Tray for replaceable portions of an electronic smoking device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10308397-B2
Application number	US-201615216535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 24, 2015
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A tray (50) configured for receiving replaceable portions (26, 26′) of an electronic smoking device (10) is disclosed. The tray (50) has cavities (52) each configured for receiving a replaceable portion (26, 26′) for being releasably clamped therein. The replaceable portion (26, 26′) is releasably clamped by a movement (R) with respect to the tray (50).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tray ( 50 ) for replaceable portions ( 26 , 26 ′), the replaceable portions ( 26 , 26 ′) being configured for releasable attachment to an electronic smoking device ( 10 ), the tray ( 50 ) comprising a plurality of cavities ( 52 ) each configured for receiving one of the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′), wherein each replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) can be releasably clamped therein by a first movement (R) with respect to the tray ( 50 );
wherein the cavities ( 52 ) are arranged along a furrow ( 54 ) extending in a first direction (X), wherein a pressure on the tray ( 50 ) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction (X) increases a width of the cavities ( 52 ) such that the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) can be received, and wherein a pressure reduction decreases the width of the cavities ( 52 ) such that the received replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) is releasably clamped.

2. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tray ( 50 ) is further configured such that a second movement (R) of the electronic smoking device ( 10 ) with respect to the tray ( 50 ) detaches the electronic smoking device ( 10 ) from the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′).

3. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the second movement (R) is a continuous prolongation of the first movement (R).

4. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 3 , wherein a first force required for releasably clamping the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) in the cavity ( 52 ) is equal to or smaller than a second force required for releasing the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) from the electronic smoking device ( 10 ).

5. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the second movement is orthogonal to the first movement (R).

6. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a first counter-movement (R) of the electronic smoking device ( 10 ) attached to the clamped replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) with respect to the tray ( 50 ) releases the clamped replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) from being clamped, wherein the first counter-movement (R′) is directed opposite to the first movement (R).

7. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 6 , wherein a second counter-movement (R′) attaches the electronic smoking device ( 10 ) to the clamped replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′), wherein the second counter-movement (R′) is directed opposite to the second movement (R).

8. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the first counter-movement (R′) is a continuous prolongation of the second counter-movement (R′).

9. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 8 , wherein a first counter-force required for releasing the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) from the tray ( 50 ) is equal to or greater than a second counter-force required for attaching the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) to the electronic smoking device ( 10 )).

10. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 6 , wherein a second counter-movement is orthogonal to the first counter-movement (R′).

11. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the first counter-movement (R′) is a rotation.

12. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the cavities ( 52 ) comprises a bayonet joint.

13. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the cavities ( 52 ) comprises an inner surface at least partly configured for interacting with a dented surface ( 40 ) or a dented surface part of the replaceable portion ( 26 , 26 ′) for achieving the releasably clamping.

14. The tray ( 50 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tray ( 50 ) comprises a plurality of pressure receiving portions, each of the portions being operatively connected with a corresponding cavity ( 52 ), wherein the pressure receiving portions are separated from one another.

15. A tray for replaceable portions configured for releasable attachment to an electronic smoking device, the tray comprising:
a plurality of cavities in a line extending in a first direction, wherein an opening force on the tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction increases a width of at least one of the cavities such that a replaceable portion can be received in the at least one cavity, and wherein release of the opening force decreases the width of the at least one cavity and clamps the replaceable portion.

16. The tray of claim 15 wherein the replaceable portion is attached to the electronic smoking device with a holding force and wherein the tray clamps the replaceable portion with a force greater than the holding force.

17. The tray of claim 16 further including a bayonet fitting in each of the cavities.

18. The tray of claim 16 wherein each of the cavities comprises an inner surface at least partly configured for interacting with a dented surface of the replaceable portion.

19. The tray of claim 16 wherein each of the cavities has a rotational element which releasably clamps the replaceable portion with rotational movement of the replaceable portion.

Assignees

• Fontem Holdings 1 Bv

Inventors

• Smith Simon James
• Dillon Charles Kevin
• Coveney Daniel Luke

Classifications

• B65D85/70

  for materials not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A24F15/00

  Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor (adaptations for use in vehicles B60N3/12; packages specially adapted for cigarettes B65D85/10) · CPC title

• B65D25/108 Primary

  Devices, e.g. plates, presenting apertures through which the articles project · CPC title

• A24F47/008

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A24F15/01 Primary

  specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor (battery charging means structurally associated with the case A24F40/95) · CPC title