a flow channel extending from the heating chamber through the reception cavity to said opening. 
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance (G) is adapted to ensure convection heat transfer from the heater to the substrate portion of the tobacco article. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance (G) is formed according to an axis perpendicular to the chamber axis (Z). 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the maintaining structure is arranged exterior to the heating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heating chamber defines an open end usable for inserting the substrate portion of the tobacco article inside the heating chamber; and   the maintaining structure is arranged adjacent to the open end of the heating chamber or to face the open end of the heating chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the maintaining structure is formed by a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the maintaining structure is removable from a housing of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the maintaining structure is configured to be engaged with the gripping portion of the tobacco article when the maintaining structure is removed from the housing of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco article is a flat-shaped tobacco article and wherein the heater comprises a heating plate. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the maintaining structure is configured to maintain the substrate portion of the tobacco article inside the heating chamber at a distance (G) from the heating plate. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber encloses a loop shaped free space configured to surround the substrate portion of the tobacco article. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber is configured for being contactless with a free end of the substrate portion. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 9  wherein the heater comprises two heating plates facing each other. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 14 , wherein the maintaining structure is configured to maintain the substrate portion of the tobacco article inside the heating chamber at a same distance (G) from each of the two heating plates.