E-cigarette and re-charging pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10218193-B2
Application number	US-201515328786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2015
Priority date	Jul 29, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A rechargeable pack is provided for containing and recharging an e-cigarette. The pack includes a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a tube for receiving an e-cigarette such that the e-cigarette can be contained within the recharging pack; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the tube; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector. The second recharging mechanism is configured to provide protection against the pack battery providing excessive current through the second connector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rechargeable e-cigarette comprising:
a battery which provides a voltage output that has a maximum level when the battery is fully charged;
a connector located on an exterior of the e-cigarette to allow the e-cigarette to be electrically connected to an external power supply for re-charging without disassembly of the e-cigarette; and
a recharging mechanism for re-charging the battery using power from the external power supply when the connector is electrically connected to the external power supply;
wherein the re-charging mechanism is configured to determine the voltage output of the battery, and to prevent re-charging of the battery if the voltage output of the battery is above a first predefined threshold level, wherein the first predefined threshold level is below the maximum level of the voltage output of the battery, wherein the first predefined threshold level (P) represents an offset (O) relative to the maximum voltage output level (M) of the battery, and wherein O=M−P, and O is in a range of 0.075V to 0.3V.

2. The e-cigarette of claim 1 , wherein O is in the range of 0.1V to 0.2V.

3. A combination of the e-cigarette of claim 1 and a rechargeable pack for containing and recharging the e-cigarette, the pack comprising:
a pack battery;
a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source;
a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source;
a tube for receiving the e-cigarette such that the e-cigarette can be contained within the recharging pack, wherein the e-cigarette includes an e-cigarette battery;
a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the tube without disassembly of the e-cigarette; and
a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette battery using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector.

4. The combination of claim 3 , wherein the second recharging mechanism is configured to determine the voltage output of the e-cigarette battery, and to prevent re-charging of the e-cigarette battery if the voltage output of the e-cigarette battery is above a predefined threshold level, wherein the predefined threshold level is below a maximum voltage output level of the e-cigarette battery, and wherein the predefined threshold level (P) represents an offset (O) relative to a maximum voltage output level (M) of the battery, wherein O=M−P, and O is in a range of 0.075V to 0.3V.

5. The rechargeable e-cigarette of claim 1 , further having a second predefined threshold lower than the first predefined threshold, wherein current from the battery is cut off if the voltage output of the battery falls below the second predefined threshold.

6. A method of operating a rechargeable e-cigarette comprising a battery which provides a voltage output that has a maximum level when the battery is fully charged; a connector located on an exterior of the e-cigarette to allow the e-cigarette to be electrically connected to an external power supply for re-charging without disassembly of the e-cigarette; and a recharging mechanism for re-charging the battery using power from the external power supply when the connector is electrically connected to the external power supply, the method comprising:
determining the voltage output of the battery; and
preventing re-charging of the battery if the voltage output of the battery is above a predefined threshold level, wherein the predefined threshold level is below the maximum level of the voltage output of the battery,
wherein the predefined threshold level (P) represents an offset (O) relative to a maximum voltage output level (M) of the battery, wherein O=M−P, and O is in a range of 0.075V to 0.3V.

7. A rechargeable pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette, the pack comprising:
a pack battery;
a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source;
a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source;
a tube for receiving an e-cigarette such that the e-cigarette can be contained within the recharging pack, wherein the e-cigarette includes an e-cigarette battery;
a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the tube without disassembly of the e-cigarette; and
a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette battery using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector;
wherein the second recharging mechanism is configured to determine the voltage output of the e-cigarette battery, and to prevent re-charging of the e-cigarette battery if the voltage output of the e-cigarette battery is above a predefined threshold level, wherein the predefined threshold level is below a maximum voltage output level of the e-cigarette battery, and wherein the predefined threshold level (P) represents an offset (O) relative to a maximum voltage output level (M) of the battery, wherein O=M−P, and O is in a range of 0.075V to 0.3V.

8. The pack of claim 7 , wherein for normal use of the pack, the tube has a substantially vertical orientation, and an e-cigarette received into the tube engages the second connector under the force of gravity.

9. A method of operating a rechargeable pack for containing and recharging an electronic vapor provision system, the pack comprising a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a tube for receiving an electronic vapor provision system such that the electronic vapor provision system can be contained within the recharging pack; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic vapor provision system when the electronic vapor provision system is received within the tube for re-charging the electronic vapor provision system using the pack battery when the electronic vapor provision system is electrically connected to the second connector; the method comprising:
detecting when a foreign object may be located in the tube by attempting and failing to find a signal associated with the presence of an electronic vapor provision system in the tube; and
responsive to the detecting, not initiating or discontinuing recharging of the electronic vapor provision system by preventing the pack battery providing current through the second connector.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the detecting further comprises monitoring the current provided through the second connector.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the detecting comprises determining if the current provided through the second connector exceeds a predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the signal is an optical signal.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the signal is an electrical signal.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein for normal use of the pack, the tube has a substantially vertical orientation, and an electronic vapor provision system received into the tube engages the second connector under the force of gravity.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pack comprises a lid and a switch for detecting opening and closing of the lid, the method further comprising:
opening the lid to reset the pack such that curr

Assignees

• Nicoventures Holdings Ltd

Inventors

• Gratton Colin

Classifications

• H02J7/64

  against overvoltage · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title

• H02J7/977

  of the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title