Cartridge assembly comprising a blocking element

Abstract

A cartridge assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including a mouthpiece housing, a blocking element, and a cartridge. The mouthpiece housing has an upstream end, a downstream end, and a mouthpiece cavity. The blocking element is secured within the mouthpiece cavity. The cartridge is positioned at the upstream end of the mouthpiece housing, the cartridge including an upstream end, a downstream end, a first compartment, and a second compartment. The downstream end of the cartridge abuts an upstream end of the blocking element. The cartridge is rotatable with respect to the blocking element from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the blocking element obstructs first and second air outlets of the first and second compartments respectively. In the second position, the first and second air outlets are in fluid communication with the mouthpiece cavity.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A cartridge assembly for an aerosol-generating system, the cartridge assembly comprising:
 a mouthpiece housing having an upstream end and a downstream end, the mouthpiece housing defining a mouthpiece cavity extending between the upstream end of the mouthpiece housing and the downstream end of the mouthpiece housing;   a blocking element secured within the mouthpiece cavity and comprising an upstream end and a downstream end; and   a cartridge positioned at the upstream end of the mouthpiece housing, the cartridge comprising:
 an upstream end and a downstream end, 
 a first compartment having a first air inlet at the upstream end of the cartridge and a first air outlet at the downstream end of the cartridge, and 
 a second compartment having a second air inlet at the upstream end of the cartridge and a second air outlet at the downstream end of the cartridge, 
   wherein the downstream end of the cartridge abuts the upstream end of the blocking element,   wherein the cartridge is rotatable with respect to the blocking element from a first position to a second position, and   wherein the blocking element is shaped so that the upstream end of the blocking element obstructs the first air outlet and the second air outlet when the cartridge is in the first position, and the first air outlet and the second air outlet are both in fluid communication with the mouthpiece cavity when the cartridge is in the second position.   
     
     
         23 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein one of the blocking element and the cartridge comprises an aperture,   wherein the other of the blocking element and the cartridge comprises a shaft, and   wherein at least a portion of the shaft is positioned within the aperture.   
     
     
         24 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the aperture extends through the blocking element between the upstream end of the blocking element and the downstream end of the blocking element, and   wherein the shaft extends from the downstream end of the cartridge.   
     
     
         25 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the shaft comprises a journal portion positioned within the aperture and a retaining portion at an end of the journal portion, and   wherein the retaining portion is positioned outside of the aperture and has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the aperture.   
     
     
         26 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the cartridge comprises a guiding pin extending from the downstream end of the cartridge,   wherein the guiding pin abuts a first portion of the blocking element when the cartridge is in the first position, and   wherein the guiding pin abuts a second portion of the blocking element when the cartridge is in the second position.   
     
     
         27 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the cartridge further comprises:
 a cartridge housing positioned at the upstream end of the mouthpiece housing and rotatable with respect to the blocking element from the first position to the second position; and   a cartridge body secured within the cartridge housing, the cartridge body defining the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         28 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the blocking element is spaced apart from the downstream end of the mouthpiece housing, and   wherein a portion of the mouthpiece cavity between the downstream end of the blocking element and the downstream end of the mouthpiece housing forms a mixing chamber.   
     
     
         29 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the mouthpiece housing comprises a ventilation air inlet positioned between the blocking element and the downstream end of the mouthpiece housing, the ventilation air inlet extending through the mouthpiece housing and providing fluid communication between an exterior of the mouthpiece housing and the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the blocking element comprises a first airflow aperture configured to overlie the first air outlet when the cartridge is in the second position and a second airflow aperture configured to overlie the second air outlet when the cartridge is in the second position. 
     
     
         31 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 30 ,
 wherein the blocking element has a circular shape, and   wherein the first airflow aperture and the second airflow aperture each have an arcuate shape.   
     
     
         32 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the first airflow aperture and the second airflow aperture are diametrically opposed. 
     
     
         33 . The cartridge according to  claim 31 , wherein the first airflow aperture and the second airflow aperture each extend along a quarter-circular arc length. 
     
     
         34 . The cartridge according to  claim 30 ,
 wherein the blocking element comprises a first blocking portion positioned between a first end of the first airflow aperture and a second end of the second airflow aperture,   wherein the blocking element comprises a second blocking portion positioned between a second end of the first airflow aperture and a first end of the second airflow aperture,   wherein the first blocking portion is configured to obstruct the first air outlet when the cartridge is in the first position, and   wherein the second blocking portion is configured to obstruct the second air outlet when the cartridge is in the first position.   
     
     
         35 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the mouthpiece housing comprises a downstream wall portion extending across the downstream end of the mouthpiece cavity, the mouthpiece housing comprising a mouthpiece housing air outlet extending through the downstream wall portion. 
     
     
         36 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , further comprising a seal extending across the upstream end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         37 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , further comprising a nicotine source positioned within the first compartment and an acid source positioned within the second compartment. 
     
     
         38 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the cartridge further comprises a third compartment configured to receive a heating element of an aerosol-generating device,   wherein the third compartment comprises a compartment opening at the upstream end of the cartridge, and   wherein the third compartment is positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         39 . The cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a susceptor positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         40 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 a cartridge assembly according to  claim 22 ; and   an aerosol-generating device comprising a device cavity configured to receive an upstream end of the cartridge assembly and a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge of the cartridge assembly.   
     
     
         41 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 40 ,
 wherein the heater comprises a heating element positioned within the device cavity,   wherein the cartridge further comprises a third compartment configured to receive the heating element,   wherein the third compartment comprises a compartment opening at the upstream end of the cartridge, and   wherein the third compartment is positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         42 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 40 ,
 wherein the heater comprises an inductive heater surrounding at least a portion of the device cavity, and   wherein the cartridge comprises a susceptor positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment.