FLAVOR INHALER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to a flavor inhaler.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]Flavor inhalers for inhaling flavors, etc. without burning of materials are conventionally known. A known flavor inhaler such as this comprises a metal heat diffusing portion for diffusing heat of an accommodating portion, in which a consumable material is accommodated and heated, the heat being diffused to the surrounding area so that hotspots are not produced during use (e.g., see PTL 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[0003]PTL 1 WO 2020/199210 A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0004]In the flavor inhaler disclosed in PTL 1, when the control unit that controls the operation of the flavor inhaler is arranged adjacent to the accommodating portion, the heat of the accommodating portion diffused by the heat diffusing portion may undesirably affect the control unit.

[0005]The present invention has been devised to solve at least some of the above problems, and the objective thereof is to diffuse the heat of the accommodating portion using the heat diffusing portion while protecting the control unit from the heat of the accommodating portion.

Solution to Problem

[0006]In the first aspect of the present invention, a flavor inhaler is provided. This flavor inhaler comprises: a cylindrical accommodating portion for accommodating a consumable material in order to heat the consumable material; a heat diffusing portion which is arranged as to cover at least part of the accommodating portion and diffuses heat of the accommodating portion; a control unit for controlling the operation of the flavor inhaler; and a housing for accommodating the accommodating portion, the heat diffusing portion, and the control unit, wherein the accommodating portion and the control unit are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler, and a portion of the heat diffusing portion on the control unit side is open in the circumferential direction of the accommodating portion.

[0007]According to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat diffusing portion covering the accommodating portion has a part on the control unit side that is open in the circumferential direction of the accommodating portion. Therefore, it is possible to diffuse the heat of the accommodating portion by means of the heat diffusing portion while protecting the control unit from the heat of the accommodating portion.

[0008]According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the heat diffusing portion is configured to extend beyond the accommodating portion toward the control unit.

[0009]According to the second aspect of the present invention, by configuring the heat diffusing portion to extend beyond the accommodating portion toward the control unit, it is possible to promote heat diffusion in the radial direction of the accommodating portion.

[0010]According the third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the control unit has a control board, and the heat diffusing portion is arranged so as not to cover at least one main surface of the control board.

[0011]According to the third aspect of the present invention, by arranging the heat diffusing portion so as not to cover at least one main surface of the control board, it is possible to suppress heat transfer by radiation from the heat diffusing portion to the control board, and to protect the control unit from the heat of the accommodating portion.

[0012]According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to third aspects, the housing has a first housing for accommodating the control unit, the first housing is formed by a non-conductive material, and the control unit has a wireless communication unit for wireless communication with the outside.

[0013]According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication unit is accommodated in the first housing made of a non-conductive material, and the beat diffusing portion has a part on the wireless communication unit side that is open in the circumferential direction of the accommodating portion. Therefore, it is possible to ensure wireless communication with the outside using the wireless communication unit.

[0014]According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the heat diffusing portion is accommodated in the first housing, and the thermal conductivity of the heat diffusing portion is greater than the thermal conductivity of the first housing.

[0015]According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by making the thermal conductivity of the heat diffusing portion greater than the thermal conductivity of the first housing, heat can be uniformly diffused within the first housing, and it is possible to prevent the surface of the first housing from becoming locally hot.

[0016]According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the length of the first housing in the longitudinal direction is smaller on the side on which the accommodating portion is arranged than on the side on which the control unit is arranged.

[0017]According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by making the length of the first housing in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the accommodating portion is arranged smaller than the length of the first housing in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the control unit is arranged, it is possible to efficiently diffuse the heat of the accommodating portion to the second housing arranged along the first housing.

[0018]According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in any of the fourth to sixth aspects, the heat diffusing portion is arranged in contact with an inner surface of the first housing.

[0019]According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by arranging the heat diffusing portion in contact with the inner surface of the first housing, it is possible to efficiently diffuse the heat of the heat diffusing portion to the outside from the surface of the first housing after use of the flavor inhaler.

[0020]According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in any of the fourth to seventh aspects, the housing has a second housing that does not accommodate the wireless communication unit, and the thermal conductivity of the second housing is greater than the thermal conductivity of the first housing.

[0021]According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by making the thermal conductivity of the second housing greater than the thermal conductivity of the first housing, it becomes easier to diffuse the heat of the first housing to the second housing, thereby suppressing the surface of the first housing from becoming high in temperature.

[0022]According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the first housing is made of resin, and the second housing is made of metal.

[0023]According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, by making the first housing of resin and the second housing of metal, it becomes easier to diffuse the heat of the first housing to the second housing, thereby preventing the surface of the first housing from becoming high in temperature.

