Vapour Generating Device

Abstract

A heating assembly for a vapour generating device includes: a heating chamber arranged to hold an aerosol generating medium; a heater arranged, in use, to provide heating to the heating chamber; and an ejector arranged to controllably eject, in use, the aerosol generating medium from the heating chamber. A vapour generating device includes the heating assembly; and a vapour passage to carry vapour generated in the heating chamber from the heating chamber to an air outlet, wherein at least a portion of the vapour passage is formed by the ejector.

1 . A heating assembly for a vapour generating device, the heating assembly comprising:
 a heating chamber arranged to hold an aerosol generating medium;   a heater arranged, in use, to provide heating to the heating chamber; and   an ejector arranged to controllably eject, in use, the aerosol generating medium from the heating chamber, wherein the ejector comprises a protrusion, configured, in use, to be directly adjacent an inner wall of the heating chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The heating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a contact surface and a passive surface opposite to the contact surface, wherein the contact surface is arranged, in use, to come into contact with the aerosol generating medium. 
     
     
         3 . The heating assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion includes a plurality of apertures each defining an air flow path, so as to place the contact surface and the passive surface in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The heating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the ejector comprises a tubular portion, and one or more electrical contacts are positioned on the tubular portion of the ejector. 
     
     
         5 . The heating assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the ejector comprises a secondary protrusion disposed on the tubular portion. 
     
     
         6 . The heating assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the heating chamber further comprises a restrictor for accommodating a portion of the secondary protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The heating assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the chamber comprises an opening and the ejector is arranged to push, in use, the aerosol generating medium toward the opening of the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The heating assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a flat circular shape, a conical shape, or a cross-shape. 
     
     
         9 . The heating assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detector arranged, in use, to detect actuation of the ejector. 
     
     
         10 . The heating assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the detector is arranged to send a signal to a control module in response to the detection of actuation of the ejector. 
     
     
         11 . The heating assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the control module is arranged to reset a puff counter in the vapour generating device in response to the detection of actuation of the ejector. 
     
     
         12 . The heating assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the ejector comprises one or more electrical contacts and the detector is arranged, in use, to detect actuation of the ejector based on the position of the one or more electrical contacts. 
     
     
         13 . A vapour generating device comprising the heating assembly according to  claim 1 ; and a vapour passage to carry vapour generated in the heating chamber from the heating chamber to an air outlet, wherein at least a portion of the vapour passage is formed by the ejector. 
     
     
         14 . A vapour generating device comprising the heating assembly according to  claim 1 ;
 and an air passage to carry air from an air inlet to the heating chamber, wherein at least a portion of the air passage is formed by the ejector.   
     
     
         15 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a vapour passage to carry vapour generated in the heating chamber from the heating chamber to an air outlet, wherein at least a portion of the vapour passage is formed by the ejector. 
     
     
         16 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 14 , wherein the air passage comprises a gasket and the ejector is sealed within the passage by the gasket when the device is operable to generate vapour. 
     
     
         17 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ejector is arranged to eject the aerosol generating medium toward the outlet of the device. 
     
     
         18 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a switch operable to actuate the ejector. 
     
     
         19 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the switch comprises a sliding lever mechanism comprising a slide handle connected to a lever through a pivot, the lever being connected to the ejector such that movement of the slide handle causes movement of the ejector. 
     
     
         20 . The vapour generating device according to  claim 14 , wherein actuation of the ejector causes the ejector to move in the direction of air flow through the device or in a direction opposite to the direction of airflow through the device.