E-cigarette and re-charging pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12580237-B2
Application number	US-202318498252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2023
Priority date	Jul 29, 2014
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette includes: a re-chargeable 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 second connector which is electrically connectable to an e-cigarette contained within the pack; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector. The first recharging mechanism includes a first protection circuit module and the second re-charging mechanism includes a second protection circuit module, wherein the protection modules protect the pack and e-cigarette against excessive voltage or current during re-charging.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette, said pack comprising:
a re-chargeable 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 second connector which is electrically connectable to an e-cigarette contained within the pack; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector; wherein: the first recharging mechanism comprises: a first protection circuit module for preventing electrical power flow from the external power source to the pack battery when the current supplied to the pack battery exceeds a first predetermined current threshold or the voltage supplied to the pack battery exceeds a first predetermined voltage threshold, wherein the pack comprises a temperature sensor, and the first recharging mechanism monitors a temperature using information provided by the temperature sensor; and wherein the first recharging mechanism is configured to cut off current supply to the battery if the temperature goes above a predetermined upper temperature threshold and if the temperature goes below a predetermined lower temperature threshold.

2 . A pack according to claim 1 , further comprising a regulator for converting the voltage and current of electrical power supplied from the external power source to respective predetermined voltage and current values prior to the electrical power being supplied to the pack battery.

3 . A pack according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined voltage value supplied to the pack battery by the regulator is in the range 4-4.5V and the predetermined current value supplied to the pack battery by the regulator is in the range 400-500 mA.

4 . A pack according to claim 2 , wherein the first recharging mechanism further comprises:
an over-current cut-off unit for preventing electrical power flow from the external power source to the regulator when the current supplied by the external power source exceeds a third predetermined current threshold; and an over-voltage cut-off unit for preventing electrical power flow from the external power source to the regulator when the voltage supplied by the external power source exceeds a third predetermined voltage threshold value.

5 . A pack according to claim 4 , wherein the third predetermined current threshold is about 1 A and the third predetermined voltage threshold is about 6V.

6 . A pack according to claim 1 , wherein the second protection circuit module is configured to prevent electrical power flow from the pack battery to the e-cigarette if the voltage supplied by the pack battery is reduced below a predetermined lower voltage threshold.

7 . A pack according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first recharging mechanism further comprises a first timer configured to start timing when electrical power starts flowing from the external power source to the pack battery and to prevent electrical power flow from the external power source to the pack battery after a first predetermined time period has elapsed; and the second recharging mechanism further comprises a second timer configured to start timing when electrical power starts flowing from the pack battery to the e-cigarette and to prevent electrical power flow from the pack battery to the e-cigarette after a second predetermined time period has elapsed.

8 . A pack according to claim 7 , wherein the first predetermined time period is between 4 and 6 hours and the second predetermined time period is between 1 and 2.5 hours.

9 . A pack according to claim 1 , wherein the lower temperature threshold is about −5° C., and the upper temperature threshold is about 45° C.

10 . A pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette, said 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 second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is contained within the pack; 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 and contained within the pack; wherein the first recharging mechanism is configured to monitor and regulate the re-charging of the battery pack based on voltage, current, time and temperature of the pack battery, wherein the pack comprises a temperature sensor, and the first recharging mechanism monitors temperature of the pack battery using information provided by the temperature sensor, and wherein the first recharging mechanism is configured to cut off currently supply to the battery if the temperature goes above a predetermined upper temperature threshold and if the temperature goes below a predetermined lower temperature threshold.

11 . A system comprising:
a pack according to claim 1 ; and a rechargeable e-cigarette comprising: a battery; a connector which is electrically connectable to an external battery pack; and a recharging mechanism for re-charging the battery using the external battery pack when the connector is electrically connected to the external battery pack, the recharging mechanism comprising: a charge controller for controlling electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery; a temperature sensor which is response to the temperature of the battery; and a timer; wherein: the charging controller is configured to prevent electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery when the temperature of the battery is determined to lie outside a range defined between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold; and the timer is configured to start timing when electrical power starts flowing from the external battery pack to the battery and to prevent electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery after a predetermined time period has elapsed, wherein the charging controller is configured to prevent electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery when the voltage or current of the electrical power flow to the battery exceed a predetermined voltage or current threshold.

12 . A system comprising:
a pack according to claim 10 ; and a rechargeable e-cigarette comprising: a battery; a connector which is electrically connectable to an external battery pack; and a recharging mechanism for re-charging the battery using the external battery pack when the connector is electrically connected to the external battery pack, the recharging mechanism comprising: a charge controller for controlling electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery; a temperature sensor which is response to the temperature of the battery; and a timer; wherein: the charging controller is configured to prevent electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery when the temperature of the battery is determined to lie outside a range defined between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold; and the timer is configured to start timing when electrical power starts flowing from the external battery pack to the battery and to prevent electrical power flow from the external battery pack to the battery after a predetermined time period has elapsed,

Assignees

• Nicoventures Trading Ltd

Inventors

• Leadley David

Classifications

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M10/425

  Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00) · CPC title

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title