Shisha device configured to perforate a cartridge

Abstract

A shisha device configured to pierce a cartridge comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The shisha device is configured to prevent piercing of the cartridge until the cartridge is inserted into a receptacle of the device. Piercing of the cartridge may require a step separate from insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle of the shisha device. That is, the shisha device may be configured such that insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle of the device, without more, does not cause the cartridge to be pierced.

1 . A shisha device comprising:
 a vessel comprising an interior volume configured to contain a liquid, the vessel comprising an inlet and a headspace outlet;   a receptacle for receiving a cartridge, the cartridge comprising an aerosol forming substrate;   a heating element configured to heat the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the receptacle;   a conduit through which generated aerosol may flow to the vessel via the inlet;   a piercing element configured to pierce the cartridge;   an actuator operably coupled to the piercing element, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the piercing element to pierce the cartridge, and   a release operatively coupled to the actuator and configured to prevent the actuator from causing the piercing element to pierce the cartridge until the cartridge is received in the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The shisha device according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing element comprises an elongate element, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the elongate element to move from a retracted position to an extended position and wherein movement of the elongate element from the retracted position to the extended position causes the elongate element to pierce the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The shisha device according to  claim 2 , wherein the release prevents the actuator from causing the elongate element to move from the retracted position to the extended position until the cartridge is received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The shisha device according to  claim 3 , wherein insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle causes the release to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the release in the first position prevents the actuator from causing the elongate element to move from the retracted position to the extended position, and wherein the release in the second position permits the actuator to cause the elongate element to move from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     
     
         5 . The shisha device according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the release extends into the receptacle such that insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle causes movement of the release from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The shisha device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether the cartridge is received in the receptacle, wherein the sensor is operably coupled to the release such that the release prevents the actuator from causing the elongate element to move from the retracted position to the extended position until the sensor detects that the cartridge is received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The shisha device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the sensor and to the release. 
     
     
         8 . The shisha device according to  claim 7 , wherein the release comprises a motor, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the motor to move the piercing element from the first position to the second position when the sensor detects that the cartridge is received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The shisha device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a spring operably coupled to the actuator to bias the actuator towards a position that causes the elongate element to be in the retracted position. 
     
     
         10 . The shisha device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether a cartridge is received in the receptacle, wherein the sensor is operably coupled to the actuator such that the actuator is prevented from causing the piercing element to pierce the cartridge until the sensor detects that the cartridge is received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The shisha device according to  claim 10 , wherein the piercing element comprises an elongate element, wherein the actuator comprises a motor, and wherein the shisha device further comprises a controller operably coupled to the sensor and the motor, wherein the controller is configured to cause the motor to move to cause the elongate element to move from a retracted position to an extended position to pierce the cartridge when the sensor detects that the cartridge is received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The shisha device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shisha device comprises a sensor configured to detect whether a cartridge received by the receptacle has been pierced, wherein the shisha device is configured to prevent the actuator from causing the piercing element to pierce the cartridge if the cartridge received in the receptacle has been pierced. 
     
     
         13 . The shisha device according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing element comprises a laser. 
     
     
         14 . The shisha device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element forms at least a portion of the receptacle for receiving the cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 inserting the cartridge into a receptacle of a shisha device according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 ; and
 actuating the actuator to cause the piercing element to pierce the cartridge.