Customizable panel for aerosol delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11856986-B2
Application number	US-202017073930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2020
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a control unit for use in an aerosol delivery device configured to receive a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable. The control unit comprises a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining a first portion of a receiving chamber, and a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame. In one implementation, the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, and the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber. In another implementation, the housing panel part of an outer surface of the control unit, and the body frame includes a rail feature configured to slidably engage a complementary rail feature of the housing panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control unit for use in an aerosol delivery device configured to receive a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, the control unit comprising:
a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining a first portion of a receiving chamber; and
a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame,
wherein the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, and wherein the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive the aerosol precursor consumable, and wherein the housing panel covers only a portion of the received aerosol precursor consumable.

2. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing panel forms a single outer surface of the control unit.

3. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing panel forms two or more outer surfaces of the control unit.

4. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing panel includes a rail feature, and wherein the body frame includes a complementary rail feature configured to slidably engage with the rail feature of the housing panel.

5. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing panel includes a customizable feature comprising one or more of a surface color of the housing panel, a surface contour of the housing panel, a surface pattern of the housing panel, a surface texture of the housing panel, one or more surface projections of the housing panel, a profile of the housing panel, a material of the housing panel, or any combination thereof.

6. The control unit of claim 1 further comprising an output element configured to provide a visually perceptible output signal, and wherein the housing panel includes an output feature configured to allow the output signal to pass therethrough.

7. The control unit of claim 6 , wherein the output feature of the housing panel comprises one or more of an aperture that extends through the housing panel, a series of microperforations that extend through the housing panel, a light tube configured to transmit the output signal through the housing panel, or any combination thereof.

8. The control unit of claim 1 further comprising an input element configured to receive input from a user, and wherein the housing panel includes an input feature configured to allow the input to pass therethrough.

9. The control unit of claim 8 , wherein the input element comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises an aperture that extends through the housing panel.

10. The control unit of claim 8 , wherein the input element comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises a corresponding button of the housing panel.

11. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the body frame or the housing panel includes a securing feature configured to releasably secure the housing panel to the body frame.

12. The control unit of Claim 11 , wherein the securing feature comprises one or more of a magnetic securing feature, a detent securing feature, a spring-loaded securing feature, or any combination thereof.

13. The control unit of Claim 11 , wherein the securing feature comprises a friction interface between the housing panel and the body frame.

14. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the body frame includes an external connection element proximate the distal end of the body frame, wherein the housing panel includes an electrical connector proximate a distal end of the housing panel, and wherein the electrical connector of the housing panel is configured to couple with the external connection element of the body frame.

15. The control unit of claim 14 , wherein the housing panel includes a supplemental power source configured to provide power to the control unit, via the electrical connector and electrical connection element.

16. A control unit for use in an aerosol delivery device configured to receive a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, the control unit comprising:
a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining at least a portion of a receiving chamber; and
a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame, the housing panel including a rail feature,
wherein the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, and wherein the body frame includes a rail feature configured to slidably engage with the rail feature of the housing panel wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive the aerosol precursor consumable, and wherein the housing panel covers only a portion of the received aerosol precursor consumable.

17. The control body of claim 16 , wherein the housing panel forms a single outer surface of the aerosol delivery device.

18. The control unit of claim 16 , wherein the housing panel forms two or more outer surfaces of the aerosol delivery device.

19. The control unit of claim 16 , wherein the body frame defines a first portion of the receiving chamber, and wherein the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber.

20. The control unit of claim 16 , wherein the housing panel includes a customizable feature comprising one or more of a surface color of the housing panel, a surface contour of the housing panel, a surface pattern of the housing panel, a surface texture of the housing panel, one or more surface projections of the housing panel, a profile of the housing panel, a material of the housing panel, or any combination thereof.

21. The control unit of claim 16 further comprising an output element configured to provide a visually perceptible output signal, and wherein the housing panel includes an output feature configured to allow the output signal to pass therethrough.

22. The control unit of claim 21 , wherein the output feature of the housing panel comprises one or more of an aperture that extends through the housing panel, a series of microperforations that extend through the housing panel, a light tube configured to transmit the output signal through the housing panel, or any combination thereof.

23. The control unit of claim 16 further comprising an input element configured to receive input from a user, and wherein the housing panel includes an input feature configured to allow the input to pass therethrough.

24. The control unit of claim 23 , wherein the input element comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises an aperture that extends through the housing panel.

25. The control unit of claim 23 , wherein the input element of the control unit comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises or a corresponding button of the housing panel.

26. The control unit of claim 16 , wherein one or both of the body frame or the housing panel includes a securing feature configured to releasably secure the housing panel to the body frame.

27. The control unit of claim 26 , wherein the securing feature comprises one or more of a magnetic securing feature, a detent securing feature, a spring-loaded securing feature, or any combination thereof.

28. The control unit of claim 26 , wherein the securing feature comprises a friction interface between the housing panel and the body frame.

Assignees

• Rai Strategic Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Aller Jared
• Webb Bill
• Harsacky Chris

Classifications

• A24F40/40 Primary

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

• A24F40/50

  Control or monitoring · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/20

  Devices using solid inhalable precursors · CPC title