Aerosol-generating device comprising cover element with cavity

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a housing having an aperture to receive an aerosol-generating article; and a cover element configured for movement with respect to the housing between closed and open positions, in which, in the closed position, the cover element at least partially covers the aperture and, in the open position, the aperture is at least partially uncovered, the cover element forming a cover element cavity, a guide element protruding from the housing and being received in the cover element cavity, the guide element including a leg extending from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing, and an elastic element engaging the leg inside the housing. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device, a method for closing an aperture in the housing of the aerosol-generating device, and an assembly method for a cover element on the housing of the aerosol-generating device, are also provided.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a housing having an aperture configured to receive an aerosol-generating article; and   a cover element configured for movement with respect to the housing between a closed position and an open position,   wherein, in the closed position, the cover element at least partially covers the aperture,   wherein, in the open position, the aperture is at least partially uncovered,   wherein the cover element forms a cover element cavity,   wherein a guide element protrudes from the housing,   wherein the guide element is received in the cover element cavity,   wherein the guide element comprises a leg extending from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing, and   wherein an elastic element engages the leg inside the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the guide element is configured to apply a downholding force towards the housing on the cover element, at least when the cover element is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein one of the cover element and the guide element comprises a protrusion and the other one of the cover element and the guide element further comprises a first recess and a second recess,   wherein the protrusion and the first recess engage in each other when the cover element is in the closed position, and   wherein the protrusion and the second recess engage in each other when the cover element is in the open position.   
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the elastic element is arranged in a spring cavity in the housing,   wherein the spring cavity has an opening,   wherein the leg extends through the opening of the spring cavity, and   wherein the spring cavity is hermetically closed with respect to an inner compartment of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the guide element further comprises a head,   wherein the head is received in the cover element cavity, and   wherein the head has a width that is larger than a width of the leg.   
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the cover element comprises a guide slot in its surface adjacent to the housing through which the leg of the guide element extends, and   wherein the head engages an inner surface of the cover element cavity next to the guide slot.   
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the cover element comprises a bottom part and a top cap, and   wherein the cover element cavity is formed in between the top cap and the bottom part.   
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the cover element comprises at least one guide protrusion, which is guided in a guide recess in the housing. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according  claim 16 , and an aerosol-generating article, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate. 
     
     
         25 . A method for closing an aperture in a housing of an aerosol-generating device, the aperture being configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, the method comprising:
 moving a cover element between an open position, in which the aperture is at least partially uncovered, and a closed position, in which the cover element at least partially covers the aperture,   wherein the cover element moves relative to a guide element,   wherein the guide element pulls the cover element towards the housing at least in the closed position,   wherein the guide element comprises a leg extending from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing, and   wherein an elastic element engages the leg inside the housing.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the cover element is moved along a first path, and   wherein the guide element elastically moves in a direction different from the first path, when the cover element is moved along the first path in between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         27 . An assembly method for a cover element on a housing of an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , the method comprising steps of:
 arranging a bottom part of the cover element on an upper side of the housing of the aerosol-generating device; and   inserting a leg of a guide element through a guide slot in a bottom part into an opening of a spring cavity in the housing, such that an elastic element arranged in the spring cavity engages a notch in the leg.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the step of:
 arranging a top cap on the bottom part such that a cover element cavity is formed,   wherein a head of the guide element is arranged in the cover element cavity.   
     
     
         29 . The assembly method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the step of: positioning the elastic element in the spring cavity and closing the spring cavity with a closure part.