Aerosol-generating device with piercing assembly

Abstract

A piercing system for use in aerosol-generating devices may be used to form one or more openings in a shisha cartridge. The piercing system includes a piercing assembly and stem pipe. The stem pipe may be incorporated as part of an aerosol-generating device. The piercing assembly comprises a body with a through opening. The opening may be coaxial with the hollow tube of the stem pipe. The piercing assembly comprises a plurality of piercing elements at its upstream end. The piercing elements are configured for piercing a cartridge. The piercing assembly may be operated by placing a cartridge onto the piercing assembly and pressing down on the cartridge.

1 . A piercing system for a shisha device, the piercing system comprising:
 a stem pipe comprising a hollow tube extending from an upstream end to a downstream end along a longitudinal axis; and   a piercing assembly at the upstream end of the stem pipe, the piercing assembly comprising:
 a body with a through opening coaxial with the hollow tube, the body comprising an upstream body end; and 
 a plurality of piercing elements at the upstream body end, 
   wherein each of the plurality of piercing elements has a piercing end extending from the body, and wherein one or more of the piercing ends extend from the upstream body end to at least a first distance and one or more of the piercing ends extend to a second distance, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance.   
     
     
         2 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of piercing elements comprise a piercing edge oriented radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and optionally extending longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the piercing ends extends from the upstream body end to a distance different from each of the other piercing ends. 
     
     
         4 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of piercing elements comprises a triangular shape in a cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of piercing elements comprises, in a cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis, a curved shape. 
     
     
         6 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of piercing elements are retractable. 
     
     
         7 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing assembly is removably attachable to the stem pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing assembly is rotatable about the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
         9 . The piercing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a sealing ring configured to sealingly mate with a cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The piercing system according to  claim 1  further comprising an absorption element housed within the body. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a vessel comprising an interior volume configured for housing a liquid, the vessel comprising a mouth in fluid communication with the interior volume; and   a piercing system mounted at the mouth, the piercing system comprising:
 a stem pipe comprising a hollow tube extending from an upstream end to a downstream end along a longitudinal axis; and 
 a piercing assembly at the upstream end of the stem pipe, the piercing assembly comprising: 
 a body with a through opening coaxial with the hollow tube, the body comprising an upstream body end; and 
 a plurality of piercing elements at the upstream body end, 
 wherein each of the plurality of piercing elements has a piercing end extending from the body, and wherein one or more of the piercing ends extend from the upstream body end to at least a first distance and one or more of the piercing ends extend to a second distance, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance, 
   wherein the downstream end of the stem pipe extends into the interior volume.   
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 11  further comprising a cap removably mountable at the mouth of the vessel and the cap is configured to receive a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 12 , wherein the piercing assembly of the piercing system is configured to pierce a first wall of the cartridge and wherein when the cap comprises a cap piercing element configured to pierce a second wall of the cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the aerosol-generating device of  claim 12 , the method comprising:
 inserting a cartridge into the cap of the aerosol-generating device or into the body of the piercing assembly;   placing the cap at the mouth of the vessel such that the cartridge is received in a receptacle of the cap and is oriented toward the upstream end of the piercing stem pipe; and   pushing the cap against the piercing assembly, causing the piercing assembly to pierce a wall of the cartridge.