CHARGER DOOR COVER WITH EXTENDED FEATURES

Abstract

A cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case including a coupler and a storage portion. The coupler may be operable to releasably retain the cover to an external wall of the device-holder portion. The storage portion may define a storage volume in the cover for storing at least one item.

Claims

1. A cover for an external wall of device-holder portion of a charging case, the cover comprising: a coupler configured to releasably retain the cover to the external wall of the device-holder portion; and a storage portion defining a storage volume in the cover for storing at least one item, wherein the storage portion is outside of the charging case when releasably retained to the external wall of the device-holder portion.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is configured to receive and store an aerosol-generating device within the storage volume.

3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a lid having an open position and a closed position, wherein the lid is configured to expose the storage volume when in the open position; and wherein the lid is configured to cover the storage volume in the closed position.

4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is configured to receive electronic circuitry.

5. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises an at least partially transparent wall adjacent the storage portion; and wherein the storage portion is configured to receive a visual display.

6. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is configured to receive a tactile display.

7. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is configured to receive at least one aerosol-generating article or at least one aerosol-generating device accessory.

8. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a first magnetic coupler and a second magnetic coupler offset at a distance from one another.

9. A cover according to claim 8, wherein the distance between the center of the first magnetic coupler and the center of the second magnetic coupler is about 60 mm to 70 mm.

10. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion comprises a storage volume in the cover having at least one of a width of at least about 10 mm to 20 mm, a length of at least about 90 mm to 100 mm, and a depth of at least about 10 mm to 20 mm.

11. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises: an open end configured to receive at least a portion of an aerosol-generating device into the storage portion.

12. A cover according to claim 11, wherein the cover further comprises: a closed portion configured to releasably hold the at least a portion of the aerosol-generating device when received in the storage portion.

13. A charging case for receiving and charging an aerosol-generating device, the case comprising: a housing having an opening; a device-holder portion moveably coupled to the housing and movable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, the device-holder portion comprising an external wall and one or more internal walls arranged to releasably hold an aerosol-generating device; and a cover comprising a storage portion defining a storage volume for storing at least one item, wherein the cover is releasably retained to the external wall, wherein the cover resides outside of the housing of the charging case when coupled to the device-holder portion.

14. A kit comprising: a charging case for receiving and charging an aerosol-generating device, the case comprising: a housing having an opening; a device-holder portion movably coupled to the housing and movable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, the device-holder portion comprising an external wall and one or more internal walls arranged to releasably hold an aerosol-generating device; and a cover according to claim 1.

15. A kit according to claim 14, further comprising one or more aerosol-generating devices.

16. The charging case according to claim 13, wherein the storage portion is configured to receive and store an aerosol-generating device.

17. The charging case according to claim 13, wherein the cover further comprises: an open end configured to receive at least a portion of an aerosol-generating device into the storage portion.

18. The charging case according to claim 13, wherein the cover is configured to electrically charge an aerosol-generating device received in the storage portion.

19. The charging case according to claim 13, wherein the cover is electrically coupled to the charging case.

20. The charging case according to claim 16, wherein the device holder portion is configured to charge an aerosol-generating device and the storage portion is configured to charge a second aerosol-generating device.

Description

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a charging case in a closed position with releasable covers.

[0052] FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic diagrams of a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case.

[0053] FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic diagrams of another cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case.

[0054] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of electronics for a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with inserted electronics.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with inserted consumables.

[0057] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with an inserted customizable display.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with an inserted tactile display.

[0059] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a charging case in an open position with a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with a storage portion for an aerosol-generating device.

[0060] FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of another charging case with a cover for a device-holder portion of a charging case with a storage portion for an aerosol-generating device.

[0061] The covers for a device-holder portion of a charging case depicted in FIGS. 1-11 illustrate one or more embodiments of covers described above. The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0062] The charging case depicted in FIG. 1 illustrates a charging case 10 that includes a main body 12, a releasable cover 14, and a cover 16 with extended features. The charging case 10 may receive an aerosol-generating device within the main body 12 and charge such devices received therein. The cover 14 may be releasably attached to a holder (not shown) of the charging case 10. The cover 14 may be removed and from the charging case 10 and replaced with the cover 16 with extended features. The cover 16 may include a storage volume with an opening 17. The cover 16 may accommodate an aerosol-generating device within the storage volume such as, for example, aerosol-generating device 18. The aerosol-generating device 18 may be received through the opening 17. Once the aerosol-generating device 18 has been received through the opening 17, the aerosol-generating device 18 abuts against a closed portion of the cover 16 which in this example is a closed end of the cover 16. The closed end may releasably hold at least a portion of the aerosol-generating device 18 when received in the cover 16. For instance, there may be a magnet in the closed end for releasably holding the aerosol-generating device 18.

