Flavor inhaler

Abstract

The present invention improves the degree of freedom in controlling the amounts of an inhaled aerosol and a flavor. A flavor inhaler 100 is provided with: an aerosol source 102 ; an atomizing unit that atomizes the aerosol source and generates an aerosol; a flavor source 106 provided downstream from the atomizing unit 104 ; a mouthpiece 108 provided downstream from the flavor source 106 ; an aerosol flow path 110 that guides the aerosol generated in the atomizing unit 104 to the mouthpiece and that comprises a first flow path 110 A leading to the mouthpiece via the flavor source 106 and a second flow path 110 B differing from the first flow path, the starting point of said second flow path being either directly or indirectly connected to the first flow path; and a flow rate adjustment mechanism 112 that makes it possible to adjust the air flow rate ratio of the first flow path 110 A and the second flow path 110 B.

1 . A flavor inhaler comprising:
 an aerosol source;   an atomizing section for atomizing the aerosol source for generating aerosol;   a flavor source positioned downstream the atomizing section;   a mouthpiece positioned downstream the flavor source;   an aerosol flow path for guiding the aerosol generated in the atomizing section to the mouthpiece, wherein the aerosol flow path comprises a first flow path leading to the mouthpiece via the flavor source, and a second flow path which is different from the first flow path and has a starting point connected directly or indirectly to the first flow path; and   a flow rate adjustment mechanism which can adjust a ratio between an air flow rate of the first flow path and an air flow rate of the second flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the second flow path is a flow path which does not pass through the flavor source. 
     
     
         3 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate adjustment mechanism is positioned at least in a part on the first flow path or the second flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1  comprising a control section for controlling operation of at least one of the flow rate adjustment mechanism and the atomizing section. 
     
     
         5 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 4 , wherein the control section is constructed to control the ratio between the air flow rate of the first flow path and the air flow rate of the second flow path, by controlling operation of the flow rate adjustment mechanism based on the amount of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section. 
     
     
         6 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 5 , wherein the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section per predetermined time, at the time when inhaling action starts, is determined in advance; and the control section controls the air flow rate ratio, based on the predetermined amount of the aerosol to be generated per the predetermined time. 
     
     
         7 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the control section is further constructed to detect change in the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section per the predetermined time, and   the control section controls the air flow rate ratio based on the changed amount of the aerosol to be generated per the predetermined time.   
     
     
         8 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 4 , wherein the control section is constructed to control the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section by controlling operation of the atomizing section based on the ratio between the air flow rate of the first flow path and the air flow rate of the second flow path. 
     
     
         9 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 8 , wherein the air flow rate ratio, at the time when inhaling action starts, is determined in advance; and the control section controls the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section based on the predetermined air flow rate ratio. 
     
     
         10 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the control section is further constructed to detect change in the air flow rate ratio, and   the control section controls the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section based on the changed air flow rate ratio.   
     
     
         11 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 10 , wherein the control section determines the changed air flow rate ratio based on an operation state of the flow rate adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 4 , wherein the control section controls at least one of the air flow rate ratio and the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section, for making the amount of the aerosol passing through the first flow path to be constant. 
     
     
         13 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 6 , wherein the control section controls the atomizing section to change the predetermined amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section per the predetermined time, in the case that an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section or an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol passed through the first flow path exceeds a first threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 9 , wherein the control section controls the flow rate adjustment mechanism to change the predetermined air flow rate ratio, in the case that an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section or an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol passed through the first flow path exceeds a first threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 4 , wherein the control section is further constructed to block communication between the atomizing section and the first flow path or cut off supply of electric power to the atomizing section, in the case that an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section or an accumulated value of the amounts of the aerosol passed through the first flow path exceeds a second threshold value. 
     
     
         16 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 13 , wherein the control section calculates the amount of the aerosol passed through the first flow path based on the air flow rate ratio and the amount of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section. 
     
     
         17 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 5 , wherein the control section calculates the amount of the aerosol generated in the atomizing section based on electric energy supplied to the atomizing section. 
     
     
         18 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate adjustment mechanism comprises a mechanism for changing at least one of a cross-section area of at least a part of the first flow path and a cross-section area of at least a part of the second flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow rate adjustment mechanism comprises a first member and a second member;   at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path is formed by the first member and the second member; and   at least one of a cross-section area of at least a part of the first flow path and a cross-section area of at least a part of the second flow path is changed as a result of relative movement of the first member and the second member.   
     
     
         20 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1  further comprising a battery assembly comprising a battery. 
     
     
         21 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 20 , wherein the battery assembly is attachable/detachable to/from the atomizing section. 
     
     
         22 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate adjustment mechanism is electrically connected to the battery. 
     
     
         23 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1  further comprising a user setting section for allowing setting of at least one of the air flow rate ratio and the amount of the aerosol to be generated in the atomizing section. 
     
     
         24 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1  further comprising an inhaling sensor for detecting inhaling action. 
     
     
         25 . The flavor inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate adjustment mechanism comprises a flow rate sensor for detecting an air flow rate of at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path.