[0024]According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth or ninth aspect, contact faces between the first housing and the second housing are inclined in relation to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

[0025]According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by inclining the contact faces between the first housing and the second housing in relation to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to change the length of the first housing and the second housing in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the accommodating portion is arranged and the side on which the control unit is arranged.

[0026]According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any of the eighth to tenth aspects, the heat diffusing portion is arranged in contact with the second housing.

[0027]According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, by arranging the heat diffusing portion in contact with the second housing, it is possible to diffuse the heat of the heat diffusing portion to the second housing.

[0028]According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to eleventh aspects, elements of the control unit are arranged so as not to face the accommodating portion.

[0029]According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, by arranging the elements of the control unit so as not to face the accommodating portion, it is possible to reduce the effects of heat of the accommodating portion on the elements of the control unit.

[0030]According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to twelfth aspects, the length of the heat diffusing portion in the longitudinal direction increases from the side on which the accommodating portion is arranged toward the side on which the control unit is arranged.

[0031]According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, by increasing the length of the heat diffusing portion in the longitudinal direction from the side on which the accommodating portion is arranged toward the side on which the control unit is arranged, the surface area of the heat diffusing portion around the control unit becomes larger, promoting heat diffusion, and reducing the temperature of the heat diffusing portion on the side on which the control unit is arranged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a flavor inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the flavor inhaler accommodating a consumable material.

[0034]FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the flavor inhaler along the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1.

[0035]FIG. 4 is a front view of the flavor inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036]FIG. 5 is an oblique view of a flavor inhaler with an upper housing removed.

[0037]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the flavor inhaler shown in FIG. 5.

[0038]FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the heat diffusion sleeve taken from FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0039]Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, the same or corresponding components are indicated by the same symbols, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0040]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a flavor inhaler 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the flavor inhaler 100 accommodating a consumable material 120 inserted through an opening 110. An X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system may be applied to the drawings described in the present specification for convenience of description. In this coordinate system, the Z-axis is oriented vertically upwards, the X-Y plane is arranged cutting across the flavor inhaler 100 in a horizontal direction, and the Y-axis is arranged extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the flavor inhaler 100. The Z-axis direction may also refer to a direction of insertion of the consumable material 120, which is accommodated in a chamber 50 to be described later. Additionally, the X-axis direction can be referred to as the device longitudinal direction in the plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the consumable materials 120. The Y-axis direction can be referred to as the device transverse direction in the plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the consumable materials 120.

[0041]The flavor inhaler 100 is configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by, for example, heating a stick-type consumable material 120 having a flavor source containing an aerosol source. As an example, the consumable material 120 comprises a smokable substance that contains a flavor source such as tobacco and an aerosol source at a tip end in the Z-axis negative direction, and comprises a filter on another part. Examples of aerosol sources that may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. It should be noted that, in the embodiment, the consumable material 120 is described as being stick-shaped, but the consumable material used in the flavor inhaler 100 is not limited to that shape. For example, the consumable material may also be configured to contain a cartridge accommodating a liquid aerosol source. Furthermore, this cartridge may comprise a heating unit.

[0042]As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flavor inhaler 100 comprises: a housing 102 formed by an upper housing (first housing) 104 and a lower housing (second housing) 106; and a slide cover 108.

[0043]The housing 102 forms the outermost housing of the flavor inhaler 100 and is of a size that fits in a user's hand. When the user is using the flavor inhaler 100, the user can inhale the aerosol while holding the flavor inhaler 100 in their hand. It should be noted for the housing 102 in this case that the upper housing 104 is formed by a resin such as polycarbonate, for example, and the lower housing 106 is formed by a metal such as aluminum, for example. However, the housing 102 is not limited to the materials above and may also be made of a resin, for example, and it is possible to select any suitable material, such as, in particular, polycarbonate (PC), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), or a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymers.

[0044]The upper housing 104 comprises an opening 110 for receiving the consumable material 120, and the slide cover 108 is slidably attached to the upper housing 104 so as to close this opening 110. Specifically, the slide cover 108 is configured to be movable along an outer surface of the upper housing 104 between a closed position for closing the opening 110 of the upper housing 104, and an open position (the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) for opening the opening. For example, the user can manually operate the slide cover 108 to move the slide cover 108 between the closed position and the open position. As a result, the slide cover 108 can permit or restrict access of the consumable material 120 to the inside of the flavor inhaler 100.

[0045]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the housing 102 of the flavor inhaler 100 in such a way that joining surfaces of the upper housing 104 and the lower housing 106 obliquely cross the X-Y plane, but the housing 102 is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the housing 102 may also be formed from three or more members.

[0046]The flavor inhaler 100 may further include a terminal, which is not shown in the drawings. The terminal may be an interface for connecting the flavor inhaler 100 to an external power source, for example. When the power source of the flavor inhaler 100 is a rechargeable battery, the external power source can be connected to the terminal so that a current is supplied from the external power source to the power source, and the power source can be charged. Furthermore, data relating to operation of the flavor inhaler 100 may also be sent to an external device by connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal.

