FLAVOR INHALER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FLAVOR INHALER

Abstract

A placement portion for an article to be accommodated is disposed in a housing, and the article to be accommodated is accommodated thereon even in a case where a dividing surface of the housing is caused to have a deviation from a plane at which the largest opening can be secured. The flavor inhaler includes: a first housing that has an opening, an accommodating portion for accommodating the article to be accommodated therein being formed therein; and a placement portion that has an outer shape that follows an inner surface of the accommodating portion, has an internal space in which the article to be accommodated is placed, and is disposed inside the accommodating portion, an opening area of the opening is smaller than a maximum sectional area of the accommodating portion in a case where the first housing is cut along a plane that is parallel with the opening and a maximum sectional area of the placement portion including the internal space in a case where the placement portion is cut along the plane that is parallel with the opening, and the placement portion has a first placement portion and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2021/016899, filed on Apr. 28, 2021.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a flavor inhaler and a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler.

BACKGROUND ART

Flavor inhalers are typically provided with housings configured of metal such as aluminum, for example, on the outermost side of devices for the purpose of improving aesthetic aspects. Here, since it is difficult to form structures for supporting articles to be accommodated in the housings made of metal, it is necessary to dispose placement portions where the articles to be accommodated are placed inside the housings and to accommodate the articles to be accommodated. Also, since the flavor inhalers assume utilization while being gripped, the housings preferably have rounded shapes as a whole to facilitate gripping.

As such a flavor inhaler, a flavor inhaler with a rounded housing that is divided at the most projecting part of the housing such that the largest opening can be secured with a placement portion for an article to be accommodated inserted into and disposed in the housing through the opening, for example, is known (see PTL 1, for example).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

• PTL 1: International Publication No. WO 2020/218885

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, if the housing is divided at the most projecting part of the housing in the flavor inhaler described in PTL 1, there is a concern that a housing joint portion may be noticeable, and a hand may be caught in the joint portion at the time of utilization, or the joint portion may be caught in a bag, for example, when the flavor inhaler is taken out from the bag, and it may provide an uncomfortable feeling to a user.

Thus, it is considered that a dividing surface of the housing is provided to have a deviation from a plane at which the largest opening can be secured and the housing is divided into two large and small housings in order to prevent the uncomfortable feeling from being given to the user. Although the uncomfortable feeling is prevented from being given to the user in this case, how to dispose the placement portion of the article to be accommodated inside the larger housing is problematic. In other words, since the size of the opening becomes small due to the deviation of the dividing surface of the housing from the plane at which the largest opening can be secured, it may not be possible to insert the placement portion of the article to be accommodated from the opening of the housing.

The present invention was made in order to solve at least a part of the problems as described above, and an object thereof is to obtain a flavor inhaler and a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler that enables a placement portion of an article to be accommodated to be disposed inside a housing and enables the article to be accommodated to be accommodated even in a case where a dividing surface of the housing is caused to have a deviation from a plane at which the largest opening can be secured.

Solution to Problem

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flavor inhaler. The flavor inhaler includes: a first housing that has an opening, an accommodating portion that accommodates an article to be accommodated being formed therein; and a placement portion that has an outer shape that follows an inner surface of the accommodating portion, has an internal space where the article to be accommodated is placed, and is disposed inside the accommodating portion, in which an opening area of the opening is smaller than a maximum sectional area of the accommodating portion in a case where the first housing is cut along a plane that is parallel with the opening and a maximum sectional area of the placement portion including the internal space in a case where the placement portion is cut along the plane that is parallel with the opening, and the placement portion has a first placement portion, and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to dispose the placement portion of the article to be accommodated inside the housing and to accommodate the article to be accommodated even in a case where a dividing surface of the housing is caused to have a deviation from a plane at which the largest opening can be secured, by dividing the placement portion where the article to be accommodated is placed is divided into a first placement portion and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the first placement portion has a first engagement portion that is provided at a location where the first placement portion is combined with the second placement portion, and the second placement portion has a second engagement portion that is provided at the combined location and is engaged with the first engagement portion, in the first aspect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to position the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to each other by causing the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion to be engaged with each other.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in a width direction, a thickness direction, and a height direction that perpendicularly intersect each other in the first housing, the first engagement portion has a width-direction first engagement portion, a thickness-direction first engagement portion, and a height-direction first engagement portion, the second engagement portion has a width-direction second engagement portion, a thickness-direction second engagement portion, and a height-direction second engagement portion, the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the width direction by the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other, the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the thickness direction by the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other, and the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the height direction by the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other, in the second aspect.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to position the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to each other in a width direction, a thickness direction, and a height direction that perpendicularly intersect each other in the first housing by causing the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion to be engaged with each other, causing the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion to be engaged with each other, and causing the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion to be engaged with each other.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first housing has a bottom portion, and a wall portion that stands from an outer edge of the bottom portion, the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion face the bottom portion, the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion face the wall portion, and the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion face the wall portion, in the third aspect.

According to the fourth aspect of the present application, it is possible to position the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to each other in the width direction, the thickness direction, and the height direction of the first housing by the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion facing the bottom portion, the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion and the height-direction first engagement portion and the height direction second engagement portion facing the wall portion.

In a fifth aspect of the present application, the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion are provided at each of a pair of the wall portions facing each other, and the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion are provided at each of the pair of the wall portions facing each other, in the fourth aspect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present application, it is possible to more fixedly position the first placement portion and the second placement portion by providing the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion, and the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion at each of the pair of wall portions facing each other.

In a sixth aspect of the present application, the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction first engagement portion are integrally formed, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion are integrally formed, in the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect.

