Aerosol Generation Device with Flexible Cover

Abstract

An aerosol generation device includes a cover with one or more flexible regions that can be deformed when pressed. In a first aspect the aerosol generation device includes a main body defined by a main housing including an operation interface portion that is provided at at least a portion of the exterior surface of the main housing and that can be actuated for operating the aerosol generation device, and a cover element that is detachably attached or connected to the main housing. At least a portion of the operation interface portion is arranged between the exterior surface of the main housing and the cover element, and the cover element includes one or more flexible regions that can be elastically deformed for actuating the operation interface portion.

1 . An aerosol generation device comprising:
 a main body defined by a main housing comprising an operation interface portion that is provided at at least a portion of an exterior surface of the main housing and configured to be actuated for operating the aerosol generation device;   a cover element that is detachably attached or connected to the main housing;   wherein at least a portion of the operation interface portion is arranged between the exterior surface of the main housing and the cover element; and   wherein the cover element comprises one or more flexible regions configured to be elastically deformed for actuating the operation interface portion.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire operation interface portion is arranged between the cover element and the main housing, and wherein the operation interface portion is not externally visible. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flexible regions are configured to be pressed by a hand or a finger of a user to be elastically deformed towards the main housing for actuating the operation interface portion. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more flexible regions are configured to be pressed to be elastically deformed towards the main housing for actuating one or more operation input elements provided on the operation interface portion or in different regions of the operation interface portion. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more flexible regions comprise a protrusion on a surface of the cover element that faces the main housing, the protrusion protruding towards the main housing. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 5 , wherein the protrusion of one or more of the one or more flexible regions is integrally formed with the respective flexible region. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein the protrusion of one or more of the one or more flexible regions is configured to actuate the operation interface portion. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 7 , wherein interacting, engaging or contacting of the operation interface portion comprises interacting, engaging or contacting one or more operation input elements. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more operation input elements comprise a button, a switch, or a sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more operation input elements comprise a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein an output element is provided at a surface of the main housing between the main housing and the cover element, wherein the output element comprises an indicator light. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flexible regions of the cover element have an average material thickness smaller than an average material thickness of non-flexible regions of the cover element. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover detection means for detecting whether the cover element is attached to the main housing. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cover detection means comprises a button or switch configured to be actuated when the cover element is attached to the main housing. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 13 , further comprising circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol generation device based on information from the cover detection means, the information comprising information about a first state in which it is detected that the cover element is attached to the main housing and about a second state in which it is detected that the cover element is not attached to the main housing,
 wherein controlling operation of the aerosol generation device based on information from the cover detection means comprises preventing or inhibiting generation of an aerosol by the aerosol generation device when the information from the cover detecting means indicates the second state, and enabling generation of an aerosol by the aerosol generation device when the information from the cover detecting means indicates the first state.   
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cover detection means comprises sensor circuitry comprising a Hall sensor, an optical sensor, and/or an electrical sensor.