[0047]The internal structure of the flavor inhaler 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described next. FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the flavor inhaler along the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, a power source unit 20, an atomization unit 30, and a control unit 80 are provided in an internal space of the housing 102 of the flavor inhaler 100.

[0048]The control unit 80 (wireless communication unit) comprises a board (control board) 82. The board 82 may comprise a microprocessor, etc., for example, and may control the supply of power from the power source unit 20 to the atomization unit 30. This enables the control unit 80 to control heating of the consumable material 120 by the atomization unit 30. Additionally, the control unit 80 includes a Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface (element) 28. The control unit 80 can communicate with an external device via the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 28.

[0049]The power source unit 20 comprises a power source 21 which is electrically connected to the board 82 of the control unit 80. The power source 21 may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery, for example. The power source 21 is electrically connected to the atomization unit 30 via the board 82. This allows the power source 21 to supply power to the atomization unit 30 to heat the consumable material 120 appropriately.

[0050]The atomization unit 30 comprises: the chamber (accommodating portion) 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of the consumable material 120; a heating unit (not depicted) surrounding a portion of the chamber 50, a heat insulating portion 32; and a substantially cylindrical insertion guide member 34. The chamber 50 is configured to accommodate the consumable material 120. The heating unit is configured to contact the outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50 and to heat the consumable material 120 accommodated in the chamber 50. As an example, a susceptor may be provided inside or adjacent to the consumable material 120, and the heating unit may also include an induction coil for inductively heating the susceptor.

[0051]The heat insulating portion 32 is configured to surround the chamber 50 and the heating unit. The heat insulating portion 32 may be an aerogel, for example. The insertion guide member 34 is formed by a resin material such as PEEK, PC or ABS, for example, and is provided between the slide cover 108 (closed position) and the chamber 50. The insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 100 when the slide cover 108 is in the open position, and guides the insertion of the consumable material 120 into the chamber 50 when the consumable material 120 is inserted into the insertion guide member 34.

[0052]Furthermore, the atomization unit 30 and the control unit 80 are covered by a heat diffusion sleeve (heat diffusing portion) 70 and arranged in an internal space of the housing 102. The heat diffusion sleeve 70 is made from a material with a high thermal conductivity, such as a metal, and diffuses the heat generated by the atomization unit 30 inside the housing 102. The heat diffusion sleeve 70 can be configured to be placed only inside the upper housing 104 without interfering with the lower housing 106. Also, an open region can also be provided in the heat diffusion sleeve 70 so as not to interfere with communication with an external device by the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 28 of the control unit 80. Although metallic members generally interfere with electromagnetic waves, the control unit 80 is able to carry out communication with an external device via the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 28, at least through the open region of the heat diffusion sleeve 70.

[0053]The characteristic structure of the flavor inhaler 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described next. FIG. 4 is a front view of the flavor inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cylindrical chamber 50, which is accommodated in the housing 102 and accommodates the consumable material 120 in order to heat the consumable material 120, is shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 4.

[0054]As shown in FIG. 4, the upper housing 104 and the lower housing 106 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 100. The chamber 50 comprises a first accommodating part 51 accommodated in the upper housing 104, and a second accommodating part 52 accommodated in the lower housing 106.

[0055]The upper housing 104 is composed of a non-conductive material such as polycarbonate (PC), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), or a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymers, as described above. The lower housing 106 is composed of metal such as aluminum, as described above.

[0056]FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the flavor inhaler 100 with the upper housing 104 removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the flavor inhaler 100 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5 and 6, the chamber 50 and the control unit 80, which controls the operation of the flavor inhaler 100, are arranged adjacently to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 100.

[0057]The heat diffusion sleeve 70 is arranged to cover the first accommodating part 51, which constitutes at least a portion of the chamber 50, and diffuses heat in the chamber 50. Here, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 and the control unit 80 are accommodated in the upper housing 104. As described above, the control unit 80 may perform wireless communication with an external device via the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 28.

[0058]FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 taken from FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 comprises: a main body portion 71, an extension portion 72 extending from the main body portion 71 beyond the chamber 50 toward the control unit 80, and contact portions 73 which contact the lower housing 106 when assembled. The heat diffusion sleeve 70 furthermore comprises an open portion 74 which is at least partially open on the control unit 80 side in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50

[0059]In this way, the control unit 80, which functions as a wireless communication unit performing wireless communication with the outside, is accommodated in the upper housing 104 made of a non-conductive material, and the heat diffusion sleeve 70 covering the chamber 50 is partially open in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50. It is therefore possible to diffuse the heat of the chamber 50 by means of the heat diffusion sleeve 70, while safeguarding wireless communication with the outside by the control unit 80.

