Patent Application
20180325180
Many of the embodiments disclosed herein include electronic smoking articles operable to deliver liquid from a liquid supply source (reservoir) to a heater. The heater volatilizes a liquid to form an aerosol.
An electronic smoking article includes an outer housing extending in the longitudinal direction, a liquid aerosol formulation, a heater operable to at least partially volatilize the liquid aerosol formulation and form an aerosol, a power supply operable to apply voltage across the heater, at least one LED, a charging button assembly including a conductive post operable to form a first external, electrical contact at the upstream end of the electronic smoking article, the conductive post being partially surrounded by a charging button housing that is retained in the upstream end of the electronic smoking article, the charging button assembly operable to be pushed so as to illuminate the at least one LED, and a second external, electrical contact including a portion of an outer surface of the outer housing at the upstream end of the electronic smoking article.
An electronic smoking article includes two external, electrical contacts at an upstream end of the electronic smoking article. The two external, electrical contacts allow for recharging of a power supply without the need for disassembling the electronic smoking article. The first electrical contact includes a charging button assembly at the upstream end of the electronic smoking article. The second electrical contact is formed by an upstream end surface of an outer housing of the electronic smoking article. The electronic smoking article can be at least partially inserted into a charger to recharge the power supply.
As used herein, the term “electronic smoking article” is inclusive of all types of electronic smoking articles, regardless of form, size or shape, including electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes, electronic hookahs and the like. The liquid aerosol formulation can include nicotine or be nicotine free. Moreover, the liquid aerosol formulation can include tobacco flavors or instead, or in combination include other suitable flavors.
Preferably, as shown in
As shown in
Preferably, the first section 70 and the second section 72 include the outer housing 22 extending in a longitudinal direction along a length of the electronic smoking article 60. In another embodiment, the outer housing 22 may comprise a single, unitary tube.
As shown in
Preferably, a nose portion 93 of a downstream gasket 10 is fitted into a downstream end portion 81 of the inner tube 62. An outer perimeter of the gasket 10 provides a substantially liquid-tight seal with an interior surface 97 of the outer housing 22. The downstream gasket 10 includes a central channel 84 disposed between the central passage 21 of the inner tube 62 and the mouth-end insert 27.
In this embodiment, the reservoir 14 is contained in an annulus between an inner tube 62 and an outer housing 22 and between the upstream gasket 20 and the downstream gasket 10. Thus, the reservoir 14 at least partially surrounds the central air passage 21. The reservoir 14 comprises a liquid aerosol formulation and optionally a liquid storage medium (not shown) operable to store the liquid aerosol formulation therein.
The inner tube 62 has a central air passage 21 extending therethrough, which houses the heater 19. The heater 19 is in contact with the filamentary wick 28, which preferably extends between opposing sections of the reservoir 14 so as to deliver the liquid aerosol formulation from the reservoir to the heater 19. Preferably, the heater 19 is a heater coil formed of an electrically resistive material, such as a nickel-chromium alloy.
Preferably, the electronic smoking article 60 also includes at least one air inlet 40. The at least one air inlet 40 can be located upstream of the heater 19.
As shown in
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The puff sensor and feedback assembly 100 further includes a connection board 106 having three holes 107 in a periphery thereof operable to receive the pins 109, 109′, 109″. The three pins 109, 109′, 109″ extend through a C-shaped header and sensor locator 108 that is operable to maintain the pins 109, 109′, 109″ away from a puff sensor 114, which senses a puff during smoking (vaping). Moreover, use of the pins 109, 109′, 109″ facilitates electrical connections underneath the puff sensor and avoids any need to draw wires to the top surface of the puff sensor.
The puff sensor and feedback assembly 100 also includes a sensor insulating disk 110, a sensor insulating ring 112, and a feedback board 116. As shown in
The pins 109, 109′, 109″ provide electrical connections between the power supply 12 and the integrated circuit 280. As discussed above, the first pin 109 connects with the anode of the power supply and the second pin 109′ connects with the cathode of the power supply. A third pin 109″ provides a puff sensor out path. Moreover, the pins 109, 109′, 109″ simplify the wiring of the electronic smoking article 60 such that wires (electrical leads) extend only to the base of or beneath the puff sensor and feedback assembly 100.
As shown in
To charge the electronic smoking article 60, the electronic smoking article 60 can be inserted, upstream end 202 first, into a charger 300 as shown in
The conductive post 210 is maintained in contact with and biased against the conductive connection spring 118, which is affixed and electrically connected at a circuit pad 119 on the board 116. The pad 119 is operatively connected with one of the pins 109, 109′ under the control of a microprocessor or chip 280. The conductive spring 118 urges the conductive post 210 outwardly against the housing 212. In addition, the post 210 of charging button assembly 200 can be pressed against a button switch 221, which activates a control circuit that reads battery voltage and illuminates an LED array 278, including one or more LED's, in a manner indicative of the detected voltage so as to provide feedback regarding battery life and/or voltage use. The post 210 of the charging button assembly 200 need not be pressed to begin charging, and charging will occur without pressing the post 210. However, it is contemplated that charging can occur while the charging button assembly 200 is pressed if desired.
As shown in
The charger 300 can include a well 304 operable to receive at least the upstream end portion of the electronic smoking article 60. Once inserted, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact engage with the button charging contact 210 and the second electrical contact 252 on the outer housing 22. The charger 300 can include a USB connection 302 or other suitable connection. The USB connection 302 can be retracted into the body of the charger 300, if desired.
In a preferred embodiment, the electronic smoking article 60 is about the same size as a conventional smoking article. In some embodiments, the electronic smoking article 60 can be about 80 mm to about 110 mm long, preferably about 80 mm to about 100 mm long and about 7 mm to about 8 mm in diameter or greater. For example, in an embodiment, the electronic smoking article is about 84 mm long and has a diameter of about 7.8 mm.
The outer cylindrical housing 22 of the electronic smoking article 60 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials. Preferably, the outer cylindrical housing 22 is formed of metal and is part of the electrical circuit.
Preferably, the liquid aerosol formulation for use in each of the electronic smoking articles 60 described herein includes at least one aerosol former, optionally water, and flavors. The liquid aerosol formulation can include nicotine or be nicotine free. Moreover, the liquid aerosol formulation can include tobacco flavors or other suitable flavors.
When the word “about” is used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value. Moreover, when reference is made to percentages in this specification, it is intended that those percentages are based on weight, i.e., weight percentages.
Moreover, when the words “generally” and “substantially” are used in connection with geometric shapes, it is intended that precision of the geometric shape is not required but that latitude for the shape is within the scope of the disclosure. When used with geometric terms, the words “generally” and “substantially” are intended to encompass not only features which meet the strict definitions but also features which fairly approximate the strict definitions.
It will now be apparent that a new, improved, and nonobvious electronic smoking article has been described in this specification with sufficient particularity as to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, variations, substitutions, and equivalents exist for features of the electronic smoking article which do not materially depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such modifications, variations, substitutions, and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims shall be embraced by the appended claims.
This is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/498,175, filed Sep. 26, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/883,742, filed on Sep. 27, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61883742 | Sep 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14498175 | Sep 2014 | US |
| Child | 16040906 | US |
