Aerosol-generating device with piercing assembly

Abstract

A piercing system includes a cap mountable on an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device includes an aerosol-generating element with a body and a receptacle for receiving a cartridge housing an aerosol-forming substrate. The cap may be engageable with the body. The cap has a frame comprising a cavity arranged for receiving the cartridge. The cap includes a piercing element disposed within the cavity and configured to pierce a wall of the cartridge. The cap may be movable, relative to the body, between a first position and a second position, where in the second position, the piercing element is engaged with the cartridge to pierce the cartridge.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 an aerosol-generating element comprising a body and a receptacle for receiving a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate;   a vessel having a liquid fill level and defining a head space outlet above the liquid fill level;   a conduit for conveying airflow from the receptacle to the vessel; and   a cap engageable with the body, the cap comprising:
 a frame comprising a cavity and having a center axis, wherein the cavity is arranged for receiving the cartridge; and 
 a piercing element disposed within the cavity and configured to pierce a wall of the cartridge, 
   wherein the cap is movable, relative to the body, between a first position and a second position, between the second position and a third position, and between the third position and the first position, and   wherein the third position is an intermediate position between the first and second positions, in which an air path between an external environment, the cavity, and the receptacle is open.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap frame comprises a side wall, an open end, and a closed end comprising an end wall, wherein the center axis extends from the open end to the closed end, and wherein the piercing element is oriented to face toward the open end. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the piercing element is disposed adjacent the closed end. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing element is coaxial with the center axis. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , the cap further comprising a spring element biasing the piercing element away from the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the first position, the piercing element is not engaged with the cartridge received in the receptacle, and   wherein in the second position, the piercing element is engaged with the cartridge received in the receptacle to pierce the cartridge.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , the cap further comprising an outer shroud and an inner shroud disposed within the outer shroud,
 wherein the outer shroud comprises the piercing element and wherein the inner shroud defines the cavity, and wherein the outer shroud is axially movable relative to the inner shroud.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the inner shroud comprises a cylindrical side wall coaxial with the center axis, and an end wall at one end of the cylindrical side wall, the end wall comprising an opening configured to receive the piercing element. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 8 , wherein when the piercing element is received in the end wall opening and the cap is in the third position, a gap configured to allow airflow through the opening of the end wall of the inner shroud remains between the piercing element and the end wall of the inner shroud. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the inner shroud comprises one or more guide tracks and the outer shroud comprises one or more track pins configured to cooperate with the one or more guide tracks. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more guide tracks comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defining a first distance and the second portion defining a second distance that is shorter than the first distance. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first portion is configured to guide the track pin in an axial direction and in a radial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 11 , wherein and end position of the first portion defines a piercing position of the piercing element. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a second piercing element in a base of the receptacle of the body, wherein the second piercing element extends from the base of the receptacle into the receptacle in a direction away from the base of the receptacle.