Aerosol-generating device with leak prevention

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive an aerosol-generating substrate;

electrical components comprising:

a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating substrate; and

a power supply operably coupled to the heating element;

a vessel comprising an interior configured to contain liquid, wherein the vessel is positioned below the receptacle when the device is upright;

a conduit in fluid communication with the vessel and the receptacle; and

a valve positioned at an aerosol inlet of the conduit,

wherein the valve is configured to prevent egress of liquid from the interior of the vessel through the valve, wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a vertical position causes the valve to open itself and the vessel to be in fluid communication with the receptacle, and wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a tilted position causes the valve to close itself and to close fluid communication between the vessel and the receptacle.

2 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is constructed to be in a closed position when the device is tilted 15° or greater from a vertically upright position.

3 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a ball valve.

4 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 3 , wherein the ball valve comprises a ball and a seat configured to receive the ball, and a sensor configured to determine whether the ball is seated in the seat.

5 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor comprises an emitter configured to emit a signal or beam and a detector configured to detect the signal or beam.

6 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a tilt sensor.

7 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is positioned between the vessel and the electrical components.

8 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a shisha device and the conduit comprises a stem pipe extending from the receptacle to the vessel, and wherein the valve is configured to prevent liquid from the vessel from entering the receptacle through the stem pipe.

9 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a second valve, positioned at an airflow outlet of the conduit.

10 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller; and

a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the device and to send a signal to the controller, when tilting is sensed,

wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the tilt sensor and to control the electrical components in response to the signal.

11 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to shut off power to the heating element in response to the signal.

12 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises:

an emitter to emit an electromagnetic beam;

a detector to detect the electromagnetic beam; and

a blocking member configured to block the electromagnetic beam when the device is tilted.

13 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises:

at least one gyroscope;

at least one accelerometer; or

at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer.

14 . An aerosol-generating device comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive an aerosol-generating substrate;

electrical components comprising:

a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating substrate; and

a power supply operably coupled to the heating element;

a vessel comprising an interior configured to contain liquid, wherein the vessel is positioned below the receptacle when the device is upright;

a controller;

a conduit in fluid communication with the vessel and the receptacle;

a valve positioned between the conduit and an airflow outlet of the receptacle,

wherein the valve is configured to prevent egress of liquid from the interior of the vessel through the valve, wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a vertical position causes the valve to open itself and the vessel to be in fluid communication with the receptacle, and wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a tilted position causes the valve to close itself and to close fluid communication between the vessel and the receptacle; and

a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the device and to send a signal to the controller, when tilting is sensed;

wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal from the tilt sensor and to control the electrical components in response to the signal.

15 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to shut off power to the heating element in response to the signal.

16 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 14 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises:

an emitter to emit an electromagnetic beam;

a detector to detect the electromagnetic beam; and

a blocking member configured to block the electromagnetic beam when the device is tilted.

17 . The aerosol-generating device according to claim 14 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises:

at least one gyroscope;

at least one accelerometer; or

at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer.

18 . A method for using an aerosol-generating device, the device comprising:

a receptacle comprising an aerosol-generating substrate;

electrical components comprising:

a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating substrate; and

a power supply operably coupled to the heating element;

a vessel comprising an interior containing liquid, wherein the vessel is positioned below the receptacle when the device is upright;

a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilt of the device;

a conduit in fluid communication with the vessel and the receptacle;

a valve positioned between the conduit and an airflow outlet of the receptacle,

wherein the valve is configured to prevent egress of liquid from the interior of the vessel through the valve, wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a vertical position causes the valve to open itself and the vessel to be in fluid communication with the receptacle, and wherein moving the aerosol-generating device to a tilted position causes the valve to close itself and to close fluid communication between the vessel and the receptacle; and

a controller operably coupled to the tilt sensor and the electrical components;

the method comprising:

receiving a signal from the tilt sensor indicating that the device is tilted; and

shutting off one or more of the electrical components in response to the signal.