Smoking substitute device
A smoking substitute device is described. The device includes an electrically conductive porous wick heater. At least one electrical contact region of the wick heater is exposed from the smoking substitute device for direct engagement with a respective at least one electrical contact of a main device. The main device includes a power supply for supplying electrical energy to the at least electrical contact region via the at least one electrical contact.
1 . A consumable assembly configured to be operatively connected to a main device by at least movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the consumable assembly, the consumable assembly including:
an outer casing formed at least in part from a tank wall and an upstream plate connected to the tank wall and forming a base of the outer casing;
an electrically conductive porous wick heater housed within the outer casing and having a length, a width, a major plane and a thickness wherein an upstream face of the wick heater extends in the length and width directions along the major plane, and wherein the wick heater includes a heating portion on the major plane;
wherein at least one electrical contact region is formed on the upstream face of the wick heater wherein the upstream face of the wick heater is perpendicular to said movement so that said at least one electrical contact region is configured for engagement with a respective at least one electrical contact of the main device in a contact direction that is substantially parallel to said movement, the main device including a power supply for supplying electrical energy to the at least one electrical contact region via the at least one electrical contact; and
wherein the upstream plate obscures at least a portion of the heating portion of the wick heater by covering at least a portion of the upstream face, wherein the upstream plate includes at least one electrical contact aperture through which the at least one respective electrical contact region of the wick heater is exposed from the smoking substitute device for direct engagement with the respective electrical contact.
2 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wick heater is substantially planar.
3 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wick heater is substantially planar and wherein the plane of the wick heater is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking substitute device.
4 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wick heater is substantially planar and wherein each at least one electrical contact region is configured such that the respective electrical contact is incident on the respective electrical contact region from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wick heater.
5 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the smoking substitute device includes a store for supplying aerosol forming substrate to the wick heater.
6 . A consumable assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the wick heater is substantially planar and wherein the aerosol forming substrate is supplied from the store to the wick heater along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wick heater.
7 . A consumable assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the aerosol forming substrate is supplied to the wick heater at at least one feed location on the wick heater, wherein the at least one electrical contact region includes a first electrical contact region and a second electrical contact region, and wherein the at least one feed location is located between the first electrical contact region and the second electrical contact region.
8 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wick heater includes an electrically conductive fabric.
9 . A consumable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wick heater includes carbon fibers.
10 . A smoking substitute system including,
a consumable assembly according to claim 1 , and
the main device.
11 . A smoking substitute system according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical contact includes a non-pointed electrical engagement region for direct engagement with the respective electrical contact region.
12 . A smoking substitute system according to claim 11 , wherein the non-pointed electrical engagement region includes a substantially flat portion.
13 . A smoking substitute system according to claim 12 , wherein the substantially flat portion is for co-planar engagement with the respective electrical contact region.
14 . A consumable assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the aerosol forming substrate is supplied to the wick heater at at least one feed location on the wick heater, wherein the at least one electrical contact region includes a first electrical contact region and a second electrical contact region, and wherein the at least one feed location is located between the first electrical contact region and the second electrical contact region.