According to the sixth aspect of the present application, it is possible to realize the positioning of the first placement portion and the second placement portion with a simple configuration by integrally forming the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction first engagement portion and integrally forming the thickness-direction second engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion.

In a seventh aspect of the present application, the first engagement portion is one of a projecting portion and a recessed portion provided in the first placement portion at the combined location, the second engagement portion is the other one of the projecting portion and the recessed portion provided in the second placement portion at the combined location, and the recessed portion has a shape corresponding to the projecting portion, in any of the second aspect to the sixth aspect.

According to the seventh aspect of the present application, it is possible to position the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to each other by engaging one of the projecting portion and the recessed portion provided at the first engagement portion with the other one of the projecting portion and the recessed portion provided at the second engagement portion.

In an eighth aspect of the present application, the first housing has a communication hole that establishes communication between inside and outside of the accommodating portion in a wall portion standing from an outer edge of a bottom portion, and at least one of the first placement portion and the second placement portion has a projecting portion that is engageable with the communication hole, in any of the second aspect to the seventh aspect.

According to the eighth aspect of the present application, it is possible to position at least one of the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to the first housing by causing the projecting portion provided on at least one of the first placement portion and the second placement portion to be engaged with the communication hole provided in the wall portion of the first housing.

In a ninth aspect of the present application, the projecting portion is provided on at least one of an end portion of the first placement portion on a side opposite to the first engagement portion provided at an end portion on the side of the second placement portion and an end portion of the second placement portion on a side opposite to the second engagement portion provided at an end portion on the side of the first placement portion, in the eight aspect.

According to the ninth aspect of the present application, it is possible to more fixedly position at least one of the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to the first housing by providing the projecting portion at least at one of the end portion of the first placement portion on the side opposite to the first engagement portion and the end portion of the second placement portion on the side opposite to the second engagement portion.

In a tenth aspect of the present application, the first housing has a communication hole that establishes communication between inside and outside of the accommodating portion in each of the pair of wall portions facing each other, the first placement portion has a first projecting portion that is engageable with one of the communication holes, and the second placement portion has a second projecting portion that is engageable with the other one of the communication holes, in the eighth aspect or the ninth aspect.

According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to position the first placement portion and the second placement portion relative to the first housing by causing the first projecting portion provided at the first placement portion and the second projecting portion provided at the second placement portion to be engaged with the communication holes provided at each of the pair of wall portions of the first housing facing each other.

In an eleventh aspect of the present application, a slide member that is provided slidably with respect to the first housing and a sensor that detects an operation of the slide member are further included, the slide member is provided slidably on the first placement portion, and the sensor is fixed to the second placement portion, in any of the second aspect to the tenth aspect.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present application, it is possible to accurately detect an operation of the slide member by using a sensor since the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned relative to each other by causing the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion to be engaged with each other.

In a twelfth aspect of the present application, a second housing that covers the opening of the first housing and a lid portion that covers at least a part of the second housing are further included, an indication related to the flavor inhaler is described on an outer surface of the second housing, and the lid portion covers the indication entirely, in any of the first aspect to the eleventh aspect.

According to the twelfth aspect, it is possible to improve aesthetic aspects of the flavor inhaler by covering the indication described on the outer surface of the second housing with the lid portion.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present application, there is provided a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler. The method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler is a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler that includes a housing that has an opening, an accommodating portion that accommodates an article to be accommodated being formed therein, and a placement portion that has an outer shape that follows an inner surface of the accommodating portion, is disposed inside the accommodating portion, is adapted such that the article to be accommodated is placed thereon, and has a first placement portion and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion, the method including: inserting the first placement portion from the opening of the housing, rotating the first placement portion, and disposing the first placement portion at a predetermined position of the housing; and inserting the second placement portion from the opening of the housing and disposing the second placement portion at a predetermined position of the housing in a state where the second placement portion is deformed.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present application, it is possible to obtain a flavor inhaler that enables the placement portion for the article to be accommodated to be disposed inside the housing and enables the article to be accommodated to be accommodated therein even in a case where the dividing surface of the housing is caused to have a deviation from the plane at which the largest opening can be secured, by dividing the placement portion where the article to be accommodated is placed into the first placement portion and the second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion, inserting the first placement portion from the opening of the housing, rotating the first placement portion, thereby disposing the first placement portion at the predetermined position of the housing, inserting the second placement portion from the opening of the housing in a state where the second placement portion is deformed, and disposing the second placement portion at the predetermined position of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a flavor inhaler according to a present embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic top view of the flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a flavor generating article.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flavor inhaler along the arrow 3-3 illustrated in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a chamber.

FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the chamber along the arrow 4B-4B illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the chamber along the arrow 5A-5A illustrated in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the chamber along the arrow 5B-5B illustrated in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chamber and the heating portion.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrated in FIG. 5B in a state where the flavor generating article is disposed at a desired position in the chamber.

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating an outer housing in an exploded manner.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the outer housing.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a first housing.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the first housing.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the first housing.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the first housing.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a placement portion.

FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating the placement portion.

FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating a location where a first placement portion and a second placement portion are combined at a position corresponding to a bottom portion of the first housing.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion and the second placement portion are combined at a position corresponding to a wall portion of the first housing on a side of an X axis negative direction.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion and the second placement portion are combined at a position corresponding to a wall portion of the first housing on a side of an X axis positive direction.

FIG. 19 is another perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion and the second placement portion are combined at the position corresponding to the wall portion of the first housing on the side of the X axis negative direction.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the first placement portion.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the second placement portion.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for attachment of the first placement portion and the second placement portion to the first housing.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the procedure for attachment of the first placement portion and the second placement portion to the first housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, the same reference signs will be applied to the same or corresponding components, and repeated description will be omitted.

