Aerosol-generating device with housing parts connected by snap-fit connection and adhesive

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing at least partially defining an outer surface of the aerosol-generating device, the housing including a first housing part defining a first portion of the outer surface of the aerosol-generating device and a second housing part defining a second portion of the outer surface of the aerosol-generating device, the first housing part including a first mechanical engagement feature, the second housing part including a second mechanical engagement feature, the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature operating together to hold the first housing part and the second housing part in place with respect to each other, the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature together forming a snap-fit connection, and the first housing part and the second housing part being connected to each other by an adhesive. A method for assembling the aerosol-generating device is also provided.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining an outer surface of the aerosol-generating device,   wherein the housing comprises a first housing part defining a first portion of the outer surface of the aerosol-generating device and a second housing part defining a second portion of the outer surface of the aerosol-generating device,   wherein the first housing part comprises a first mechanical engagement feature,   wherein the second housing part comprises a second mechanical engagement feature,   wherein the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature operate together to hold the first housing part and the second housing part in place with respect to each other,   wherein the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature together form a snap-fit connection, and   wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connected to each other by an adhesive.   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein one of the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature is a protruding structure and the other one of the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature is a recessed structure receiving the protruding structure. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the protruding structure is elastically deformable. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the protruding structure is hook-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive at least partially covers at least one of the first mechanical engagement feature and the second mechanical engagement feature. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first housing part further comprises an insertion portion and the second housing part further comprises a receiving portion, and   wherein the receiving portion at least partially surrounds the insertion portion.   
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive is provided between the insertion portion and the receiving portion. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive is in contact with the insertion portion and with the receiving portion. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 21 , wherein the first mechanical engagement feature is provided at the insertion portion and the second mechanical engagement feature is provided at the receiving portion. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive provides a seal between the first housing part and the second housing part. 
     
     
         26 . A method for assembling an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising:
 a step of sliding an insertion portion of a first housing part into a receiving portion of a second housing part to combine the first housing part and the second housing part to form a housing of the aerosol-generating device,   wherein during the sliding step, the first housing part and the second housing part engage each other via a snap-fit connection,   wherein one of the insertion portion of the first housing part and the receiving portion of the second housing part is at least partially covered with adhesive, and   wherein during the sliding step, the adhesive engages the other one of the insertion portion of the first housing part and the receiving portion of the second housing part, thereby establishing an adhesive connection between the first housing part and the second housing part.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the sliding step further comprises sliding the insertion portion of the first housing part into the receiving portion of the second housing part along an axial direction, and   wherein the snap-fit connection is established by a protruding structure at one of the insertion portion and the receiving portion elastically snapping into a recessed structure at the other one of the insertion portion and the receiving portion.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein a snapping motion of the protruding structure has a main component perpendicular to the axial direction. 
     
     
         29 . An adhesive configured to make a snap-fit connection between a first housing part and a second housing part of an aerosol-generating device waterproof.