Cartridge with movable sealing element

Abstract

A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device is provided, including a tubular reservoir to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an inner sidewall of the tubular reservoir coaxially circumscribing a hollow inner channel; and a tubular movable sealing element within the channel and being axially movable therein from a first position to fluidly isolate the reservoir to a second position to fluidly connect the reservoir with the channel, a cross-section of an inner hollow channel of the element varying along an axial direction thereof, a diameter of the inner hollow channel of the element being reduced at a position along an axial direction thereof to between 0.4 and 1.0 mm, and inner walls of the element being convexly shaped such that a center portion of the inner hollow channel of the element has a reduced diameter with respect to proximal and distal end portions of the inner hollow channel.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a tubular reservoir configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;   an inner sidewall of the tubular reservoir coaxially circumscribing a hollow inner channel; and   a movable sealing element arranged within the hollow inner channel and being axially movable along the hollow inner channel from a first position to fluidly isolate the tubular reservoir from the hollow inner channel to a second position to fluidly connect the tubular reservoir with the hollow inner channel,   wherein the movable sealing element is a tubular movable sealing element,   wherein a cross-section of an inner hollow channel of the tubular movable sealing element varies along an axial direction of the tubular movable sealing element,   wherein a diameter of the inner hollow channel of the tubular movable sealing element is reduced at a position along an axial direction of the tubular movable sealing element,   wherein the reduced diameter is between 0.4 millimeter and 1.0 millimeter, and   wherein inner walls of the tubular movable sealing element are convexly shaped such that a center portion of the inner hollow channel of the tubular movable sealing element has a reduced diameter with respect to proximal and distal end portions of the inner hollow channel of the tubular movable sealing element.   
     
     
         16 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the reduced diameter is between 0.6 millimeter and 0.8 millimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element is configured to automatically move from the first position to the second position when the cartridge is being attached to the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position by means of a cylindrical element of the aerosol-generating device when the cylindrical element is being inserted into the hollow inner channel of the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the inner sidewall of the tubular reservoir coaxially circumscribing the hollow inner channel comprises a fluid-permeable wall portion, and   wherein the movable sealing element is configured to seal the fluid-permeable wall portion when being in the first position.   
     
     
         20 . The cartridge according to  claim 19 , wherein the fluid-permeable wall portion comprises one or more through-holes or perforations of the inner sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid-permeable wall portion comprises a fluid-permeable material. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein the fluid-permeable material is a ceramic-based material or a graphite-based material. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element remains coupled to the rest of the cartridge in both the first and the second positions. 
     
     
         24 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein a proximal end of the cartridge is configured as a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         25 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         26 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         27 . The cartridge according to  claim 26 , wherein the elastomeric material is selected from one or more of PTFE, Nitrile, Neoprene, EPDM Rubber, and Fluorocarbon. 
     
     
         28 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the hollow inner channel is between 2.5 millimeters and 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         29 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the hollow inner channel is between 3.0 millimeters and 5.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         30 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the hollow inner channel is between 3.0 millimeters and 4.2 millimeters. 
     
     
         31 . The cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein the movable sealing element is securely held within the hollow inner channel by being friction-fitted to the inner sidewall of the tubular reservoir. 
     
     
         32 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 the cartridge according to  claim 15 ; and   an aerosol-generating device comprising an electric heating element, wherein at least a portion of the electric heating element is arranged to be inserted into the hollow inner channel of the cartridge.