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a flavor inhaler 100 according to a present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a schematic top view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment. In the drawings described in the specification, an X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system may be added for convenience of description. In the coordinate system, the Z axis is directed vertically upward, the X-Y plane is disposed to cut the flavor inhaler 100 in the horizontal direction, and the Y axis is disposed to extend from the front surface to the rear surface of the flavor inhaler 100. The X axis can also be referred to as a width direction of a first housing 120, which will be described later. The Y axis can also be referred to as a thickness direction of the first housing 120. The Z axis can also be called an insertion direction of a flavor generating article to be accommodated in a chamber 50 of an atomization portion 30, which will be described later, an axial direction of the chamber 50, or a height direction of the first housing 120.

The flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment is a device having a rounded exterior and is configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by heating a flavor generating article of a stick type having a flavor source containing an aerosol source, for example.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the flavor inhaler 100 has an outer housing 101, a slide cover 102, a switch portion 103, and a terminal 104. The outer housing 101 configures the outermost housing of the flavor inhaler 100 and has a size with which it fits in a user's hand. The user can hold the flavor inhaler 100 with his/her hand and inhale the aerosol when the user uses the flavor inhaler 100. The outer housing 101 may be configured by assembling a plurality of members, which will be described later. The outer housing 101 can be formed of metal such as aluminum. Note that the outer housing 101 may have a member made of a resin, for example, a member formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers.

The outer housing 101 has an inlet portion, which is not illustrated, for receiving the flavor generating article, and the slide cover 102 (corresponding to an example of a slide member) is slidably attached to the outer housing 101 to close the inlet portion. Specifically, the slide cover 102 is configured to be movable along an outer surface of the outer housing 101 between a closed position (the position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) at which the inlet portion of the outer housing 101 is closed and an open position at which the inlet portion is open. It is possible to cause the slide cover 102 to move between the closed position and the open position by the user manually operating the slide cover 102, for example. In this manner, the slide cover 102 is able to permit or restrict access to the flavor generating article inside the flavor inhaler 100.

The switch portion 103 is used to switch ON and OFF of an operation of the flavor inhaler 100. For example, power is supplied from a power source, which is not illustrated, to a heating portion, which is not illustrated, and it is possible to heat the flavor generating article without burning the flavor generating article, by the user operating the switch portion 103 in a state where the flavor generating article is inserted into the flavor inhaler 100. Note that the switch portion 103 may be a switch provided outside the outer housing 101 or may be a switch located inside the outer housing 101. In a case where the switch is located inside the outer housing 101, the switch is indirectly pressed by pressing the switch portion 103 on the surface of the outer housing 101. In the present embodiment, an example in which the switch of the switch portion 103 is located inside the outer housing 101 will be described.

The terminal 104 is an interface, such as a USB, that connects the flavor inhaler 100 to an external power source, for example. In a case where the power source included in the flavor inhaler 100 is a chargeable battery, the external power source can cause a current to flow to the power source and charge the power source by connecting the external power source to the terminal 104. Also, the flavor inhaler 100 may be configured to be able to transmit data related to the operation of the flavor inhaler 100 to an external device by connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal 104.

Next, the flavor generating article used by the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the flavor generating article 110. In the present embodiment, the flavor inhaler 100 and the flavor generating article 110 can configure a smoking system. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the flavor generating article 110 has a smokable article 111, a tubular member 114, a hollow filter portion 116, and a filter portion 115.

The smokable article 111 is wrapped by a first wrapping paper 112. The tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 are wrapped by a second wrapping paper 113 that is different from the first wrapping paper 112. The second wrapping paper 113 also wraps a part of the first wrapping paper 112 that wraps the smokable article 111. In this manner, the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 are coupled to the smokable article 111. However, the second wrapping paper 113 may be omitted, and the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 may be coupled to the smokable article 111 by using the first wrapping paper 112. A lip release agent 117 for promoting the user's lip release from the second wrapping paper 113 is applied to the outer surface of the second wrapping paper 113 in the vicinity of an end portion thereof on the side of the filter portion 115. The part of the flavor generating article 110 to which the lip release agent 117 is applied functions as a mouthpiece of the flavor generating article 110.

The smokable article 111 can contain a flavor source such as tobacco, for example, and an aerosol source. Also, the first wrapping paper 112 for wrapping the smokable article 111 can be a sheet member with breathability. The tubular member 114 can be a paper pipe or a hollow filter. Although the flavor generating article 110 includes the smokable article 111, the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 in the illustrated example, the configuration of the flavor generating article 110 is not limited thereto. For example, the hollow filter portion 116 may be omitted, and the tubular member 114 and the filter portion 115 may be disposed to be adjacent to each other.

Next, an internal structure of the flavor inhaler 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flavor inhaler 100 along the arrow 3-3 illustrated in FIG. 1B. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a placement portion 10 on which articles to be accommodated such as a power source portion 20 and an atomization portion 30, which will be described later, are placed is provided inside the outer housing 101 of the flavor inhaler 100. The placement portion 10 is made of a resin, for example, and is formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, a polymer alloy containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of kinds of polymer, or the like, in particular. Note that the placement portion 10 may include a part formed of metal such as aluminum, for example. Here, the placement portion 10 is preferably polycarbonate from the viewpoint of heat resistance, workability, and strength. The power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 are provided in an internal space 11 of the placement portion 10. Note that the power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 are not exchangeable after the flavor inhaler 100 is assembled. Also, the outer housing 101 and the placement portion 10 may be collectively referred to as a casing.

