AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH CASE

Abstract

An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a case configured to receive the aerosol-generating device. The case includes a housing having an opening and a device holder pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. The device holder includes an external wall and one or more internal walls arranged to releasably hold the aerosol-generating device. The device holder has a first end and a second end, opposite the first end, and the device holder is pivotally coupled to the housing at or around the first end.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An electrically operated aerosol-generating system, comprising: an aerosol-generating device comprising: a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end having a distal end face, a first rechargeable electrical power supply, and a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate at the proximal end; and a case configured to receive the aerosol-generating device, the case comprising: a housing having an opening, and a device holder pivotally coupled to the housing and pivotable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, the device holder comprising an external wall and one or more internal walls arranged to releasably hold the aerosol-generating device, and a second rechargeable electrical power supply housed in the housing and configured to supply power to the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder and the device holder is in the closed position, wherein: the device holder has a first end and a second end, opposite the first end, the device holder being pivotally coupled to the housing at or around the first end, the system further comprises an electrical connector comprising: a first connector part at the distal end face of the aerosol-generating device, and a second connector part in the housing or the device holder of the case at or around the first end of the device holder when the device holder is in the closed position, and the first and the second connector parts being arranged to releasably electrically connect when the aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder and the device holder is in the closed position.

17. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the device holder at or around the second end does not comprise the one or more internal walls.

18. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the external wall of the device holder is arranged to cover the opening of the housing when the device holder is in the closed position.

19. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the external wall of the device holder has a length and the one or more internal walls of the device holder have a length, and the length of the one or more internal walls is less than the length of the external wall.

20. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the length of the one or more internal walls of the device holder is no more than 75% of the length of the external wall of the holder.

21. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the one or more internal walls of the device holder substantially extend along the external wall of the device holder from at or around the first end of the device holder in a direction towards the second end of the device holder.

22. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the one or more internal walls of the device holder are configured to be received in the housing when the device holder is in the closed position such that when the aerosol-generating device is releasably held in the device holder the aerosol-generating device is received in the housing when the device holder is in the closed position.

23. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 22, wherein the housing and the external wall of the device holder are arranged to substantially enclose the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder and the device holder is in the closed position.

24. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the opening of the housing extends substantially over one side of the housing.

25. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the external wall and the one or more internal walls of the device holder are arranged to form a passage configured to receive the aerosol-generating device.

26. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 25, wherein the passage has a closed end at the first end of the device holder, the closed end defining a closed end face and the second connector part being arranged at the closed end face.

27. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 25, wherein the passage has an open end at the first end of the device holder and the second connector part is arranged at the housing of the case around the first end of the device holder when the device holder is in the closed position.

28. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the system further comprises magnetic retention means for releasably retaining the first and the second connector parts in electrical engagement, the magnetic retention means comprising a first magnetic material provided on the aerosol-generating device and a second magnetic material provided on the case.

29. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 28, wherein the first magnetic material is arranged at the first connector part and the second magnetic material is arranged at the second connector part.

30. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the case further comprises means for releasably retaining the housing and the device holder in the closed position.

Description

[0093] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0094] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a known electrically operated aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating device and a case for the electrically operated aerosol-generating article;

[0095] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a first connector part of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0096] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first connector part of FIG. 2;

[0097] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a second connector part of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, the second connector part being compatible with the first connector part of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0098] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the second connector part of FIG. 4;

[0099] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a case for an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the device holder separated from the housing of the case;

[0100] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a the case of FIG. 2 with the device holder in a closed position;

[0101] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of the case of FIG. 2 with the device holder in an open position;

[0102] FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of the case of FIG. 2 with the device holder in an open position and an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder;

[0103] FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of the case of FIG. 2 with the device holder in a closed position and an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder;

[0104] FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-section of a case according to another embodiment of the present invention, with the device holder in an open position;

[0105] FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross-section of a case according to another embodiment of the present invention, with the device holder in an open position; and

[0106] FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of a case according to another embodiment of the present invention, with the device holder in an open position and an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder.

[0107] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a known electrically operated aerosol-generating system. The known electrically operated aerosol-generating system comprises a case 1, an aerosol-generating device 20 and an aerosol-generating article 30.

[0108] The case 1 comprises a housing 2 having the general size and shape of a conventional packet of cigarettes. A lithium-ion battery 3 and electric circuitry 4 are housed within the case 1. The case 1 further comprises a generally circularly-cylindrical cavity 5 for receiving the aerosol-generating device 20. The cavity 5 is defined by the housing 2. An electrical connector part (not shown) is arranged at a closed end of the cavity 5 for electrically connecting an aerosol-generating device received in the cavity 5 to the battery 3 of the case 1.

[0109] The aerosol-generating device 20 is substantially circularly cylindrical and has the general dimensions of a conventional cigar. The length of the device 20 is substantially identical to the length of the cavity 5 and the diameter of the device 20 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cavity 5, such that the device 20 fits closely in the cavity 5. The aerosol-generating device 20 comprises an open cavity 21 at a proximal end for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device 20 comprises an electrical connector part (not shown) at a distal end face, opposite the proximal end. The aerosol-generating device 20 further comprises a battery (not shown) housed in the housing of the device and an electric heater (not shown) arranged in the cavity 21 for heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 30 when the aerosol-generating article 30 is received in the cavity 21.

[0110] The aerosol-generating article 30 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate (not shown) comprising a gathered, crimped sheet of tobacco, and a filter (not shown) arranged back to back with the aerosol-forming substrate in the form of a rod. The aerosol-generating article 30 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cavity 21 of the device 20 and a length longer than the cavity 21, such that when the article 30 is received in the cavity 21 of the device 20, the filter extends out of the cavity 21 and may be drawn on by a user, similarly to a convention cigarette.

[0111] In use, a user inserts the article 30 into the cavity 21 of the device 20 and turns on the device 20 to activate the electric heater. The electric heater heats the aerosol-forming substrate of the article 30 such that volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released and atomised to form an aerosol. The user draws on the filter of the article 30 and inhales the aerosol generated from the heated aerosol-forming substrate.

[0112] After use of the device 20, the article 30 may be removed from the device 20 for disposal, and the device 20 may be placed into the case 1 for storage and for charging of the battery of the device 20. To place the article 30 in the case 1, it is necessary to closely align the longitudinal axis of the device 20 with the longitudinal axis of the cavity 5 of the case 1. When the device 20 is aligned with the cavity 5, the distal end of the device 20 may be inserted into the open end of the cavity 5. In some embodiments, a lid is provided to close the open end of the cavity and retain the device 20 in the cavity 5.

[0113] FIGS. 2 to 5 show schematic illustrations of an electrical connector comprising a first connector part 40 and a second connector part 50. The electrical connector of FIGS. 2 to 5 may be suitable for use with any of the embodiments of the present invention described herein.

[0114] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the first connector part 40, which may be arranged at a distal end face of an aerosol-generating device (not shown). The first connector part 40 comprises three electrical contacts, a first electrical contact 43, a second electrical contact 44 and a third electrical contact 45.

[0115] The first connector part 40 comprises a substantially circular planar face 46 with a recess 48 located at the centre of the face. The recess 48 is substantially circularly cylindrical, having an open end at the face 46, an opposite closed end and a tubular sidewall extending between the open end and the closed end face. The closed end face of the recess is substantially circular and lies on a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the face 46. The circular face 46 has a diameter of about 10 mm and the recess 48 has a diameter of about 4 mm and a depth of about 4 mm.

[0116] The first electrical contact 43 is substantially circular and extends substantially over the closed end face of the recess 48. The outer edge of the first electrical contact 43 is defined by the sidewall of the recess 48, and so the diameter of the first electrical contact is the same as the diameter of the recess. The second electrical contact 44 is substantially tubular and extends substantially over the tubular sidewall of the recess 48. The second electrical contact 44 has a thickness of about 0.1 mm, such that positioning the second electrical contact 44 in the recess 48 does not significantly reduce the diameter of the recess 48. The second electrical contact 44 has a width of about 3.8 mm, and is positioned in the recess 48 such that the second electrical contact 44 does not extend to the closed end face of the recess 48. This positioning ensures that the second electrical contact 44 does not contact the first electrical contact 44. The third electrical contact 45 is substantially annular and extends substantially over the face 46. The third electrical 45 contact has an outer diameter of about 8 mm and an inner diameter of about 4.6 mm, such that the third electrical contact 45 does not contact the second electrical contact 44. In this arrangement, the first, second and third electrical contacts 43, 44, 45 are all electrically isolated from each other. In this embodiment, the first electrical contact is formed from a copper alloy, the second electrical contact is formed from SS304 stainless steel and third electrical contact 45 is formed from SS430 stainless steel.

[0117] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the second connector part 50, which may be arranged at a closed end face of a cavity of a charging case (not shown). The second connector part 50 comprises four electrical contacts, a first electrical contact 53, a second electrical contact 54 and two third electrical contacts 55.

[0118] The second connector part 50 comprises a substantially circular planar face 56 with a projection 58 located at the centre of the face. The projection 58 extends outwards from the face 56 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face 56. The projection 58 is substantially circularly cylindrical and comprises an end face and a tubular sidewall extending between the face 56 and the open end face of the projection. The end face of the projection 58 is substantially circular and lies on a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the face 56. The projection has substantially the same shape as the recess 48 of the first connector part 40, has a height of about 3 mm and has a maximum diameter slightly smaller than the recess 48 of about 3.3 mm, such that the projection 58 of the second connector part 50 may fit closely within the recess 48 of the first connector part 40. The diameter or width of the projection 58 reduces towards the end face of the projection, such that the interface between the end face and the sidewall of the projection 58 is bevelled to make it easier to locate the projection 58 within the recess 48 of the first connector part 40.

[0119] The first electrical contact 53 is a pogo pin contact arranged on the end face of the projection 58. The first electrical contact 53 extends outwards from the end face of the projection 58, substantially in the same direction as the projection. The second electrical contact 54 is a leaf spring arranged at the sidewall of the projection 58. The second electrical contact 54 extends radially outwards from the sidewall of the projection 58, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and substantially parallel with the plane 56, by a maximum distance of about 0.3 mm. The two third electrical contacts 55 are pogo pin contacts substantially similar to the first electrical contact 53. The two third electrical contacts 55 extend outwards from the face 56 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face 56 and substantially parallel to the first electrical contact 53.

[0120] The two third electrical contacts 55 are spaced radially outwardly from the first electrical contact 53 in opposite directions, such that the first electrical contact 53 and the two third electrical contacts 55 are arranged substantially in a line. The two third electrical contacts 55 are spaced from the first electrical contact 53 by substantially equal distances of about 2.75 mm measured from the central axes of the contacts. The distance between the third electrical contacts 54 and the first electrical contact 53 of the second connector part 50 is greater than the diameter of the projection 58.

[0121] In this embodiment, the pogo pin contacts 53, 55 are formed from brass and the leaf spring contact 54 is formed from SS301 stainless steel.

[0122] The pogo pin contacts 53, 55 typically extend about 1 mm above the face from which they extend when they are not compressed, and about 0.5 mm above the face from which they extend when they are compressed.

[0123] The first and second connector parts 40, 50 comprise magnetic retention means. The magnetic retention means comprises a first magnetic material in the form of the third electrical contact 45 of the first connector part 40, which comprises a ring or band of a ferromagnetic metal,. The magnetic retention means further comprises a second magnetic material 59 comprising a pair of arcuate bodies of a ferromagnetic material arranged at opposite sides of the electrical contacts of the second connector part 50. The second magnetic material 59 is electrically isolated from the electrical contacts of the second connector part 50.

[0124] In this embodiment, the third electrical contact 45 of the first connector part 40 (i.e. the first magnetic material) is formed from a ferromagnetic stainless steel, such as SS430 stainless steel, and the second magnetic material 59 is formed of an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron that is magnetised to form a permanent magnet.

[0125] When the first connector part 40 is moved into the proximity of the first connector part 50, the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic materials draws the first and second connector parts together, compressing the pogo pin contacts 53, 55 of the second connector part 50 and brining the electrical contacts of each connector part into electrical engagement. The magnetic retention means helps to retain the first and second connector parts in electrical engagement. When the first and second connector parts are in electrical engagement, the force required to overcome the magnetic attraction force and disengage the first and second connector parts is typically between about 1 N and 5 N, such as around 2 N.

[0126] FIGS. 6 to 10 show schematic illustrations of a case 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The case 101 is configured to receive an aerosol-generating device, such as the aerosol-generating device 20 described above in the known electrically operated aerosol-generating system shown in FIG. 1.

[0127] The case 101 comprises a housing 102 and a device holder 106. The housing 102 houses a lithium ion battery 103 and electric circuitry 104. The housing 102 also defines a cavity 105 that is shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the device holder 106 and an aerosol-generating device, when an aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder 106.

[0128] The housing 102 generally forms an open rectangular box having sidewalls defining five sides of the box and an opening at a sixth side of the box. The opening forms an open end of the cavity 105 and extends substantially the length and width of one side of the housing 102. The housing 102 has the general shape and dimensions of a conventional packet of cigarettes.

[0129] The device holder 106 comprises an external wall 107 and an internal wall 108. The external wall 107 is elongate and has a length substantially identical to the length of the housing 102. The length of the external wall 107 defines the length of the device holder 106. The external wall 107 is shaped and dimensioned to cover the opening of the housing 102. As such, the external wall 107 is shaped and dimensioned as a sixth sidewall of the housing 102.

[0130] The internal wall 108 forms a substantially circularly cylindrical tube, defining a generally circularly cylindrical inner passage 109 that extends the length of the internal wall 108. The passage 109 is open at one end and closed at the other end, opposite the open end. The passage 109 has a transverse cross-section along its length that is substantially identical to the transverse-cross section of an aerosol-generating device, the diameter of the inner passage 109 being slightly larger than an aerosol-generating device, such that an aerosol-generating device may be removably held in the inner passage 109 of the device holder 106.

[0131] The tubular internal wall 108 of the device holder 106 is integrally formed with the external wall 107. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the internal wall 108 may not be integral with the external wall 107 and may instead be attached to the external wall 108 by any suitable attachment means. The tubular internal wall 108 is arranged with its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the external wall 108. The closed end of the passage 109 is arranged at a first end of the external wall 107 and the internal wall is arranged to extend along the external wall 107 from the first end towards the second end. The length of the internal wall 108 is less than the length of the external wall 107. As such, the internal wall 108 does not extend along the entire length of the external wall 107. A portion of the device holder 106 at the second does not comprise the internal wall 108. In other words, the internal wall 108 does not extend the length of the device holder 106 from the first end to the second end. The length of the internal wall 108 is about 70% of the length of the external wall 107. As such, a space or gap 110 is provided between the end of the internal wall 108 towards the second end of the device holder 106 and the end of the external wall 107 at the second end of the device holder 106.

[0132] The device holder 106 is pivotally coupled 111 to the housing at the first end. In particular, the external wall 107 is pivotally coupled to the housing 102 at one end of the opening of the cavity 105. The pivotal coupling 111 enables the device holder 106 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the housing 102 between an open position, in which the open end of the passage 109 towards the second end of the device holder 106 is exposed, and a closed position, in which the open end of the passage 109 is hidden by the housing 102 and the opening of the housing 102 is covered by the external wall 107 of the device holder 106.

[0133] The internal wall 108 of the device holder 106 is received in the cavity 105 of the housing 102 when the device holder 106 is rotated into the closed position. When an aerosol-generating device is received in the inner passage 109 of the device holder 106, and the device holder is rotated into the closed position, the aerosol-generating device is enclosed in the cavity 105, as it is surrounded or enclosed by the walls of the housing 102 and the external wall 107 of the device holder 106. In this position, an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder may be substantially protected by the case when the device holder is in the closed position.

[0134] An electrical connector part (not shown) is arranged at the closed end of the inner passage 109, for engagement with a complimentary electrical connector part at a distal end face of an aerosol-generating device received in the inner passage 109. The electrical connector part may be identical to the second electrical connector part 50 shown above in FIGS. 4 and 5. The electrical connector part is electrically connected to the electric circuitry 104 in the housing 102 of the case 101 via a flexible printed circuit (not shown) that enables movement of the electrical connector part with the device holder without damaging the electrical connection.

[0135] FIGS. 7 and 8 show schematic illustrations of the case 101 wherein the device holder 106 is rotated about the pivotal coupling 111 relative to the housing 102 between the closed position and the open position, respectively.

[0136] The device holder 106 is pivotable relative to the housing 102 between two predetermined positions, the closed position and the open position. The device holder 106 is pivotable in a first direction, to rotate the device holder 106 relative to the housing 102 from the open position to the closed position. The external wall 107 of the device holder 106 overlaps with the housing 102, such that external wall 107 makes contact with the housing 102 when the device holder 106 is in the closed position to prevent the device holder 106 from being rotated further in the first direction beyond the closed position. The device holder 106 is also pivotable in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to rotate the device holder 106 relative to the housing 102 from the closed position to the open position. The cavity 105 of the housing 102 comprises a stop (not shown) which is arranged to contact the internal wall 108 of the device holder 106 when the device holder 106 is in the open position to prevent the device holder 106 from being rotated in the second direction beyond the open position.

[0137] FIG. 8 shows the device holder 106 in the open position. In this embodiment, in the open position, the opening 112 between the housing 102 and the first end of the external wall 107 of the device holder 106 has a width or diameter that is about double the width or diameter of the aerosol-generating device. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the device holder may be pivotal relative to the housing to different angles, which provide openings between the housing and the first end of the external wall of the device holder having different widths.

[0138] The wide opening 112 and the gap 110 between the second end of the internal wall 108 and the second end of the external wall 107 enable an aerosol-generating device to be inserted into the device holder 106 from a wide range of angles. In particular, the gap 110 enables an aerosol-generating device to make contact with the external wall 107 when the aerosol-generating device is being inserted into the device holder 106. This may enable the portion of the external wall 107 without the internal wall 108 at the second end of the device holder 106 to be used as a guide for aligning the aerosol-generating device with the passage 109 of the tubular internal wall 108. This may further facilitate insertion of an aerosol-generating device into the device holder 106.

[0139] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an aerosol-generating device 120 releasably held in the device holder 106 of the case 101 with the device holder in the closed position and the open position, respectively.

[0140] FIG. 9 shows an aerosol-generating device 120 received in the device holder 106 with the device holder 106 in the open position. The aerosol-generating device 120 is identical to the aerosol-generating device 20 described above in the known system. As shown in FIG. 9, the gap 110 between the second end of the internal wall 108 and the second end of the external wall 107 exposes a portion of the aerosol-generating device 120 at the proximal end of the device 120. This exposed portion at the proximal end of the device 120 may be accessed and grasped by a user for removing the device 120 from the device holder 106. Accordingly, the device holder 106 does not require a lifting mechanism for lifting the device 120 out of the device holder 106. This may reduce the cost and simplify the design of the device holder 106 compared to device holders that include lifting mechanisms for removing devices.

[0141] FIG. 10 shows the aerosol-generating device 120 held in the device holder 106 with the device holder 106 in the closed position. The aerosol-generating device 120 is entirely enclosed in the cavity 105 of the housing 102, being surrounded by the housing 102 and the external wall 107 of the device holder 106. In this configuration, the aerosol-generating device 120 is substantially protected by the case 101.

[0142] An electrical connector (not shown) is provided at the closed end of the passage 109 for electrically connecting the aerosol-generating device 120 to the battery 103, via the electric circuitry 104, of the case 101, when the aerosol-generating device 120 is received in the device holder 106 and the device holder 106 is in the closed position. Accordingly, the case 101 is configured to supply power to the aerosol-generating device 120 for charging the aerosol-generating device 120, when the aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder 106 and the device holder 106 is in the closed position.

[0143] FIGS. 11 and 12 show schematic illustrations of other embodiments of cases according to the present invention.

[0144] FIG. 11 shows a case 201 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The case 201 is substantially similar to the case 101 of the first embodiment described above. The case 201 comprises a housing 202 and a device holder 206. The housing 202 houses a battery 203, circuitry 204 and a cavity 205 for receiving the device holder 206. The device holder 206 includes an external wall 207 and a tubular internal wall 208 defining a passage 209 having a closed end at a first end of the device holder 206 and an open end at a second end of the device holder 206. The device holder 206 is pivotally coupled to the housing 202 at the first end, such that the device holder 206 may be rotated between an open position, where the external wall 207 at the second end of the device holder 206 is spaced from the housing 202, and a closed position, where the external wall 207 covers the opening of the cavity 205 and the external wall 207 is in contact with the housing 202 at the second end.

[0145] The internal wall 208 is generally circularly cylindrical and comprises a generally circularly cylindrical inner passage 209. The internal wall 208 extends generally along the external wall 207 from the first end in a direction towards the second end. The internal wall 208 extends about 70% of the length of the external wall 207, such that a gap is provided between the internal wall 208 and the external wall 207 at the second end of the device holder 206. The internal wall 208 is received in the cavity 205 of the housing 202 when the device holder 206 is in the closed position. The external wall 207 is arranged to cover the opening of the cavity 205 to enclose an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder 206 within the housing 205 and the external wall 207 of the device holder 206 when the device holder 206 is in the closed position. The external wall 207 generally forms a side wall of the housing 202 when the device holder 206 is in the closed position.

[0146] A first electrical connector part 213 is arranged at the closed end of the passage 209. The first electrical connector part 213 is configured to electrically engage with a second part of an electrical connector (not shown) arranged at a distal end of an aerosol-generating device, when the aerosol-generating device is received in the device holder 206. The device holder 206 further comprises an electrical connector part 214 that is configured to electrically engage with a complimentary electrical connector part 215 of the electrical circuitry 204 in the housing 202 when the device holder 206 is in the closed position relative to the housing 202. When the device holder 206 is in the closed position, the electrical circuitry 204 is configured to supply power from the battery 203 of the case 201 to an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder 206, via the electrical connector part 213 at the closed end of the passage 209. The electrical connector part 214 electrically disengages from the complimentary electrical connector part 215 of the electrical circuitry 204 when the device holder 206 is pivoted out of the closed position, so that power may not be supplied to an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder 206 from the battery 203 of the case 201, when the device holder 206 is not in the closed position.

[0147] It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the first electrical connector part 213 may be connected to the electrical circuitry 204 of the case via a flexible wired connection. The flexible wired connection may be a flexible printed circuity.

[0148] The case 201 is further provided with magnetic retaining means for releasably retaining the device holder in the closed position. The magnetic retaining means comprise a first magnetic material 216 arranged at the second end of the device holder and a second magnetic material arranged 217 on the housing at a position adjacent to the second end of the device holder when the device holder is in the closed position. The first magnetic material 216 is a body of ferrous material and the second magnetic material 217 is a permanent magnet. The first magnetic material 216 and the second magnetic material 217 are arranged to magnetically attract such that the device holder 206 is urged or biased into the closed position. The magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic materials 216, 217 requires a user to apply additional force to the device holder 206 to pivot the device holder 206 from the closed position to the open position.

[0149] FIG. 12 shows a case 301 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The case 301 is substantially similar to the cases 101, 201 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 described above. The case 301 comprises a housing 302 and a device holder 306. The housing 302 houses a battery 303, circuitry 304 and a cavity 305 for receiving the device holder 306. The device holder 306 includes an external wall 307 and a tubular internal wall 308 defining a passage 309 having open ends at both the first and second ends of the device holder 306. The device holder 306 is pivotally coupled to the housing 302 at the first end, such that the device holder 306 may be rotated between an open position, where the external wall 307 at the second end of the device holder 306 is spaced from the housing 302, and a closed position, where the external wall 307 covers the opening of the cavity 305 and the external wall 307 is in contact with the housing 302 at the second end.

[0150] The internal wall 308 is generally circularly cylindrical and comprises a generally circularly cylindrical inner passage 309. The internal wall 308 extends generally along the external wall 307 from close to the first end to towards the second end. The internal wall 308 extends about 60% of the length of the external wall 307, such that a gap is provided between the internal wall 308 and the external wall 307 at the first and second ends of the device holder. The internal wall 308 is received in the cavity 305 of the housing 302 when the device holder 306 is in the closed position. The external wall 307 is arranged to cover the opening of the cavity 305 to enclose an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder 306 within the housing 305 and the external wall 307 of the device holder 306 when the device holder 306 is in the closed position. The external wall 307 generally forms a side wall of the housing 302 when the device holder 306 is in the closed position.

[0151] The open end of the passage 309 at the first end of the device holder 306 enables an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder to extend through the passage 309 and contact the housing 302 at a position close to the pivotal coupling.

[0152] The case 301 comprises a first electrical connector part 313 of in the cavity 305 of the housing 302, close to the pivotal coupling between the housing 302 and the device holder 306. The first electrical connector part 313 is arranged such that the distal end of an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder 306 may contact the first connector part 313 when the device holder 306 is in the closed position. A second electrical connector part (not shown) may be arranged at a distal end face of an aerosol-generating device and the second electrical connector part may electrically engage with the first electrical connector part 313 when the aerosol-generating device is received in the passage 309 of the device holder 306 and the device holder 306 is in the closed position. In this embodiment, the first electrical connector part 313 is fixedly electrically engaged to the electrical circuitry 304. The second electrical connector part at the distal end of the aerosol-generating device is electrically disconnected from the first electrical connector part 313 by pivoting the device holder from the closed position to the open position, which moves the distal end face of the aerosol-generating device relative to the housing 302 and the first electrical connector part 313.

[0153] FIG. 13 shows an electrically operated aerosol-generating system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The case 401 of FIG. 13 is substantially similar to the case 201 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, described above. However, the case 401 has a second electrical connector part (not shown) at the closed end of the device holder 406 that is permanently electrically connected to the electrical circuitry (not shown) of the case 401 by a flexible printed circuit (not shown). As shown in FIG. 13, the case 401 includes a housing having rounded edges to provide a shape that is easy and comfortable for a user to hold. The case 401 comprises a device holder 406 that is pivotally coupled to the housing at a position near to a first end of the device holder 406. The device holder 406 comprises an external wall that forms a sidewall of the housing when the device holder is in the close position and an internal wall that forms a substantially circularly cylindrical tube having a circularly cylindrical passage with two opposing open ends. The external wall of the device holder 406 extends substantially the length of the housing, whereas the internal wall extends from around the first end of the device housing about 70% of the length of the external wall. This arrangement of the internal wall provides a gap between the internal wall and the external wall at the second end of the device holder 406. This gap at the second end of the device holder 406 is exposed when the device holder is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 13. The gap enables a user to insert a distal end of an aerosol-generating device into the device holder from a wide ranges of angles, which makes insertion of an aerosol-generating device into the holder straightforward for a user. The gap also enables a user to grip an aerosol-generating device received in the device holder when the device holder is in the open position.

[0154] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are exemplary embodiments of the invention only. It will also be appreciated that features described above in relation to one embodiment may also be applied to other embodiments of the invention.