Smoking substitute device
Disclosed is a smoking substitute device comprising a body, a heating element projecting from an end of the body, a cap for engagement with the end of the body, the cap defining a cavity for receipt of the heating element when engaged with the body, and a lock configured to selectively prevent disengagement of the cap from the body based on a condition of the heating element.
1 . A smoking substitute device comprising:
a body;
a heating element projecting from an end of the body;
a cap for engagement with the end of the body, the cap defining a cavity for receipt of the heating element when engaged with the body; and
a lock configured to selectively prevent disengagement of the cap from the body based on a condition of the heating element;
wherein the cap comprises an outer portion for gripping by a user, and an inner portion at least partly enclosing the heating element;
wherein the cap is configured such that a force to disengage the cap from the body, when in a locked state, is greater than a force to separate the outer portion from the inner portion; and
wherein the cap is configured to be locked to the device via the inner portion.
2 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the lock is configured to selectively prevent disengagement of the cap from the body based on a temperature of the heating element.
3 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the lock is configured to selectively prevent disengagement of the cap from the body based on whether the heating element is active.
4 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the lock is configured to prevent disengagement of the cap from the body when the heating element is in an active state.
5 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the lock forms part of the cap or the body and, when in the locked state, engages a retaining portion forming the other of the cap or the body.
6 . A device according to claim 5 wherein the retaining portion comprises an aperture in which a portion of the lock is received.
7 . A device according to claim 5 wherein the lock comprises at least one of an electro-mechanical device, bimetallic component, shape memory allow wire and expanding wax mechanism.
8 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the outer portion is connected to the inner portion by a weakened portion.
9 . A device according to claim 8 wherein the weakened portion is configured to break at a force that is less than 80N.
10 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a tamper sensor for detecting whether the outer portion has been separated from the inner portion.
11 . A device according to claim 10 wherein the tamper sensor comprises a hall sensor forming part of the body or the inner portion of the cap, and a magnet disposed on the outer portion.
12 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the lock forms part of the body or inner portion and engages the other of the body or inner portion when in the locked state.
13 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the lock is configured to provide a retaining force of 80N to 100N.