The power source portion 20 includes a power source 21. The power source 21 can be a chargeable battery or a non-chargeable battery, for example. The power source 21 is electrically connected to the atomization portion 30. The power source 21 can thus supply power to the atomization portion 30 to appropriately heat the flavor generating article 110.

The atomization portion 30 has a chamber 50 extending in an insertion direction (Z-axis direction) of the flavor generating article 110, a heating portion 40 covering a part of the chamber 50, a heat insulating portion 32, and a substantially tubular insertion guide member 34 as illustrated in the drawing. The chamber 50 is configured to accommodate the flavor generating article 110 therein. The heating portion 40 is configured to come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50 and heat the flavor generating article 110 accommodated in the chamber 50. As illustrated in the drawing, a bottom member 36 may be provided at the bottom portion of the chamber 50. The bottom member 36 can function as a stopper that positions the flavor generating article 110 inserted into the chamber 50. The bottom member 36 has irregularity on a surface that the flavor generating article 110 abuts and can define a space into which air can be supplied on the surface that the flavor generating article 110 abuts. The bottom member 36 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, or metal such as aluminum, in particular. Note that the bottom member 36 is preferably formed of a material with a low heat conductivity to prevent heat from being transmitted to the heat insulating portion 32 and the like.

The heat insulating portion 32 has a substantially tubular shape as a whole and is disposed to cover the chamber 50. The heat insulating portion 32 can include an aerogel sheet, for example. The insertion guide member 34 is provided between the slide cover 102 at the closed position and the chamber 50. The insertion guide member 34 is configured not to be able to escape to the outside of the casing with a claw engaged with the casing if the insertion guide member 34 is inserted from the opening of the outer housing 101 into the casing. The insertion guide member 34 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, in particular. Note that the insertion guide member 34 may be formed of metal, glass, ceramics, or the like. Also, the insertion guide member 34 is preferably made of PEEK in terms of heat resistance. The insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 100 when the slide cover 102 is at the open position, and the insertion guide member 34 guides insertion of the flavor generating article 110 into the chamber 50 by inserting the flavor generating article 110 into a through-hole 34a in the insertion guide member 34. The slide cover 102 is configured to cover at least a part of the insertion guide member 34 in the axial direction of the chamber 50 with the through-hole 34a in the insertion guide member 34 exposed to the outside when the slide cover 102 is at the open position. In FIG. 3, a state where the slide cover 102 is closed to cover the entire through-hole 34a in the insertion guide member 34 is illustrated by the two-dotted chain line.

The flavor inhaler 100 further has a first holding portion 37 and a second holding portion 38 that hold both ends of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32. The first holding portion 37 is disposed to hold the end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32 on the side of the Z axis negative direction. The second holding portion 38 is disposed to hold the end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32 on the side of the slide cover 102 (the side of the Z axis positive direction).

Next, a structure of the chamber 50 will be described. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the chamber 50. FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 4B-4B illustrated in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 5A-5A illustrated in FIG. 4B. FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 5B-5B illustrated in FIG. 4B. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chamber 50 and the heating portion 40.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the chamber 50 can have a tubular shape including an opening 52 into which the flavor generating article 110 is inserted and a tubular side wall portion 60 that accommodates the flavor generating article 110. A flange portion 52a is formed at an end portion that defines the opening 52 of the chamber 50. The chamber 50 is disposed such that the flange portion 52a provided on the side opposite to a bottom portion 56 faces the opening of the outer housing 101. The chamber 50 is preferably formed of a material with heat resistance and a small coefficient of thermal expansion and can be formed of, for example, stainless steel. Note that the chamber 50 may be formed of a resin such as PEEK, glass, ceramics, or the like as well as metal. This enables effective heating of the flavor generating article 110 from the chamber 50. Note that the chamber 50 is not limited to the tubular shape and may have a cup shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, the side wall portion 60 includes contact portions 62 and a separated portion 66. When the flavor generating article 110 is disposed at a desired position in the chamber 50, the contact portions 62 come into contact with or press a part of the flavor generating article 110, and the separated portion 66 is separated from the flavor generating article 110. Note that in the specification, “the desired position in the chamber 50” means the position at which the flavor generating article 110 is appropriately heated or the position of the flavor generating article 110 when the user smokes. Each contact portion 62 has an inner surface 62a and an outer surface 62b. The separated portion 66 has an inner surface 66a and an outer surface 66b. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating portion 40 is disposed on the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62. The heating portion 40 is preferably disposed with no clearance from the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62. Note that the heating portion 40 may include an adhesive layer. In that case, the heating portion 40 including the adhesive layer is preferably disposed with no clearance from the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 5B, the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 is a planar surface. It is possible to prevent a strip-shaped electrode 48 from being bent in a case where the strip-shaped electrode 48 is connected to the heating portion 40 disposed on the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 as illustrated in FIG. 6 by the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 being a planar surface. As illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, the inner surface 62a of the contact portion 62 is a planar surface. Also, the thickness of the contact portion 62 is uniform as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5B, the chamber 50 has two contact portions 62 in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50, and the two contact portions 62 face each other in parallel with each other. The distance of at least a part between the inner surfaces 62a of the two contact portions 62 is preferably shorter than the width of the flavor generating article 110 inserted into the chamber 50 at the location disposed between the contact portions 62.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the inner surface 66a of the separated portion 66 can have an arc-shaped section as a whole in the plane that perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) of the chamber 50. Also, the separated portion 66 is disposed to be adjacent to the contact portions 62 in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the chamber 50 can have a hole 56a at the bottom portion 56 thereof such that the bottom member 36 illustrated in FIG. 3 penetrates therethrough and is disposed inside the chamber 50. The bottom member 36 can be fixed to the inside of the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 with an adhesive or the like. Note that the adhesive intervening between the bottom member 36 and the bottom portion 56 can be configured of a resin material such as an epoxy resin. Instead of this, an inorganic adhesive such as cement or welding can also be used. The bottom member 36 provided at the bottom portion 56 can support a part of the flavor generating article 110 inserted into the chamber 50 with at least a part of an end surface of the flavor generating article 110 exposed. Also, the bottom portion 56 can support a part of the flavor generating article 110 with the exposed end surface of the flavor generating article 110 communicating with a clearance 67 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5A, the chamber 50 preferably has a tubular non-holding portion 54 between the opening 52 and the side wall portion 60. A clearance can be formed between the non-holding portion 54 and the flavor generating article 110 in a state where the flavor generating article 110 is positioned at a desired position in the chamber 50. Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the chamber 50 preferably has a first guide portion 58 including a tapered surface 58a that connects the inner surface of the non-holding portion 54 to the inner surfaces 62a of the contact portions 62.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating portion 40 has a heating element 42. The heating element 42 may be a heating track, for example. The heating element 42 is preferably disposed to heat the contact portions 62 without coming into contact with the separated portion 66 of the chamber 50. In other words, the heating element 42 is preferably disposed only on the outer surfaces of the contact portions 62. The heating element 42 may have a difference in heating capability between a part heating the separated portion 66 of the chamber 50 and a part heating the contact portions 62. Specifically, the heating element 42 may be configured to heat the contact portions 62 to a higher temperature than that of the separated portion 66. For example, disposition densities of the heating track of the heating element 42 in the contact portions 62 and the separated portion 66 can be adjusted. Also, the heating element 42 may be wound around the outer circumference of the chamber 50 while exhibiting substantially the same heating capability over the entire circumference of the chamber 50. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating portion 40 preferably has an electrically insulating member 44 that covers at least one surface of the heating element 42 in addition to the heating element 42. In the present embodiment, the electrically insulating member 44 is disposed to cover both surfaces of the heating element 42.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrated in FIG. 5B in a state where the flavor generating article 110 is disposed at a desired position in the chamber 50. As illustrated in FIG. 7, once the flavor generating article 110 is disposed at a desired position in the chamber 50, the flavor generating article 110 can come into contact with and be pressed by the contact portions 62 of the chamber 50. On the other hand, the clearance 67 is formed between the flavor generating article 110 and the separated portion 66. The clearance 67 can communicate with the opening 52 of the chamber 50 and the end surface of the flavor generating article 110 located in the chamber 50. In this manner, air flowing from the opening 52 of the chamber 50 can pass through the clearance 67 and flow to the inside of the flavor generating article 110. In other words, an air flow path (clearance 67) is formed between the flavor generating article 110 and the separated portion 66.