[0063] The cover depicted in FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates a cover 20 that includes a main body 22, couplers 24 and a storage portion 26 defining a storage volume. FIG. 2A depicts a bottom view of the cover 20, FIG. 2B depicts a side view of the cover 20, and FIG. 2C depicts a top view of the cover 20. The main body 22 of the cover 20 may have an elongate oval shape. The ends of the cover 20 may be rounded, and the sides of the cover 20 may be approximately straight. The bottom of the cover 20 may be flat to fit tightly against a charging case. The bottom of the cover 20 may be concave in order to fit against a convex surface of a charging case, thus ensuring a secure connection between the cover 20 and the charging case. The bottom of the cover 20 may be convex in order to fit against a concave surface of a charging case, thus ensuring a secure connection between the cover 20 and the charging case. The couplers 24 may provide a strong and stable separable connection. For example, the couplers 24 may include magnetic material to magnetically attach to a charging case. In the middle of the cover 20, there may be a recess, or storage volume, which forms the storage portion 26.

[0064] The cover depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C illustrates a cover 40 that includes a main body 42, couplers 44, and storage portion 46 that may be capable of receiving electronics in the storage portion 46. FIG. 3A depicts a bottom view of the cover 40, FIG. 3B depicts a side view of the cover 40, and FIG. 3C depicts a top view of the cover 40. The cover 40 may include electronic couplers 48 that may be incorporated into the couplers 44. The cover 40 may be provided with the electronic couplers 48 to operatively couple with electronics of the charging case. The electronic couplers 48 may provide electronic power or signal coupling. The electronic couplers 48 may provide a physical connection to connector springs 50 located at the inside of the recess that forms the storage portion 46. The connector springs 50 may apply a force on inserted electronics to ensure a tight seating when the cover 40 is detached from the charging case. Suitable electronics for the storage portion 46 may include a near-field communication (NFC) device, a Bluetooth device, a wireless charging device, a reverse wireless charging device, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) device, an inductively chargeable battery, a data storage device, or any other suitable electronics.

[0065] The electronics depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates electronics 60 that may be capable of being inserted into a cover (for example, the cover 40 of FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4A depicts a bottom view of the electronics 60 and FIG. 4B depicts a side view of the electronics 60. The electronics 60 may include a housing 62, electronic circuitry 64, electronic couplers 66, and electronic contacts 68. The electronic circuitry 62 may have a board on chip design and may include any suitable electronics such as, for example, sensors, chips, power storage, passive electrical components, processors, controllers, for example. The electronic couplers 66 may extend through the housing 62 from the electronic circuitry 64 to the electronic contacts 68 to operatively couple the electronic circuitry 64 to external devices such as, for example, a cover or a charging case. The electronic circuitry 62 may communicate, receive power, or provide power via electronic couplers 64 and electronic contacts 66.

[0066] Electronics such as RFID, NFC, or WiFi devices may enable the electronic circuitry 62 to communicate with other devices. An RFID device may act as a key to open doors, like a wallet to perform payments, or may be used to interact with services over the internet.

[0067] Electronics such as a wireless charging device or a reverse charging device may enable the electronic circuitry 62 to charge a charging case inductively or enable an attached charging case to charge another portable device such as for example, a smartphone, inductively (for example, reverse charging).

[0068] Electronics such as data storage may enable the electronic circuitry 62 to receive or send data for the charging case such as for example, updating the firmware, setting up the user preferences for the charging case or tracking behaviour of the user.

[0069] If the electronics are not inserted to the cover 70, the storage portion 74 may be used to store aerosol-generating articles or accessories 76 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0070] The covers depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates covers 80, 90 where a surface of the door may be at least partially or fully transparent. The at least partially or fully transparent surfaces may allow electronics received in the cover to further include electronics such as, for example, light emitting displays, reflective displays (for example, electronic ink displays), biometric sensors, optical sensors, for example.

