Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photography housing (10) for a portable electronic device (56) having an image sensor (58). The housing has first (12) and second (14) housing components defining at least a partial enclosure for receiving a portable electronic device, the first and second housing components being movably connected to one another, such that an internal dimension of the at least partial enclosure can be altered to releasably fit a dimension of the portable electronic device (56) inserted therein. The housing (10) comprises a user input device (22, 24, 26, 28) for controlling the operation of the image sensor (58) during use of the photography housing. The housing may provide a professional photography housing for a mobile telephone, e.g. providing ergonomic shutter control and photographic function selection via wireless communication with the mobile telephone.

Abstract: A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

Abstract: The vaporizer includes a tube element defining an inner volume for receiving an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a mesh in the inner volume of the tube element, and a heater outside, the heater including an electrical resistive heater, and the heater is configured to heat the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: The vaporizer includes a tube element defining an inner volume for receiving an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a mesh in the inner volume of the tube element, and a heater outside, the heater including an electrical resistive heater, and the heater is configured to heat the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener assembly (20) for a prefabricated service module. The fastener assembly (20) comprises a first arm (21) having a flange (211) at a first end (221) thereof; a second arm (22) having a flange (221) at a first end (222) thereof; and a retainer mechanism (23). The second arm (22) is arranged parallel and opposite to the first arm (21); and the flanges (211, 221) of the first and second arms (21, 22) are arranged opposite from one another and extend in a direction away from each other. The first end (212) of the first arm (21) is moveable between a first position wherein said first end (212) is spaced apart from the first end (222) of the second arm (22) at a first distance, and a second position wherein said first end (212) is spaced apart from the first end (222) of the second arm (21) at a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photography housing (10) for a portable electronic device (56) having an image sensor (58). The housing has first (12) and second (14) housing components defining at least a partial enclosure for receiving a portable electronic device, the first and second housing components being movably connected to one another, such that an internal dimension of the at least partial enclosure can be altered to releasably fit a dimension of the portable electronic device (56) inserted therein. The housing (10) comprises a user input device (22, 24, 26, 28) for controlling the operation of the image sensor (58) during use of the photography housing. The housing may provide a professional photography housing for a mobile telephone, e.g. providing ergonomic shutter control and photographic function selection via wireless communication with the mobile telephone.

Abstract: The vaporizer includes a tube element defining an inner volume for receiving an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a mesh in the inner volume of the tube element, and a heater outside, the heater including an electrical resistive heater, and the heater is configured to heat the mesh and the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the received amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: A flexible member (114) for supporting a glove in a manner whereby it can be readily donned by a user without touching the exterior of the glove. The flexible member (114) having a substantially planar glove support portion (122) which, when viewed in plan, conforms to the shape of at least part of the interior of a glove and is fittable, in use, to the interior of a glove through the cuff aperture thereof, and an attachment portion (112) by which the flexible member (114) can be held to facilitate donning of a glove and the subsequent removal of the glove support portion (122) from the cuff aperture of a glove while the glove is worn by a user. The glove support portion (122) is of sufficient flexibility to deflect around the hand of a user as said hand is inserted into a glove supported by the glove support portion (122), and further to deflect around the wrist of a user as the glove support portion (122) is removed from the glove through the cuff aperture thereof.

Abstract: A flexible member (114) for supporting a glove in a manner whereby it can be readily donned by a user without touching the exterior of the glove. The flexible member (114) having a substantially planar glove support portion (122) which, when viewed in plan, conforms to the shape of at least part of the interior of a glove and is fittable, in use, to the interior of a glove through the cuff aperture thereof, and an attachment portion (112) by which the flexible member (114) can be held to facilitate donning of a glove and the subsequent removal of the glove support portion (122) from the cuff aperture of a glove while the glove is worn by a user. The glove support portion (122) is of sufficient flexibility to deflect around the hand of a user as said hand is inserted into a glove supported by the glove support portion (122), and further to deflect around the wrist of a user as the glove support portion (122) is removed from the glove through the cuff aperture thereof.