Next, the structure of the outer housing 101 will be described. FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the outer housing 101 in an exploded manner. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the outer housing 101 has a first housing 120 having an opening 121, a second housing 130 covering the opening 121 of the first housing 120, and a lid portion 140 covering at least a part of the second housing 130. Each of the first housing 120, the second housing 130, and the lid portion 140 is a single seamless structure. The second housing 130 is fixed to the first housing 120 by an arbitrary fastening means. The lid portion 140 is fixed to the second housing 130 with a magnet or the like and can be attached and detached by the user. Here, an outer edge of the opening 121 of the first housing 120, an outer edge of the second housing 130, and an outer edge of the lid portion 140 substantially coincide with each other. Therefore, a joint portion when the first housing 120, the second housing 130, and the lid portion 140 are combined can be one location, and it is possible to improve aesthetic aspects of the flavor inhaler 100.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the outer housing 101. FIG. 9 illustrates a state where the second housing 130 is fixed to the first housing 120 along with the lid portion 140. As illustrated in FIG. 9, an indication description portion 131 on which performance indications and notices related to the flavor inhaler 100 are described can be provided on the outer surface of the second housing 130. Since the indication description portion 131 cannot be visually recognized from the outside in a state where the lid portion 140 is attached to the second housing 130, it is possible to improve aesthetic aspects of the flavor inhaler 100 during utilization. Note that since the user can detach the lid portion 140 and can thus check the indication description portion 131 as needed.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the first housing 120. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the first housing 120. FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the first housing 120. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the first housing 120. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, the first housing 120 is configured of a bottom portion 122 and a wall portion 123 provided to stand from an outer edge of the bottom portion 122 and forming the opening 121. The first housing 120 has a shape with a width direction (X-axis direction) length decreasing from the Z-axis positive direction toward the Z-axis negative direction.

An accommodating portion 124 that accommodates articles to be accommodated such as the power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 along with the placement portion 10 is formed inside the first housing 120. A communication hole 125 that establishes communication between the inside and the outside of the accommodating portion 124 and is opened and closed by the slide cover 102 is formed in a wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the Z-axis positive direction. Also, a communication hole 126 that establishes communication between the inside and the outside of the accommodating portion 124 and exposes the terminal 104 (see FIG. 1C) to the outside is formed in the wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the Z-axis negative direction.

Here, the opening area of the opening 121 is smaller than the maximum sectional area of the accommodating portion 124 in a case where the first housing 120 is cut along a plane that is parallel with the opening 121. Specifically, the length of the opening 121 in the X-axis direction is shorter than the maximum length of the first housing 120 in the X-axis direction in FIG. 11 and the length of the opening 121 in the Z-axis direction is shorter than the maximum length of the first housing 120 in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 12. In other words, the dividing surface of the outer housing 101 is provided from a deviation from the plane at which the largest opening can be secured.