[0071] As depicted by cover 80, the surface 82 may be at least partially transparent. As depicted by cover 90, the surface 92 may be fully transparent. Partially or fully transparent surfaces 82, 92 enable covers 80, 90 to house, or receive, electronics that have a display on a surface of the electronics intended to face the at least partially or fully transparent surfaces. An inactive display can remain hidden below the surfaces. An activated display may visible to the user as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

[0072] A reflective display 86 may be used. The reflective display 86 may include electrophoretic, electro wetting, electronic ink or other technologies. The reflective display 86 can have cover-pigment particles 87 and contrast-pigment particles 88 that may rotate when a very low voltage is applied. Voltages may be applied to the reflective display 86 to form information, a pattern, or a picture. Alternatively, a light emitting display 96 may be used. The light emitting display 96 may be any suitable display such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) displays, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, for example. The light emitting display 96 may include one or more pixels 98. A single pixel may include one or more of, for example, an LED, an OLED, a light, a liquid crystal, or a quantum dot.

[0073] The cover depicted in FIG. 8 illustrates a cover 110 that may have an opening 112 at a top surface 114 that may allow a user to touch a surface 118 of electronics that may be inserted in the cover 110. The opening 112 may have a smaller area than the electronics in order to ensure a tight seating and to prevent the electronics from sliding through the opening. The surface 118 of the electronics may have a matrix of moveable pins 120. Said moveable pins 120 can be moved upwards to create an elevation that a user can perceive through touch.

[0074] The charging case depicted in FIG. 9 illustrates a charging case 130 in an open position that may include a housing 131, a device-holder portion 136, a first aerosol-generating device 138, and a cover 132 that may include a storage portion for storing a second aerosol-generating device 134. The aerosol-generating device 134 may be slidably received into the storage portion of the cover 132. To protect the aerosol-generating device from being exposed to dust and other contaminants, the aerosol-generating device may be inserted “upside-down.” In other words, the aerosol-generating device may be inserted with the end of the aerosol-generating device with the opening for aerosol generating articles down into the storage portion or slot, thus leaving a connector end at an open top end of storage portion. The cover 132 may be retained to an external wall of a charging case 130. In one embodiment, the cover 132 may be releasably retained or releasably attached to the external wall of the device-holder portion 136.

[0075] In one embodiment, the cover 132 may be fixed to the external wall of a device-holder portion of the charging case 130. In other words, the cover 132 may be integrally formed with the device-holder portion 136. In this embodiment, the cover 132 may not be releasably retained to the charging case 130.

[0076] The charging device depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrates a charging device 150 including a housing 151 and a cover 153 that may include a storage portion 152 and that may include a lid 154. Additionally, the charging device 150 may include a device-holder portion 166 that may contain an aerosol-generating device 164 as depicted in FIG. 11 with the charging device in an open position. The lid 154 may have an open position as depicted in FIG. 10 and a closed position as depicted in FIG. 11. The lid 154 may be configured to expose a storage volume 156 defined by the storage portion 152 when in the open position. The lid 154 may be configured to cover the storage volume 156 when in the closed position. The lid 154 may be configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position. The cover may further include a hinge 158. Additionally, the lid 154 may be configured to pivot about the hinge 158.

[0077] The storage portion 152 may further include a bottom wall 160 and one or more side walls 162 extending from a surface of the bottom wall. The lid 154 may be coupled to the one or more side walls such that the storage volume 156 is defined between the bottom wall 160, the one or more side walls 162, and the lid 154 when the lid is in the closed position. The lid 154 may be coupled to the one or more side walls 162 via the hinge 158. The lid 154 may be replaceable or interchangeable.

[0078] The storage portion 152 may be configured to hold or receive an aerosol-generating device, aerosol-generating articles, accessories, for example. The storage portion 152 may enable the charging case 150 to store a second aerosol-generating device in addition to aerosol-generating device 164. Additionally, holding two aerosol-generating devices may enable the charging case to charge both aerosol-generating devices. Alternatively, the storage portion 152 may be configured to store a power-bank for carrying extra energy to give an attached charging case additional energy storage or to recharge the charging case.

[0079] Although the examples of a cover provided herein depict examples comprising two couplers, the invention as described herein may comprise a single coupler to releasably retain the cover to a charging case. The use of additional couplers, for example, two or more couplers may help to retain the position of the cover on the charging case.

[0080] The exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.