Aerosol generation device

Abstract

An aerosol generation device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol forming consumable is provided. The aerosol generation device can include a housing; a heater element, and a system for causing heating of the heater element. The heater element is movable relative to the housing. The heater element defines, at least partially, a heating chamber for receiving the aerosol forming consumable. The heater element is configured, during use of the heating element, to be movable towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable when the aerosol forming consumable is received in the heating chamber, thereby controlling the amount of heat transferred to the consumable from the heater element.

1 . An aerosol generation device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol forming consumable, the aerosol generation device comprising:
 a housing;   at least one heater element movable relative to the housing; and   a system for causing heating of the at least one heater element;   wherein the heater element defines, at least partially, a heating chamber for receiving the aerosol forming consumable, and   wherein the heater element is configured, during use of the heater element, to be movable towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable when the aerosol forming consumable is received in the heating chamber to thereby control an amount of heat transferred to the aerosol forming consumable from the heater element.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the system for causing heating of the heater element is configured to, during use, maintain the heater element at an approximately constant, or a constant, temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater element is configured to move towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable in response to an input. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the aerosol generation device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the aerosol forming consumable, and wherein the input is the sensed temperature of the aerosol forming consumable; or   the input is received via a user and is at least one of: a representation of a desired temperature set by the user, or an indication of a user inhaling on the aerosol generation device.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , wherein the heater element is configured to move toward or away from the aerosol generating consumable by an amount corresponding to a magnitude of the input. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1  wherein the heating chamber is configured to have at least one of a changeable internal cross-sectional area or a changeable internal perimeter, such that the heater element is movable towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater element comprises an elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 11  wherein the elongate hollow tube is defined by a tubular wall, and wherein the elongate hollow tube comprises a split in the tubular wall. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the elongate hollow tube has tubular wall ends defined by the split, and wherein the tubular wall ends are movable in a circumferential direction of the elongate hollow tube when the heater element moves towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 15 , wherein the tubular wall ends overlap in the circumferential direction of the elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the tubular wall ends of the elongate hollow tube comprises a flange protruding from the at least one tubular wall end in a substantially radial direction of the elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol generation device comprises a worm drive to, in use, drive the overlapping tubular wall ends in the circumferential direction to move the heater element towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 11 , wherein the elongate hollow tube is defined by a tubular wall, and wherein:
 the elongate hollow tube comprises two tubular wall portions, wherein the two tubular wall portions are separated by a longitudinal gap in the tubular wall such that the two tubular wall portions form two jaws, and wherein at least one of the two jaws is movable, in use, towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable; or   the elongate hollow tube comprises two tubular wall portions, wherein the two tubular wall portions are separated by two longitudinal gaps in the tubular wall such that the tubular wall portions form two jaws, and wherein at least one of the two jaws is movable, in use, towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable; or   the elongate hollow tube comprises three tubular wall portions, wherein the three tubular wall portions are separated by three longitudinal gaps in the tubular wall such that the tubular wall portions form three jaws, and wherein at least one of the three jaws is movable, in use, towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 19 , wherein the two tubular wall portions or the three tubular wall portions are formed integrally with one another. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 11 , wherein the elongate hollow tube comprises a flexible wall, and wherein the flexible wall is compressible and expandable in a longitudinal direction such that, in use, the flexible wall is movable in a radial direction of the elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater element comprises a twistable coiled member having radially inner surfaces that define the heating chamber. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heater element comprises a plurality of heater elements, and wherein each of the plurality of heater elements may be moved, in use, towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable independently of each other. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol generation system comprising the aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , and at least one aerosol forming consumable, wherein the at least one aerosol forming consumable is shaped and sized to be receivable within the heating chamber. 
     
     
         30 . A method of heating an aerosol forming consumable, the method comprising:
 receiving an aerosol forming consumable in a heating chamber of an aerosol generation device, the heating chamber at least partially defined by a heater element that is movable relative to a housing of the aerosol generating device; and   moving, during use of the heater element, the heater element towards or away from the aerosol forming consumable to control an amount of heat transferred to the aerosol forming consumable from the heater element.   
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein a temperature of the heater element is maintained at a constant temperature when the heater element is moving toward or away from the aerosol forming consumable.