# US 12,178,250 B2 · Aerosol provision system and a method of providing an aerosol > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,250 B2 - Document ID: US12178250B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/600,590 - Filed: 2020-03-18 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-05 - Assignees: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Inventors: Patrick Moloney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178250B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/60: Devices with integrated user interfaces - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract There is provided an aerosol provision system comprising: aerosol generating medium; a source of energy for heating, wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to cause heating of the aerosol generating medium to form an aerosol; and a housing configured to house the aerosol generating medium and in which the source of energy for heating is located, the housing further comprising a protected region for protecting the heater; wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to move within the device between an aerosol generating position proximate to the aerosol generating medium and a stowed position in which the source of energy for heating is in the protected region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol provision system comprising: aerosol generating medium; a source of energy for heating, wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to cause heating of the aerosol generating medium to form an aerosol; and a housing configured to house the aerosol generating medium and in which the source of energy for heating is located, the housing further comprising a protected region for protecting the source of energy for heating; wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to move within the system between an aerosol generating position proximate to the aerosol generating medium and a stowed position in which the source of energy for heating is in the protected region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the protected region is at least one of a recess, opening, corridor, through-hole, groove or cavity within the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein: the housing further comprises a protecting structure in which the protected region is located, or the device further comprises a preventing element arranged to prevent, in use, the aerosol generating medium from entering the protected region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the protected region has at least one opening through which the source of energy for heating is arranged to move as the source of energy for heating moves from the aerosol generating position to the stowed position, the at least one opening having an area of less than 1.5 cm2, less than 1.2 cm2 or less than 1.0 cm2. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the protected region is located between 0.5 to 2.0 cm from the aerosol generating position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the protected region is arranged substantially further from an outer surface of the housing than the aerosol generating position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the source of energy for heating is arranged to transfer heat to the aerosol generating medium via at least one of conductive heating, radiative heating and convective heating. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering a cover opening to the device, the cover configured to move between a closed position for covering the cover opening and an open position for providing a user access to the device through the cover opening, arranged such that the source of energy for heating is in the stowed position as the cover is moved towards the open position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aerosol provision system according to claim 8, further comprising an override system arranged to enable the cover to be in the open position and the source of energy for heating to be in the aerosol generating position simultaneously. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The aerosol provision system according to claim 8, wherein the cover is formed from the aerosol forming material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The aerosol provision system according to claim 8, wherein the source of energy for heating is of a size to pass through the cover opening. ### Claim 12 A method of generating an aerosol in an aerosol provision device, the method comprising: providing aerosol generating medium; providing a source of energy for heating; providing a housing with a protected region; moving the source of energy for heating from a stowed position in which the source of energy for heating is located in the protected region to an aerosol generating position in which the source of energy for heating is located proximate to the aerosol generating medium; and heating the aerosol generating medium to form an aerosol. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, moving the source of energy for heating from the aerosol generating position to the stowed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising deactivating the source of energy for heating prior to moving the source of energy for heating to the stowed position. ### Claim 15 An aerosol provision device configured to receive aerosol generating medium, comprising: a source of energy for heating, wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to, in use, cause heating of the aerosol generating medium to form an aerosol; and a housing for housing, in use, the aerosol generating medium and in which the source of energy for heating is located, the housing further comprising a protected region for protecting the source of energy for heating; wherein the source of energy for heating is configured to, in use, move within the device between an aerosol generating position proximate to the aerosol generating medium and a stowed position in which the source of energy for heating is in the protected region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, wherein the protected region is at least one of a recess, opening, corridor, through-hole, groove or cavity within the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, wherein: the housing further comprises a protecting structure in which the protected region is located, or the device further comprises a preventing element arranged to prevent, in use, the aerosol generating medium from entering the protected region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, wherein the protected region has at least one opening through which the source of energy for heating is arranged to move as the source of energy for heating moves from the aerosol generating position to the stowed position, the at least one opening having an area of less than 1.5 cm2, less than 1.2 cm2 or less than 1.0 cm2. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, wherein the protected region is located between 0.5 to 2.0 cm from the aerosol generating position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, wherein the protected region is arranged substantially further from an outer surface of the housing than the aerosol generating position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The aerosol provision device according to claim 15, further comprising a cover for covering a cover opening to the device, the cover configured to move between a closed position for covering the cover opening and an open position for providing a user access to the device through the cover opening, arranged such that the source of energy for heating is in the stowed position as the cover is moved towards the open position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The aerosol provision device according to claim 21, further comprising an override system arranged to enable the cover to be in the open position and the source of energy for heating to be in the aerosol generating position simultaneously. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The aerosol provision device according to claim 21, wherein the cover is formed from the aerosol forming material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The aerosol provision device according to claim 21, wherein the source of energy for heating is of a size to pass through the cover opening.