[0060]Additionally, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 covering the chamber 50 is partially open on the control unit 80 side in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50. It is therefore possible to diffuse the heat of the chamber 50 by means of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 while protecting the control unit 80 from the heat of the chamber 50. Additionally, it is possible to safeguard wireless communication with the outside by the control unit 80 while also suppressing diffusion of heat of the chamber 50 to the control unit 80.

[0061]As shown in FIG. 5-7, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably configured to extend beyond the chamber 50 toward the control unit 80. By configuring the heat diffusion sleeve 70 to extend beyond the chamber 50 toward the control unit 80, it is possible to promote beat diffusion in the radial direction of the chamber 50.

[0062]Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably arranged so as not to cover at least one main surface of the board 82. That is, the extension portion 72 of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably arranged so as not to cover the surface on which elements of the board 82 are arranged. By arranging the heat diffusion sleeve 70 so as not to cover at least one main surface of the board 82, it is possible to suppress heat transfer by radiation from the heat diffusion sleeve 70 to the board 82, and to protect the control unit 80 from the heat of the chamber 50.

[0063]Additionally, the thermal conductivity of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably greater than the thermal conductivity of the upper housing 104. By making the thermal conductivity of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 greater than the thermal conductivity of the upper housing 104, heat can be uniformly diffused within the upper housing 104, and it is possible to suppress a localized high temperature on the surface of the upper housing 104.

[0064]Additionally, the thermal conductivity of the lower housing 106 is preferably greater than the thermal conductivity of the upper housing 104. By making the thermal conductivity of the lower housing 106 greater than the thermal conductivity of the upper housing 104, heat of the upper housing 104 is more readily diffused to the lower housing 106, and it is therefore possible to suppress a localized high temperature on the surface of the upper housing 104.

[0065]Additionally, the upper housing 104 is preferably made of a resin and the lower housing 106 is preferably made of a metal. By making the upper housing 104 from a resin and the lower housing 106 from a metal, heat of the upper housing 104 is more readily diffused to the lower housing 106, and it is therefore possible to suppress a localized high temperature on the surface of the upper housing 104.

[0066]Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, contact faces between the upper housing 104 and the lower housing 106 are preferably inclined in relation to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. By inclining the contact faces between the upper housing 104 and the lower housing 106 in relation to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to vary the lengths of the upper housing 104 and the lower housing 106 in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged and the side on which the chamber 50 is not arranged.

[0067]Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the upper housing 104 in the longitudinal direction is smaller on the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged than on the side on which the chamber 50 is not arranged. By making the length of the upper housing 104 in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged smaller than the length of the upper housing 104 in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the chamber 50 is not arranged, it is possible to efficiently diffuse the heat of the chamber 50 to the lower housing 106.

[0068]Additionally, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably arranged in contact with the inner surface of the upper housing 104. By arranging the heat diffusion sleeve 70 in contact with the inner surface of the upper housing 104, it is possible to efficiently diffuse the heat of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 to the outside from the surface of the upper housing 104 after use of the flavor inhaler 100.

[0069]Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably arranged in contact with the lower housing 106. That is to say, the heat diffusion sleeve 70 is preferably arranged in contact with the lower housing 106 by way of the contact portions 73, for example. By arranging the heat diffusion sleeve 70 in contact with the lower housing 106, it is possible to diffuse the heat of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 to the lower housing 106.

[0070]Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the elements of the control unit 80, e.g., the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 28, are preferably arranged so as not to face the chamber 50. By arranging the elements of the control unit 80 so as not to face the chamber 50, it is possible to reduce the effects from heat of the chamber 50 on the elements of the control unit 80.

[0071]Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the length of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 in the longitudinal direction preferably increases from the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged toward the side on which the chamber 50 is not arranged, that is, from the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged toward the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged. By increasing the length of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 in the longitudinal direction from the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged toward the side on which the chamber 50 is not arranged, it is possible to increase the surface area of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 around the control unit 80, thereby promoting heat diffusion and reducing the temperature of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 on the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged.

[0072]It should be noted that the surface of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 need not be flat, and the thickness of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 need not be uniform either. For example, instead of varying the length of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 in the longitudinal direction on the side on which the chamber 50 is arranged and the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged, it is equally possible to form the surface of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 with an undulating shape, etc. on the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged. By forming the surface of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 with an undulating shape on the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged, it is possible to increase the surface area of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 around the control unit 80, thereby promoting heat diffusion and reducing the temperature of the heat diffusion sleeve 70 on the side on which the control unit 80 is arranged.

[0073]The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the embodiments of the invention described above are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. Additionally, within the range that can solve at least some of the above-described problems or achieve at least some of the effects, combinations or omissions of the components described in the claims and the specification are possible.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST