CASE WITH A ROTATABLE HOLDER FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

A case for an aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a case housing; a holder to receive the device and being movable with respect to the case housing between a closed position in which removal of the device from the holder is prevented and a docking position in which the device is removable; a case power supply within the case housing; a case electrical connector to supply power to the device received within the holder; a charging connector to receive power from an external power supply; a sensor to sense a position of the holder and to generate a signal indicative of the position; and a controller to receive the signal from the sensor, supply power to the case power supply when the signal indicates the holder is the closed position, and supply power when the signal indicates the holder is in the docking position. A charging system is also provided.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A case for an aerosol-generating device, the case comprising: a case housing; a holder configured to receive an aerosol-generating device, wherein the holder is movable with respect to the case housing between a closed position in which removal of the aerosol-generating device from the holder is prevented and a docking position in which the aerosol-generating device is removable from the holder; a case power supply disposed within the case housing; a case electrical connector configured to supply power to the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is received within the holder; a charging connector configured to receive power from an external power supply; a sensor arranged to sense a position of the holder and to generate a signal indicative of the position of the holder; and a controller configured to: receive the signal from the sensor, supply power received by the charging connector from the external power supply to the case power supply when the signal is indicative of the holder being in the closed position, and supply power received by the charging connector from the external power supply to the case electrical connector when the signal is indicative of the holder being in the docking position.

15. The case according to claim 14, wherein the holder is further configured to rotate through an angle of between 80 degrees and 110 degrees with respect to the case housing when the holder moves between the closed position and the docking position.

16. The case according to claim 14, further comprising a hinge, wherein the holder is rotatable about the hinge with respect to the case housing.

17. The case according to claim 16, wherein the holder is connected to the case housing by the hinge, and wherein the holder is moveable about the hinge between the docking position and the closed position.

18. The case according to claim 14, further comprising a linkage having a first end and a second end, wherein the linkage is movably connected to the case housing at the first end of the linkage, and wherein the holder is pivotably connected to the second end of the linkage.

19. The case according to claim 18, wherein the first end of the linkage is slidably connected to the case housing.

20. The case according to claim 18, wherein the holder is connected to the second end of the linkage by a hinge.

21. The case according to claim 18, wherein the linkage comprises a shaft, the shaft comprising a first shaft portion defining the first end of the linkage and a second shaft portion defining the second end of the linkage, and wherein the second shaft portion is rotatably connected to the first shaft portion.

22. The case according to claim 18, wherein the holder is connected to the second end of the linkage by at least one of a ball joint and a universal joint.

23. The case according to claim 14, wherein the case electrical connector is further configured to supply power from the case power supply to the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is received within the holder and when the holder is in each of the docking position and the closed position.

24. The case according to claim 14, wherein the case electrical connector is disposed on the holder, and wherein the case further comprises a flexible connector providing an electrical connection between the case electrical connector and the case power supply.

25. The case according to claim 14, wherein the holder is rotatable with respect to the case housing into an open position between the closed position and the docking position.

26. A charging system, comprising: a case according to claim 14; and a charging cradle arranged to receive at least part of the case, the charging cradle comprising: a charging cradle power supply connector configured to receive power from an external power supply, and a charging cradle electrical connector configured to supply power received by the charging cradle power supply connector from an external power supply to the charging connector of the case when at least part of the case is received within the charging cradle.

Description

[0067] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a case in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and with the holder in the closed position;

[0069] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 1 with the holder in the docking position and an aerosol-generating device received by the holder;

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the case of FIG. 1 with the holder in the docking position;

[0071] FIG. 4 shows an end view of a charging system comprising the case of FIG. 1 and a charging cradle;

[0072] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a case in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and with the holder in the docking position;

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a case in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and with the holder in the closed position;

[0074] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 6 with the holder in a first open position;

[0075] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 6 with the holder in a second open position;

[0076] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 6 with the holder in a third open position;

[0077] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 6 with the holder in the docking position;

[0078] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a case in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention and with the holder in the closed position;

[0079] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 11 with the holder in a first open position;

[0080] FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 11 with the holder in a second open position;

[0081] FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. 11 with the holder in the docking position; and

[0082] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the case of FIG. 11 with the holder in the docking position.

[0083] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cross-sectional view of a case 10 for an aerosol-generating device 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The case 10 comprises a case housing 12 and a holder 14 movably coupled to the case housing 12. The holder 14 may receive an aerosol-generating device 100, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0084] The holder 14 is coupled to the case housing 12 by a hinge 20. The holder 14 and the hinge 20 are arranged such that the holder 14 may be rotated through an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the case housing 12 between a closed position shown in FIG. 1 and a docking position shown in FIG. 2. In the docking position the case 10 may be positioned on a surface so that the holder 14 extends in the vertical direction and facilitates use of the case 10 as a docking station for an aerosol-generating device 100. This orientation of the case 10 is shown in the perspective view of the case 10 in FIG. 4.

[0085] The case 10 also comprises a case power supply 22, a controller 24, and a case electrical connector 26. The case power supply 22 comprises a rechargeable battery. A charging connector 28 in the form of a micro-USB connector allows the case 10 to receive power from an external power source for recharging the case power supply 22.

[0086] The case electrical connector 26 is positioned at an end of the holder 14 and is connected to the case power supply 22 by a flexible connector 30. The flexible connector 30 comprises a ribbon cable and accommodates movement of the holder 14 between the docking position and the closed position. When an aerosol-generating device 100 is received within the holder 14 as shown in FIG. 2, a device electrical connector 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 contacts the case electrical connector 26. To facilitate use of the case 10 as a docking station for the aerosol-generating device 100, the case control circuitry 24 is configured to control a supply of power from the case power supply 22 to the aerosol-generating device 100 via the flexible connector 30 and the case electrical connector 26 when the holder 14 is in both the closed position and the docking position. The power supplied to the aerosol-generating device 100 may be used to charge a device power supply of the aerosol-generating device 100.

[0087] The case 10 also comprises a sensor 32 positioned on the case housing 12 adjacent to the holder 14. The sensor 32 comprises an optical proximity sensor arranged to sense whether the holder 14 is in the docking position or the closed position. The sensor 32 generates a signal indicative of the position of the holder 14 and the controller 24 is arranged to receive the signal from the sensor 32.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows an end view of a charging system 200 comprising the case 10 of FIG. 1 and a charging cradle 202. The case 10 is shown with the holder 14 in the docking position and the case housing 12 partially inserted into the charging cradle 202. The charging cradle 202 comprises a charging cradle power supply connector 204 for receiving power from an external power supply, such as a mains power supply. The charging cradle 202 also comprises a charging cradle electrical connector 206 arranged to connect with the charging connector 28 of the case 10 when the case 10 is received within the charging cradle 202. The charging cradle 202 is configured to supply electrical power received by the charging cradle power supply connector 204 from an external power supply to the case 10 by the charging cradle electrical connector 206.

[0089] The controller 24 is configured to supply power received from the charging cradle 202 to the case power supply 22 when the signal from the sensor 32 is indicative of the holder 14 being in the closed position. The power supplied to the case power supply 22 recharges the case power supply 22.

[0090] When the signal from the sensor 32 is indicative of the holder 14 being the docking position, the controller 24 supplies power received from the charging cradle 202 directly to the aerosol-generating device 100 received within the holder 14 for recharging the device power supply of the aerosol-generating device 100. Supplying the power received from the charging cradle 202 directly to the aerosol-generating device 100 when the holder 14 is in the docking position bypasses the case power supply 22, which may reduce wear on the case power supply 22.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a case 300 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The case 300 is substantially the same as the case 10 of FIG. 1, except for the positioning of the holder 14 with respect to the case housing 12. Instead of the holder 14 being positioned at a side of the case housing 12 (FIG. 3), the holder 14 of the case 300 is arranged at a front of the case housing 12 (FIG. 5). Due to the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the case housing 12, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 may be more stable than the configuration shown in FIG. 3 when used as a docking station, particularly when the case 300 is used as a docking station without a cradle to provide additional support to the case 300.

[0092] FIGS. 6 to 10 show a cross-sectional view of a case 400 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The case 400 is similar to the case 10 of FIG. 1 and like reference numerals are used to designate like parts. The electrical components of the case 400 and their operation are identical to those of the case 10 of FIG. 1. The case 400 differs from the case 10 by the attachment of the holder 14 to the case housing 12.

[0093] The case 400 comprises a linkage 402 connecting the holder 14 to the case housing 12. The linkage 402 comprises a pin 404 at a first end of the linkage 402, the pin 404 slidably received within a slot 406 defined by the case housing 12. The holder 14 is pivotably connected to a second end of the linkage 402 by a hinge 420. The linkage 402 comprises a first portion 408 defining the first end of the linkage 402 and a second portion 410 defining the second end of the linage 402. The second portion 410 is rotatable with respect to the first portion 408.

[0094] From the closed position shown in FIG. 6, the holder 14 may be rotated about the hinge 420 into a first open position shown in FIG. 7. In the first open position, an aerosol-generating device may be inserted into the holder 14 or removed from the holder 14.

[0095] From the first open position shown in FIG. 7, the pin 404 of the linkage 402 may be moved along the slot 406 to move the holder 14 into a second open position shown in FIG. 8. In the second open position, the holder 14 is positioned substantially outside of the case housing 12.

[0096] From the second open position shown in FIG. 8, the holder 14 may be rotated about the hinge 420 into a third open position shown in FIG. 9. In the third open position, the holder 14 is substantially parallel to the case housing 12.

[0097] From the third open position shown in FIG. 9, the second portion 410 of the linkage 402 may be rotated with respect to the first portion 408 of the linkage 402 to rotate the holder 14 through an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the case housing 12 into the docking position shown in FIG. 10.

[0098] FIGS. 11 to 14 show a cross-sectional view of a case 500 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The case 500 is similar to the case 400 of FIG. 6 and the case 10 of FIG. 1. Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts. The electrical components of the case 500 and their operation are identical to those of the case 10 of FIG. 1. The case 500 differs from the case 400 by the configuration of the linkage connecting the holder 14 to the case housing 12.

[0099] The case 500 comprises a linkage 502 connecting the holder 14 to the case housing 12. The linkage 502 comprises a pin 504 at a first end of the linkage 502, the pin 504 slidably and rotatably received within a slot 506 defined by the case housing 12. The holder 14 is pivotably connected to a second end of the linkage 502 by a ball joint. The ball joint comprises a socket portion 508 attached to the holder 14 and a ball portion 510 formed at the second end of the linkage 502. The ball portion 510 is rotatably received within the socket portion 508.

[0100] From the closed position shown in FIG. 11, the socket portion 508 may be rotated about the ball portion 510 and the pin 504 may be rotated within the slot 506 to rotate the holder 14 into a first open position shown in FIG. 12. In the first open position, an aerosol-generating device may be inserted into the holder 14 or removed from the holder 14.

[0101] From the first open position shown in FIG. 12 the socket portion 508 may be rotated about the ball portion 510 and the pin 504 may be rotated within the slot 506 and moved along the slot 506 to move the holder 14 into a second open position shown in FIG. 13. In the second open position, the holder 14 is positioned substantially outside of the case housing 12 and extends substantially parallel to the case housing 12.

[0102] From the second open position shown in FIG. 13, the socket portion 508 may be rotated about the ball portion 510 to rotate the holder 14 through an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the case housing 12 into the docking position shown in FIG. 14.

[0103] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the case 500 with the holder 14 in the docking position. It will be appreciated that the case 400 of FIG. 6 has the same configuration when the holder 14 is in the docking position.