Cartridge and aerosol generating device including the same

Abstract

A cartridge and an aerosol generating device including the same are provided. The cartridge includes: a container shaped to define a first chamber structured to store a liquid; a frame shaped to define a second chamber through which air passes; a plate positioned between the container and the frame and separating the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the plate is shaped to define a first liquid inlet hole to permit communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; a wick disposed at the second chamber and being in communication with the first chamber through the first liquid inlet hole; a heater configured to heat the wick; and a needle protruding from the plate into the first chamber, wherein the needle gradually narrows as a distance from the plate increases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge comprising:
 a container shaped to define a first chamber structured to store a liquid;   
       a frame shaped to define a second chamber through which air passes;
 a plate positioned between the container and the frame and separating the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the plate is shaped to define a first liquid inlet hole to permit communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; 
 a wick disposed at the second chamber and being in communication with the first chamber through the first liquid inlet hole; 
 a heater configured to heat the wick; and 
 a needle protruding from the plate into the first chamber, wherein the needle gradually narrows as a distance from the plate increases. 
 
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises an inlet guide recessed in an inclined manner from a surface facing the first chamber toward the first liquid inlet hole. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the needle is adjacent to the inlet guide. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 wherein the needle is one of a plurality of needles;   wherein the plurality of needles are spaced apart from each other around the inlet guide.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of needles is shaped to gradually widen in a direction in which the liquid is introduced to the inlet guide from the first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of needles has a pyramid shape. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet guide gradually increases in width in a direction toward the first liquid inlet hole and gradually decreases in width in a downward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet guide comprises:
 an inclined line inclined downward from one end thereof toward the first liquid inlet hole; and   a pair of inclined surfaces gradually increasing in width toward the first liquid inlet hole along the inclined line and gradually decreasing in width toward the inclined line, the pair of inclined surfaces meeting at the inclined line.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the needle comprises a needle inclined surface adjacent to an edge of the inclined surface and inclined in a direction in which the inclined surface is inclined. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the plate is shaped to define a second liquid inlet hole to further permit the communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, and
 wherein the wick extends in a transverse direction relative to the second chamber and includes first and second ends that respectively correspond to, and are positioned below, the first liquid inlet hole and the second liquid inlet hold.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein another end of the inclined line is disposed to correspond to the wick. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet guide is inclined downward relative to the first liquid inlet hole, and wherein a lower end of the inlet guide is located below a bottom side of the first liquid inlet hole. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein a width of a portion of the inlet guide that is adjacent to the first liquid inlet hole is less than a width of the first liquid inlet hole. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the needle protrudes from a surface of the inlet guide. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the needle is formed on a periphery of the first liquid inlet hole. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a body shaped to define an insertion space that is open outward and is configured to couple to a cartridge to permit communication with the insertion space,   wherein the cartridge comprises:   a container shaped to define a first chamber structured to store a liquid;   a frame shaped to define a second chamber through which air passes;   a plate positioned between the container and the frame and separating the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the plate is shaped to define a first liquid inlet hole to permit communication between the first chamber and the second chamber;   a wick disposed at the second chamber and being in communication with the first chamber through the first liquid inlet hole;   a heater configured to heat the wick; and   a needle protruding from the plate into the first chamber, wherein the needle gradually narrows as a distance from the plate increases.