Aerosol-generating system with electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213074-B2
Application number	US-201816608643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2018
Priority date	May 2, 2017
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device having a first connector part; a charging unit to receive the device and having a second connector part. The first part includes first through third electrical contacts, the third at least partially circumscribes the first. The second part includes first through third electrical contacts, the second and the third being spaced radially outwardly from the first. The first and the second parts electrically engage when the device is received by the charging unit, such that the first contact of the first and the second parts engage, the second contract of the first part engages the second or the third contact of the second part, and the third contact of the first part engages the other of the second or the third contact of the second part, regardless of angular position of the second part relative to the first.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrically operated aerosol-generating system, comprising:
an aerosol-generating device;
a charging unit configured to receive the aerosol-generating device; and
a first connector part and a second connector part, the aerosol-generating device having one of the first connector part and the second connector part and the charging unit having the other one of the first connector part and the second connector part,
wherein:
the first connector part comprises
a face of the first connector part and a recess arranged substantially centrally in the face of the first connector part, the recess having a closed end, an open end at the face of the first connector part, and a sidewall extending between the open end and the closed end,
a first electrical contact of the first connector part, arranged at the closed end of the recess,
a second electrical contact of the first connector part, arranged at the sidewall of the recess and substantially circumscribing the first electrical contact of the first connector part, and
a third electrical contact of the first connector part, arranged at the face and substantially circumscribing the first electrical contact of the first connector part,

the second connector part comprises:
a first electrical contact of the second connector part,
a second electrical contact of the second connector part, spaced radially outwardly from the first electrical contact of the second connector part, and
a third electrical contact of the second connector part, spaced radially outwardly from the first electrical contact of the second connector part,

the first and the second connector parts are arranged such that when the aerosol-generating device is received by the charging unit the first and the second connector parts electrically engage, and
the electrical contacts of the first and second connector parts are arranged such that when the first and second connector parts electrically engage:
the first electrical contact of the first connector part electrically engages the first electrical contact of the second connector part,
the second electrical contact of the first connector part electrically engages one of the second electrical contact of the second connector part and the third electrical contact of the second connector part, and
the third electrical contact of the first connector part electrically engages the other one of the second electrical contact of the second connector part and the third electrical contact of the second connector part,
regardless of an angular position of the second connector part relative to the first connector part.

2. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second connector part comprises a face of the second connector part and a projection arranged substantially centrally in the face of the second connector part, the projection being receivable in the recess of the first connector part and having an end face and at least one sidewall extending between the face of the second connector part and the end face of the projection,
the first electrical contact of the second connector part is arranged at the end face of the projection,
the second electrical contact of the second connector part is arranged at the at least one sidewall of the projection, and
the third electrical contact of the second connector part is arranged at the face of the second connector part.

3. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electrically operated aerosol-generating device comprises a rechargeable electrical power supply, and
wherein the charging unit comprises another rechargeable electrical power supply.

4. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 3 ,
wherein at least one of the electrical contacts of each of the first and the second connector parts is configured to transfer power from the power supply of the charging unit to the power supply of the aerosol-generating device, and
wherein at least one of the other electrical contacts of each of the first and the second connector parts is configured to transfer data from at least one of the charging unit to the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating device to the charging unit.

5. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and
wherein the charging unit comprises a cavity configured to receive at least the distal end of the aerosol-generating device, the cavity having an open end of the cavity and a closed end of the cavity.

6. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 5 ,
wherein one of the first and the second connector parts is arranged at an end face at the distal end of the aerosol-generating device, and
wherein the other one of the first and the second connector parts is arranged at another end face at the closed end of the cavity of the charging unit.

7. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first electrical contact of the first connector part substantially extends in a first plane,
wherein the third electrical contact of the first connector part substantially extends in a third plane, parallel to the first plane, and
wherein the second electrical contact of the first connector part substantially extends in a third plane perpendicular to the first and the second planes.

8. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the electrical contacts of the second connector part are pin contacts.

9. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 , further comprising retention means for releasably retaining electrical engagement of the first connector part and the second connector part when the aerosol-generating device is received by the charging unit.

10. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 9 ,
wherein the retention means comprises a first magnetic material provided on the aerosol-generating device and a second magnetic material provided on the charging unit, and
wherein the first and the second magnetic materials are arranged such that the first and the second magnetic materials are proximate to each other when the aerosol-generating device is received by the charging unit so that the retention means releasably retains the engagement of the first and the second connector parts.

11. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 10 ,
wherein the first magnetic material is arranged proximate the one of the first and the second connector parts of the aerosol-generating device, and
wherein the second magnetic material is arranged proximate the other one of the first and the second connector parts of the charging unit.

12. An electrically operated aerosol-generating device comprising an electrical connector part, the electrical connector part comprising:
a face and a recess arranged substantially centrally in the face, the recess having a closed end, an open end at the face, and a sidewall extending between the open end and the closed end;
a first electrical contact arranged at the closed end of the recess;
a second electrical contact arranged at the sidewall of the recess and substantially circumscribing the first electrical contact; and
a third electrical contact arranged at the face and substantially circumscribing the first electrical contact.

13. The electrically operated aerosol-generating device according to claim 12 , further comprising:

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Antonopoulos Roland
• Fringeli Jean-Luc

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/731

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

• H01R39/64

  Devices for uninterrupted current collection · CPC title

• H01R33/72

  Three-pole devices · CPC title

• H01R13/6205

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title