Next, a structure of the placement portion 10 will be described. FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating the placement portion 10. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the placement portion 10. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the placement portion 10 has an outer shape along the inner surface of the accommodating portion 124 of the first housing 120. Also, the opening area of the opening 121 of the first housing 120 is smaller than the maximum sectional area of the placement portion 10 including the internal space 11 in a case where the placement portion 10 is cut along a plane that is parallel with the opening 121. Therefore, if the placement portion 10 is formed as a single member, the placement portion 10 cannot be inserted from the opening 121 of the first housing 120. Thus, the placement portion 10 is divided into a first placement portion 150 and a second placement portion 160 to be combined with the first placement portion 150 as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

The first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are inserted into the first housing 120 and are then combined with each other as will be described later. It is possible to dispose the placement portion 10 where the articles to be accommodated such as the power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 are placed inside the first housing 120 and to accommodate the articles to be accommodated even in a case where the dividing surface of the outer housing 101 is caused to have a deviation from the plane at which the largest opening can be secured, by dividing the placement portion 10 into the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 to be combined with the first placement portion 150.

Here, the slide cover 102 is slidably provided at the first placement portion 150. Also, a sensor for detecting an opening/closing operation of the slide cover 102, which is not illustrated, is fixed to the second placement portion 160. ON and OFF of the heating portion 40 are controlled by the sensor detecting the opening/closing operation of the slide cover 102. As described above, the placement portion 10 is preferably polycarbonate in consideration of heat resistance and workability, a material with higher slidability than that of the second placement portion 160 is selected for the first placement portion 150 in order to reduce a sliding resistance of the slide cover 102. Specifically, it is possible to use polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC) with a high-grade slidability, or the like. In this case, although the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are fixed to the first housing 120 with an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or the like, it is preferable to use polycarbonate (PC) with a high-grade slidability in consideration of adhesiveness of the adhesive or the like.

Also, the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are divided at a position that is significantly closer to the side of the Z-axis positive direction than the center of the placement portion 10 in the Z-axis direction. This is for reducing the first placement portion 150 because the first placement portion 150 is formed of a material with higher slidability and requires higher material cost than the second placement portion 160. Additionally, it is possible to insert the first placement portion 150 into the first housing 120, then to cause the first placement portion 150 to rotate, and to dispose the first placement portion 150 at a predetermined position in the first housing 120 as will be described later, by such division into the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160. Furthermore, it is possible to form a heat vent 170 for releasing heat can be formed at a location where the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are combined, which is a part with a large amount of heat generated by the heating portion 40, by such division into the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160.

Here, it is desired that the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 be positioned relative to each other. Thus, a first engagement portion 151 is provided at the location of the first placement portion 150 where it is combined with the second placement portion 160, and a second engagement portion 161 to be engaged with the first engagement portion 151 is provided at a location of the second placement portion 160 where it is combined with the first placement portion 150 as illustrated in FIG. 15. It is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other by causing the first engagement portion 151 and the second engagement portion 161 to engage with each other. It is possible to improve position accuracy of the slide cover 102 and the sensor by the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 being positioned relative to each other and thereby to accurately detect an opening/closing operation of the slide cover 102 by using the sensor.

Note that it is desirable that the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 be positioned relative to each other in each of the width direction, the thickness direction, and the height direction of the first housing 120. Thus, the first engagement portion 151 and the second engagement portion 161 to realize this will be described in detail. FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating a location where the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are combined at a position corresponding to the bottom portion 122 of the first housing 120. FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 at a position corresponding to the wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the X-axis negative direction. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 are combined at a position corresponding to the wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the X-axis positive direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the first placement portion 150 has a width-direction first engagement portion 152 as the first engagement portion 151, and the second placement portion 160 has a width-direction second engagement portion 162 as the second engagement portion 161. The width-direction first engagement portion 152 and the width-direction second engagement portion 162 face the bottom portion 122 of the first housing 120. Also, the width-direction first engagement portion 152 is a projecting portion that projects from the first placement portion 150, and the width-direction second engagement portion 162 is a recessed portion having a shape corresponding to the projecting portion. Here, the projecting portion and the recessed portion may be exchanged with each other. It is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other in the width direction of the first housing 120 by the width-direction first engagement portion 152 and the width-direction second engagement portion 162 being engaged with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the first placement portion 150 has a thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and a height-direction first engagement portion 154 as the first engagement portion 151, and the second placement portion 160 has a thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and a height-direction second engagement portion 164 as the second engagement portion 161. The thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 face the wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the X-axis negative direction. Also, the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 are projecting portions that project from the second placement portion 160, and the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154 are recessed portions having shapes corresponding to the projecting portions. Here, the projecting portions and the recessed portions may be exchanged with each other. It is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other in the thickness direction of the first housing 120 by the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 being engaged with each other. Additionally, it is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other in the height direction of the first housing 120 by the height-direction first engagement portion 154 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 being engaged with each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the first placement portion 150 has the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154 as the first engagement portion 151, and the second placement portion 160 has the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 as the second engagement portion 161. The thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 face the wall portion 123 of the first housing 120 on the side of the X-axis positive direction. In addition, the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 are projecting portion that project from the second placement portion 160, and the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154 are recessed portion that have shapes corresponding to the projecting portions. Here, the projecting portions and the recessed portions may be exchanged with each other. It is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion relative to each other in the thickness direction of the first housing 120 by the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 being engaged with each other. Also, it is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other in the height direction of the first housing 120 by the height-direction first engagement portion 154 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 being engaged with each other.

Also, the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 are provided at the wall portion 123 on the side of the X-axis positive direction and at the wall portion 123 on the side of the X-axis negative direction of the first housing 120 facing each other. It is thus possible to more fixedly position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160.

