Cleaning tool for aerosol-generating device

Abstract

A tool for cleaning an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber, the tool includes a first cleaning head, a second cleaning head, a tool base, a housing, and an opening tab. The first cleaning head extends along a longitudinal axis of the tool between a proximal end and a distal end. The second cleaning head is arranged back-to-back with the first cleaning head. The tool base is arranged between the first cleaning head and the second cleaning head. The housing includes a first cap and a second cap. The first cap is configured to engage with the tool base to house the first cleaning head. The second cap is configured to engage with the tool base to house the second cleaning head. The opening tab extends from the tool base and is configured to selectively disengage the first cap or the second cap from the tool base.

1 . A tool for cleaning an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber, the tool comprising:
 a first cleaning head extending along a longitudinal axis of the tool between a proximal end and a distal end;   a second cleaning head arranged back-to-back with the first cleaning head;   a tool base arranged between the first cleaning head and the second cleaning head;   a housing comprising:
 a first cap configured to engage with the tool base to house the first cleaning head; and 
 a second cap configured to engage with the tool base to house the second cleaning head; and 
   an opening tab extending from the tool base and configured to selectively disengage the first cap or the second cap from the tool base based on a user interaction with the opening tab.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cap and the second cap each comprise a notch; and   the opening tab extends through the notch of the first cap when the first cap is engaged with the tool base and through the notch of the second cap when the second cap is engaged with the tool base.   
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the opening tab is configured to protrude over an edge surface of the first cap when the first cap is engaged with the tool base and to protrude over an edge surface of the second cap when the second cap is engaged with the tool base. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the opening tab comprises:
 a first surface arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool; and   a second surface arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool and opposite the first surface,   wherein the opening tab is configured to:
 disengage the first cap from the tool base when pressure is applied to the second surface, and 
 disengage second cap from the tool base when pressure is applied to the first surface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap and the second cap are configured to engage with the tool base via a snap fit connection. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the opening tab is configured to elastically flex within a range in response to pressure exerted on opening tab in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool, the range of the flex configured to allow the opening tab to exert pressure on the first cap or the second cap sufficient to disengage the first cap or the second cap from the tool base. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second cleaning head is detachable from the tool base. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first cleaning head comprises:
 a first elongate member extending from the tool base, the first elongate member comprising a first distal end distal from the tool base; and   a second elongate member extending from the tool base, the second elongate member comprising a second distal end distal from the tool base,   wherein a slot is defined between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.   
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a tubular member surrounding at least a portion of the first elongate member and second elongate member. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member further comprises:
 a first semi-cylindrical shell; and   a second semi-cylindrical shell,   wherein the first semi-cylindrical and the second semi-cylindrical shell are configured to couple to one another to form a tube.   
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the first cleaning head further comprises one or more pivot members arranged between the tool base and both the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member, wherein the one or more pivot members is configured to allow pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a preferred direction transverse to the extension of the first elongate member and wherein the one or more pivot members is configured to limit pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a non-preferred direction. 
     
     
         12 . The tool according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more pivot members comprises an elliptical member defining an outer circumference with a channel configured to engage with a rib of the heating chamber to prevent axial rotation of the first elongate member and the second elongate member within the heating chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The tool according to  claim 12 , wherein the elliptical member comprises a disk or a cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second cleaning head comprises one or more scraping surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating blade with a substantially rectangular cross section extending into the heating chamber from a bottom chamber wall of a heating chamber; and   a tool for cleaning the aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 .