Aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device for an aerosol-generating article is provided, the device including: a chamber within a device housing to removably receive at least a portion of the article and having a chamber inner surface and a proximal open end for insertion of the article; and an insert sleeve separate from the housing and including: opposite open ends and being fixedly arranged in the device such that the insert sleeve is non-displaceable and that a portion of the insert sleeve extends along a proximal portion of the chamber inner surface, and sleeve outer and inner surfaces, in which in a contact portion of the insert sleeve the sleeve inner surface comes into circumferentially closed contact with a circumference of the article when received in the chamber, and in which at least a proximal portion of an airflow path through the device extends along the sleeve outer surface.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating device for an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a chamber within a device housing configured to removably receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, the chamber having a chamber inner surface and a proximal open end configured for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the chamber; and   an insert sleeve separate from the device housing, the insert sleeve comprising:
 opposite open ends and being fixedly arranged in the aerosol-generating device such that the insert sleeve is non-displaceable in the aerosol-generating device and such that at least a portion of the insert sleeve extends along at least a proximal portion of the chamber inner surface, and 
 a sleeve outer surface and a sleeve inner surface, 
 wherein in a contact portion of the insert sleeve the sleeve inner surface is configured to come into circumferentially closed contact with a circumference of the aerosol-generating article when received in the chamber, and 
 wherein at least a proximal portion of an airflow path through the aerosol-generating device extends along the sleeve outer surface. 
   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of the airflow path is formed at least partially between the sleeve outer surface and the chamber inner surface. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the insert sleeve further comprises a plurality of airflow channels arranged along a circumference of the sleeve outer surface, the plurality of airflow channels forming part of the proximal portion of the airflow path. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the airflow channels are formed between adjacent ridges arranged spaced from each other along a circumference of the insert sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the adjacent ridges are in contact with the chamber inner surface. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the insert sleeve further comprises an intake portion at a proximal end of the insert sleeve. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 21 , wherein the intake portion comprises one or more air inlets configured for air to enter the proximal portion of the airflow path along the sleeve outer surface and to enter the airflow channels on the sleeve outer surface. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the airflow channels end in a proximal direction distal of a proximal edge of the insert sleeve, thus being accessible from an outside of the insert sleeve, in a radially inward direction, and only in a radially inward direction with respect to a length extension of the insert sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the airflow channels extend in a proximal direction to a proximal edge of the insert sleeve, thus being accessible from an outside of the insert sleeve in at least one of a distal direction and a radially inward direction with respect to a length extension of the insert sleeve. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the insert sleeve further comprises:
 an intake portion at a proximal end of the insert sleeve, and   one or more through holes in the intake portion, the one or more through holes allowing air to enter the proximal portion of the airflow path and to enter the airflow channels, from an inside of the intake portion of the insert sleeve.   
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the insert sleeve further comprises:
 an intake portion at a proximal end of the insert sleeve, and   one or more axial recesses in a proximal edge of the insert sleeve, the one or more axial recesses allowing air to enter the proximal portion of the airflow path and to enter the airflow channels, from an inside of the intake portion of the insert sleeve.   
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein the insert sleeve further comprises a circumferential collar at a proximal end of the insert sleeve. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 27 , wherein the circumferential collar provides a closing-off of the airflow channels in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the insert sleeve further comprises an intake portion at a proximal end of the insert sleeve, and   wherein the circumferential collar is a turned-over collar comprising a turned-over collar portion surrounding the intake portion spaced from the sleeve outer surface in the intake portion.   
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the insert sleeve further comprises a non-contact portion arranged distal to the contact portion, and   wherein an inner cross-sectional area of the insert sleeve in the non-contact portion is larger than an inner cross-sectional area of the insert sleeve in the contact portion.   
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 30 ,
 wherein the insert sleeve further comprises a distal sleeve portion arranged distal to the non-contact portion, and   wherein the sleeve inner surface in the distal sleeve portion is configured to come into contact with a circumference of a distal end portion of the aerosol-generating article, when received in the chamber.   
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein the insert sleeve further comprises a first sleeve segment comprising the contact portion, a second sleeve segment comprising the non-contact portion, and a third sleeve segment comprising the distal sleeve portion, and   wherein the first sleeve segment, the second sleeve segment, and the third sleeve segment are parts separate from each other.