Illuminated electronic cigarette

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116250-B2
Application number	US-202117146483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2021
Priority date	Jul 25, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes. More particularly, to electronic cigarettes including a circumferential light guide that distributes light transmitted by a light source, and controller circuitry that variably illuminates the circumferential light guide of the electronic cigarette based on a user's draw strength.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic smoking device comprising:
a first housing containing a battery, an air flow sensor, a plurality of LEDs, a light guide, and a flex circuit electrically connected to the battery and to a circuit board;
a second housing connectable to the first housing, the second housing containing a heating coil wrapped around a wick, the wick having first and second ends abutting or extending into a liquid supply, and a central aerosol passage extending though the liquid supply, and
the light guide directing light from the LEDs at a first end of the electronic smoking device, the plurality of LEDs at a first side of the first housing.

2. The electronic smoking of claim 1 further comprising a subassembly housing supporting the LEDS and the circuit board.

3. The electronic smoking of claim 2 wherein the subassembly housing is insertable from an end of the first housing.

4. The electronic smoking of claim 1 having 4 LEDs.

5. The electronic smoking of claim 1 having 5 LEDs.

6. The electronic smoking of claim 1 having multi-colored LEDs.

7. The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the LEDs have an illumination pattern which indicates charging, user draw strength, or low battery charge.

8. The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the first housing is connected to the second housing by a friction push fit, a snap fit, a bayonet attachment, a magnetic fit and/or screw threads.

9. The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the air flow sensor is a microphone switch with a deformable membrane, a Hall element, and/or an electromechanical sensor.

10. The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the first housing has a first end and a second end and the airflow sensor is at the second end of the first housing.

11. The electronic smoking device of claim 1 wherein the flex circuit overlies the battery and is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery.

12. An electronic smoking device comprising:
a first housing containing a circuit board having control circuitry electrically connected to a battery, to an air flow sensor, and to a plurality of LEDs at a first side of the housing;
a light guide at a first end of the first housing, the light guide adapted to guide light from the LEDs;
a second housing connectable to the first housing, the second housing containing, a heating coil wrapped around a wick, the wick having first and second ends abutting or extending into a liquid supply containing a liquid, and an aerosol passage though the liquid supply.

13. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is electrically connected to the battery by a flex circuit.

14. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 wherein the heating coil is wound about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the electronic smoking device.

15. The electronic smoking device of claim 13 wherein the flex circuit overlies the battery and is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery.

16. An electronic smoking device, comprising:
a power supply portion removably attached to an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion;
the power supply portion containing a circuit board electrically connected to a battery by a flex circuit, the circuit board also electrically connected to an air flow sensor, and to a plurality of LEDs;
a light guide in the power supply portion positioned to guide light from the plurality of LEDs;
the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion containing a heating coil wound around a wick, the heating coil on an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the electronic smoking device;
the wick having first and second ends abutting or extending into a liquid reservoir of the atomizer/liquid reservoir, the liquid reservoir containing a liquid; and
an aerosol passage though the liquid reservoir.

17. The electronic smoking device of claim 16 wherein the flex circuit overlies the battery and is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery.

18. The electronic smoking device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of LEDs are on a first side of the power supply portion.

Assignees

• Fontem Holdings 1 Bv

Inventors

• Alarcon Ramon
• Hoffman Adam
• Myles Christopher
• Conrey James R

Classifications

• A61M15/06 Primary

  Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes · CPC title

• A24F40/40 Primary

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• F21V23/0442

  activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors · CPC title

• A61M2016/0021

  with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor · CPC title

• G02B6/0036

  2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces · CPC title