Note that although FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164, the thickness-direction first engagement portion 153 and the height-direction first engagement portion 154 may be integrally formed, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion 163 and the height-direction second engagement portion 164 may be integrally formed. FIG. 19 is another perspective view illustrating the location where the first placement portion and the second placement portion are combined at a position corresponding to the wall portion of the first housing on the side of the X-axis negative direction. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the second placement portion 160 has an oblique-direction second engagement portion 165 projecting in an oblique direction (YZ direction) from the second placement portion 160 as the second engagement portion 161, and the first placement portion 150 has an oblique-direction first engagement portion 155 as the first engagement portion 151. It is possible to position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to each other with a simple configuration in the thickness direction and the height direction of the first housing 120 by the oblique-direction first engagement portion 155 and the oblique-direction second engagement portion 165 being engaged with each other.

Additionally, it is desirable that the first housing 120 and the first placement portion 150 be positioned relative to each other. Thus, a configuration to realize this will be described. FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the first placement portion 150. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the first placement portion 150 is provided with a first projecting portion 156 projecting from the first placement portion 150 on the side of the Z-axis positive direction. The first projecting portion 156 is engaged with an inner circumferential surface of the communication hole 125 (see FIG. 13) of the first housing 120. It is thus possible to position the first placement portion 150 relative to the first housing 120.

Also, it is desirable that the first housing 120 and the second placement portion 160 be positioned relative to each other. Thus, a configuration to realize this will be described. FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the second placement portion 160. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the second placement portion 160 is provided with a second projecting portion 166 projecting from the second placement portion 160 on the side of the Z-axis negative and positive direction. The second projecting portion 166 is engaged with the inner circumferential surface of the communication hole 126 (see FIG. 13) of the first housing 120. It is thus possible to position the second placement portion 160 relative to the first housing 120. Note that the terminal 104 (see FIG. 1C) may be accommodated inside the second projecting portion 166. Since there is no need to provide the second projecting portion 166 merely for engagement with the communication hole 126 by the structure for accommodating the terminal 104 being realized by the second projecting portion 166, it is possible to simplify and downsize the structure of the flavor inhaler 100.

Here, the first engagement portion 151 is provided at an end portion of the first placement portion 150 on the side of the second placement portion 160, and the first projecting portion 156 is provided at an end portion thereof on the side opposite to the second placement portion 160. In this manner, the positions of both ends of the first placement portion 150 are determined, and positional deviation becomes unlikely to occur. Also, the second engagement portion 161 is provided at an end portion of the second placement portion 160 on the side of the first placement portion 150, and the second projecting portion 166 is provided at an end portion thereof on the side opposite to the first placement portion 150. In this manner, the positions of both ends of the second placement portion 160 are determined, and positional deviation becomes unlikely to occur. It is thus possible to more fixedly position the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 relative to the first housing 120. Note that only any one of the first projecting portion 156 and the second projecting portion 166 may be provided.

Next, a method for attaching the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 to the first housing 120 will be described. FIGS. 22 and 23 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a procedure for attaching the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 to the first housing 120. As illustrated in FIG. 22, (a) the first placement portion 150 is inserted into the first housing 120 in a lateral orientation, and the first placement portion 150 is caused to rotate inside the first housing 120. (b) Next, the first projecting portion 156 of the first placement portion 150 is engaged with the communication hole 125 of the first housing 120, and the first placement portion 150 is thereby positioned. (c) Subsequently, the second placement portion 160 is inserted into the first housing 120. At this time, since the first housing 120 has a shape with a short length in the width direction (X-axis direction) from the Z-axis positive direction toward the Z-axis negative direction (see FIG. 10), the narrower side of the second placement portion 160 is inserted first and is caused to slide on the side of the Z-axis negative direction, and standing parts of the second placement portion 160 on both sides in the X-axis direction are pinched, are caused to fall down inward, and are then inserted into the first housing 120, when the second placement portion 160 is inserted into the first housing 120.

At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 23, (a) the second placement portion 160 is deformed and can be inserted into the first housing 120 by pinching the standing parts of the second placement portion 160 on both sides in the X-axis direction and causing them to fall down inward. (b) Next, the second placement portion 160 is completely inserted into the first housing 120. (c) Subsequently, the second placement portion 160 is released to thereby spread the second placement portion 160 by a principle of a plate spring, and the first engagement portion 151 and the second engagement portion 161 are thus engaged with each other. Note that the first placement portion 150 and the second placement portion 160 may be bonded and fixed to the first housing 120 with an adhesive. In this manner, it is possible to dispose the placement portion 10 where the articles to be accommodated such as the power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 are to be placed inside the first housing 120 and to accommodate the articles to be accommodated even in a case where the dividing surface of the outer housing 101 is caused to have a deviation from the plane at which the largest opening can be secured.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modification can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, the specification, and the drawings. Note that any shapes and materials that are not directly described in the specification and the drawings also fall within the scope of the technical idea of the invention of the present application as long as the effects and the advantages of the invention of the present application can be achieved.

