Aerosol-generating device including aerosol flow path

Abstract

Provided is an aerosol-generating device including a first housing structure including an atomization space and a first aerosol flow path communicating with the atomization space, a second housing structure including a chamber that accommodates an aerosol-generating substance, an intake that discharges an aerosol, and a second aerosol flow path that communicates with the intake from the first aerosol flow path, and second housing structure detachably coupled to the first housing structure, a wick disposed inside the atomization space, and an absorbent member including a protruding area protruding from the second housing structure, the absorbent member delivering an aerosol-generating substance from the chamber to the wick. The first aerosol flow path is deployed in a direction surrounding the wick and the protruding area of the absorbent member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a first housing structure comprising an atomization space and a first aerosol flow path communicating with the atomization space;   a second housing structure comprising a chamber that accommodates an aerosol-generating substance, an intake that discharges an aerosol, and a second aerosol flow path that communicates with the intake from the first aerosol flow path, and second housing structure detachably coupled to the first housing structure;   a wick disposed inside the atomization space; and   an absorbent member comprising a protruding area protruding from the second housing structure, the absorbent member delivering an aerosol-generating substance from the chamber to the wick,   wherein the first aerosol flow path is deployed in a direction surrounding the wick and the protruding area of the absorbent member.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the wick comprises a first surface facing the protruding area, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of third surfaces extending from the first surface to the second surface, and   the plurality of third surfaces comprises a plurality of first lateral surfaces facing each other, and a plurality of second lateral surfaces disposed between the plurality of first lateral surfaces and having a larger area than the plurality of first lateral surfaces.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 2 , wherein the first aerosol flow path extends in a direction surrounding at least one of the plurality of second lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first aerosol flow path comprises a plurality of first aerosol flow paths, and   the plurality of first aerosol flow paths extends in a direction surrounding the plurality of second lateral surfaces, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the wick is formed of ceramic or a porous thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent member is formed of felt or a cotton material. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the second aerosol flow path comprises a plurality of second aerosol flow paths, and   the plurality of second aerosol flow paths are respectively disposed on both sides of the wick.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the second aerosol flow path comprises:   a first flow path region connected to the first aerosol flow path, surrounding the absorbent member, and bent at least once; and   a second flow path region communicating from the first flow path region to the intake.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the first flow path region comprises a plurality of first flow path regions, and   the plurality of first flow path regions are respectively disposed on both sides of the absorbent member.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing structure comprises a first sealing member that is disposed to face the second housing structure and partially surrounds the protruding area of the absorbent member. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 10 , wherein the second housing structure comprises a second sealing member that is disposed to face the first sealing member and partially surrounds the protruding area of the absorbent member together with the first sealing member. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 11 , wherein the first sealing member comprises a first opening that communicates with the first aerosol flow path and is disposed on at least one of both sides of the protruding area of the absorbent member. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 12 , wherein the second sealing member comprises a second opening that communicates with the second aerosol flow path and is disposed to face the first opening. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 13 , wherein the first opening is formed to protrude from the first sealing member and is inserted into the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 13 , wherein the second opening is formed to protrude from the second sealing member and is inserted into the first opening.