Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is disclosed. The aerosol-generating device includes a body, an upper case detachably coupled to the body and having an insertion hole formed therein, a guide rail provided in the upper case and elongated in one direction, and a cap movably coupled to the guide rail and configured to open and close the insertion hole by sliding along the guide rail. The guide rail includes a protruding portion protruding toward a sliding path of the cap and extending portions extending from both sides of the protruding portion and inclined with respect to the protruding portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a body;   an upper case detachably coupled to the body, the upper case having an insertion hole formed therein;   a guide rail provided in the upper case and elongated in one direction; and   a cap movably coupled to the guide rail, the cap being configured to open and close the insertion hole by sliding along the guide rail,   wherein the guide rail comprises:   a protruding portion protruding toward a sliding path of the cap; and   extending portions extending from both sides of the protruding portion and inclined with respect to the protruding portion.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion is pressed downward with respect to a longitudinal direction of the guide rail by the cap as the cap moves along the guide rail, and
 wherein movement of the cap is guided in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail by elastic restoring force of the protruding portion and the extending portions.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a slider configured to move along the guide rail,
 wherein the extending portions comprise:   a first extending portion on which the slider is disposed when the cap is located at a first position to close the insertion hole, and   a second extending portion on which the slider is disposed when the cap is located at a second position to open the insertion hole, and   wherein the protruding portion protrudes at a predetermined angle with respect to the first extending portion and the second extending portion.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the protruding portion comprises:
 a first inclined surface extending at an incline with respect to the first extending portion;   a second inclined surface extending at an incline with respect to the second extending portion; and   a support surface interconnecting the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first extending portion and the second extending portion are inclined upward with respect to a longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and
 wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are inclined upward with respect to an extending direction of the first extending portion and an extending direction of the second extending portion, respectively.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the guide rail comprises:
 a case rail formed by a portion of the upper case being recessed; and   a plate rail formed in a plate coupled to the upper case, the plate rail comprising the protruding portion and the extending portions, and   wherein the case rail is recessed upward in a rounded shape with respect to a longitudinal direction of the guide rail.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , comprising a stopper provided at each of both ends of the case rail to restrict movement of the slider. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein, at the first position, one edge of an upper surface of the slider contacting the case rail is in contact with the stopper, and an opposite edge of a lower surface of the slider contacting the plate rail is in contact with the protruding portion, and
 wherein, at the second position, an opposite edge of the upper surface of the slider contacting the case rail is in contact with the stopper, and one edge of the lower surface of the slider contacting the plate rail is in contact with the protruding portion.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of a distance between the stopper and the protruding portion in an extending direction of the first extending portion or a distance between the stopper and the protruding portion in an extending direction of the second extending portion corresponds to a length of the slider. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the protruding portion has a length less than a length of the slider. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , comprising a first rib spaced apart from the guide rail, elongated in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and protruding upward with respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , comprising a support portion disposed below the protruding portion, spaced apart from the protruding portion, and protruding toward the protruding portion. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper case comprises:
 a first upper case covering the guide rail from above, the first upper case having a slot formed therein to allow the cap to be movably inserted thereinto; and   a second upper case coupled to the first upper case to support the guide rail from below.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first upper case comprises a first side cover extending downward from each of two opposite ends thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of the guide rail,
 wherein the second upper case comprises a second side cover extending downward from each of two opposite ends thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail,   wherein the first side cover comprises hooks formed by both end portions of the first side cover in a width direction being bent inward and extending in a longitudinal direction of the first side cover, and   wherein the second side cover is coupled to the first side cover by both end portions of the second side cover in a width direction being engaged with the hooks.   
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 13 , wherein the body comprises:
 an insertion space with one side open and aligned with the insertion hole; and   a heater disposed in the insertion space, the heater being configured to heat the insertion space, and   wherein the upper case comprises an extractor elongated to be inserted into the insertion space, the extractor being configured to accommodate the heater.