For example, although the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present embodiment has a so-called counterflow-type air flow path through which air flowing from the opening 52 of the chamber 50 is supplied to the end surface of the flavor generating article 110, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the flavor inhaler 100 may have a so-called bottom flow-type air flow path through which air is supplied from the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 to the inside of the chamber 50. Also, the heating element 42 is not limited to a resistance heating type and may be an induction heating type. In that case, the heating element 42 can heat the chamber 50 through induction heating. Also, in a case where the flavor generating article 110 has a susceptor, the heating element 42 can heat the susceptor of the flavor generating article 110 through induction heating. Note that the structure in which the heating element 42 is disposed in the surroundings of the chamber 50 to raise the temperature of the flavor generating article 110 in the chamber 50 has been described, a method of raising the temperature of the flavor generating article 110 in the chamber 50 may be a method of bringing the heating element 42 to direct contact with the flavor generating article 110 or may be a method of generating frictional heat due to vibration of substances in the flavor generating article 110.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • 10 Placement portion
  • 11 Internal space
  • 20 Power source portion
  • 30 Atomization portion
  • 100 Flavor inhaler
  • 101 Outer housing
  • 102 Slide cover
  • 110 Flavor generating article
  • 120 First housing
  • 121 Opening
  • 122 Bottom portion
  • 123 Wall portion
  • 124 Accommodating portion
  • 125 Communication hole
  • 126 Communication hole
  • 130 Second housing
  • 131 Indication description portion
  • 140 Lid portion
  • 150 First placement portion
  • 151 First engagement portion
  • 152 Width-direction first engagement portion
  • 152 Second engagement portion
  • 153 Thickness-direction first engagement portion
  • 154 Height-direction first engagement portion
  • 155 Oblique-direction first engagement portion
  • 156 First projecting portion
  • 160 Second placement portion
  • 161 Second engagement portion
  • 162 Width-direction second engagement portion
  • 163 Thickness-direction second engagement portion
  • 164 Height-direction second engagement portion
  • 165 Oblique-direction second engagement portion
  • 166 Second projecting portion
  • 170 Heat vent

Claims

1. A flavor inhaler comprising:

a first housing that has an opening, an accommodating portion that accommodates an article to be accommodated being formed therein; and

a placement portion that has an outer shape that follows an inner surface of the accommodating portion, has an internal space where the article to be accommodated is placed, and is disposed inside the accommodating portion,

wherein an opening area of the opening is smaller than a maximum sectional area of the accommodating portion in a case where the first housing is cut along a plane that is parallel with the opening and a maximum sectional area of the placement portion including the internal space in a case where the placement portion is cut along the plane that is parallel with the opening, and

the placement portion has a first placement portion, and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion.

2. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,

wherein the first placement portion has a first engagement portion that is provided at a location where the first placement portion is combined with the second placement portion, and

the second placement portion has a second engagement portion that is provided at the combined location and is engaged with the first engagement portion.

3. The flavor inhaler according to claim 2,

wherein in a width direction, a thickness direction, and a height direction that perpendicularly intersect each other in the first housing, the first engagement portion has a width-direction first engagement portion, a thickness-direction first engagement portion, and a height-direction first engagement portion, the second engagement portion has a width-direction second engagement portion, a thickness-direction second engagement portion, and a height-direction second engagement portion,

the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the width direction by the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other,

the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the thickness direction by the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other, and

the first placement portion and the second placement portion are positioned in the height direction by the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion being engaged with each other.

4. The flavor inhaler according to claim 3,

wherein the first housing has a bottom portion, and a wall portion that stands from an outer edge of the bottom portion,

the width-direction first engagement portion and the width-direction second engagement portion face the bottom portion,

the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion face the wall portion, and

the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion face the wall portion.

5. The flavor inhaler according to claim 4,

wherein the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the thickness-direction second engagement portion are provided at each of a pair of the wall portions facing each other, and

the height-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion are provided at each of the pair of the wall portions facing each other.

6. The flavor inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the thickness-direction first engagement portion and the height-direction first engagement portion are integrally formed, and the thickness-direction second engagement portion and the height-direction second engagement portion are integrally formed.

7. The flavor inhaler according to claim 2,

wherein the first engagement portion is one of a projecting portion and a recessed portion provided in the first placement portion at the combined location,

the second engagement portion is the other one of the projecting portion and the recessed portion provided in the second placement portion at the combined location, and

the recessed portion has a shape corresponding to the projecting portion.

8. The flavor inhaler according to claim 2,

wherein the first housing has a communication hole that establishes communication between inside and outside of the accommodating portion in a wall portion standing from an outer edge of a bottom portion, and

at least one of the first placement portion and the second placement portion has a projecting portion that is engageable with the communication hole.

9. The flavor inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the projecting portion is provided on at least one of an end portion of the first placement portion on a side opposite to the first engagement portion provided at an end portion on the side of the second placement portion and an end portion of the second placement portion on a side opposite to the second engagement portion provided at an end portion on the side of the first placement portion.

10. The flavor inhaler according to claim 8,

wherein the first housing has a communication hole that establishes communication between inside and outside of the accommodating portion in each of the pair of wall portions facing each other,

the first placement portion has a first projecting portion that is engageable with one of the communication holes, and

the second placement portion has a second projecting portion that is engageable with the other one of the communication holes.

11. The flavor inhaler according to claim 2, further comprising:

a slide member that is provided slidably with respect to the first housing; and

a sensor that detects an operation of the slide member,

wherein the slide member is provided slidably on the first placement portion, and

the sensor is fixed to the second placement portion.

12. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second housing that covers the opening of the first housing; and

a lid portion that covers at least a part of the second housing,

wherein an indication related to the flavor inhaler is described on an outer surface of the second housing, and

the lid portion covers the indication entirely.

13. A method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler that includes

a housing that has an opening, an accommodating portion that accommodates an article to be accommodated being formed therein, and

a placement portion that has an outer shape that follows an inner surface of the accommodating portion, is disposed inside the accommodating portion, is adapted such that the article to be accommodated is placed thereon, and has a first placement portion and a second placement portion that is to be combined with the first placement portion, the method comprising:

inserting the first placement portion from the opening of the housing, rotating the first placement portion, and disposing the first placement portion at a predetermined position of the housing; and

inserting the second placement portion from the opening of the housing and disposing the second placement portion at a predetermined position of the housing in a state where the second placement portion is deformed.