Charging electronic cigarette

Abstract

An electronic cigarette charging system includes a rechargeable electronic cigarette ( 173 ) having first and second electrical contacts ( 183 ), a cradle ( 175 ) that is connectable to a battery charger and a receiving element adapted to receive the end of the electronic cigarette ( 173 ). The receiving element has electrically conductive first and second contacts ( 181 ), which have first and second contact surfaces for contacting the first and second electrical contacts ( 183 ) of the electronic cigarette ( 175 ), respectively to thereby establish an electrical connection with the battery charger.

1 . An electronic cigarette charging system, comprising:
 a rechargeable electronic cigarette having an end and first and second electrical contacts;   a cradle, connectable to a battery charger, comprising:   a receiving element adapted to receive the end of the electronic cigarette, the receiving element having electrically conductive first and second contacts having respective first and second contact surfaces for contacting the first and second electrical contacts of the electronic cigarette, respectively to thereby establish an electrical connection with the battery charger.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical contacts of the electronic cigarette are magnetically attractive to the first and second contact surfaces of the receiving element, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second contact surfaces of the receiving element is a magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second contacts of the electronic cigarette is a magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the electronic cigarette comprises an adaptor having an orifice formed therethrough and an inset for receiving a conductive flange, the orifice being disposed such that an extension of the flange is placed in contact with one of the first and second contacts of the receiving element when the electronic cigarette is in the cradle, the adaptor further comprising at least one side groove for receiving a contact pin to contact another of the first and second contacts of the receiving element. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the adaptor has vents formed therein to permit ambient air to enter an interior of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the electronic cigarette comprises an adaptor having a sensor unit housed in an interior chamber thereof, and having a perforation extending from the interior chamber to an exterior of the electronic cigarette to place the interior chamber in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the electronic cigarette comprises an adaptor, the adaptor including:
 a cap having a lip and a conductive flange on the cap for contacting one of the first and second contact surfaces of the receiving element; and   a conductive coaxial member having an insert attached to the lip, wherein the insert has an orifice formed therethrough for receiving an extension of the coaxial member, the orifice being disposed such that the extension of the coaxial member is placed in contact with another of the first and second contacts of the receiving element when the electronic cigarette is in the cradle.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the adaptor has vents formed therein to permit ambient air to enter an interior of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a light source within the electronic cigarette, wherein the insert has a translucency and diffusing property sufficient to prevent recognition of structures and shadows within the electronic cigarette when the insert is illuminated from within the electronic cigarette by the light source. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic cigarette charging system, comprising:
 an electronic cigarette having a first set of electrical contacts, an aerosol generating device and a rechargeable battery for powering the aerosol generating device;   an electrode assembly connectable to a power source having a second set of electrical contacts that are arranged to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, whereupon the electronic cigarette receives power via the electrode assembly for recharging the battery while remaining operational for use by a smoker; and   electrical circuitry connected to the first set of electrical contacts comprising a first circuit for supplying battery power to the aerosol generating device and a second circuit for providing power from a battery charger to the battery for recharging thereof, the first circuit cooperative with the second circuit to disable power flow via the electrode assembly to the battery when the aerosol generating device is activated and to resume the power flow when the aerosol generating device ceases to be activated.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the second set of electrical contacts comprises:
 respective ferromagnetic disks that are bonded to lead wires that are connectable to the battery charger; and   magnets held by magnetic attraction in contact with the disks.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first set of electrical contacts are disposed at an end of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first set of electrical contacts are disposed at a side portal of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cradle receiving the electronic cigarette and having the second set of electrical contacts disposed therein. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a universal serial bus adaptor linked to the second set of electrical contacts for connection to the power source. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the electrical circuitry comprises:
 a pressure sensor;   a transistor coupled to the battery and the first set of electrical contacts;   a microprocessor; and   electronic logic, wherein the microprocessor is responsive to the sensor and the electronic logic to regulate the transistor to enable and disable power flow to the battery via the first set of electrical contacts.   
     
     
         18 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 an aerosol generating device;   a rechargeable battery for powering the aerosol generating device; and   an adaptor having a first set of electrical contacts connectable to a battery charger, wherein the adaptor is disposed at an end of the electronic cigarette and comprises:   an outer metallic band having an extension that is exposed to an interior space of the electronic cigarette;   an inner metallic plug exposed to the interior space of the electronic cigarette; and   an electrically nonconductive intermediate member separating the band from the plug and having a channel formed therein that extends from an exterior of the electronic cigarette to the interior space thereof that allows ambient air to enter the interior space.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 18 , wherein the intermediate member has a translucency and diffusing property sufficient to prevent recognition of structures and shadows within the electronic cigarette when the adaptor is illuminated from within the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         20 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 a first set of electrical contacts, an aerosol generating device and a rechargeable battery for powering the aerosol generating device, wherein the first set of electrical contacts is connectable to an electrode assembly having a second set of electrical contacts, whereupon the electronic cigarette receives power via the electrode assembly for recharging the battery while being smoked by a smoker; and   electrical circuitry connected to the first set of electrical contacts comprising a first circuit for supplying battery power to the aerosol generating device and a second circuit for providing power from a battery charger to the battery for recharging thereof.   
     
     
         21 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 20 , wherein the first set of electrical contacts are disposed at an end of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 20 , wherein the first set of electrical contacts are disposed at a side portal of the electronic cigarette. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 20 , wherein the electrical circuitry comprises:
 a pressure sensor;   a transistor coupled to the battery and the first set of electrical contacts;   a microprocessor; and   electronic logic, wherein the microprocessor is responsive to the sensor and the electronic logic to regulate the transistor to enable and disable power flow to the battery via the first set of electrical contacts.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic cigarette according to  claim 20 , wherein the electrical circuitry is configured for selective operation:
 in a first mode, wherein power flow to the battery is disabled when the aerosol generating device is activated by a user drawing on the electronic cigarette and is enabled when the aerosol generating device is not activated; and   in a second mode wherein power flow to the battery is enabled when the aerosol generating device is activated by the user drawing on the electronic cigarette and when the aerosol generating device is not activated.   
     
     
         25 . An electronic cigarette, comprising:
 an aerosol generating device;   a battery for powering the aerosol generating device; and   a tip adaptor disposed at an end of the electronic cigarette, the adaptor having a sensor unit housed in an interior chamber thereof, and having a perforation extending from the interior chamber to an exterior of the electronic cigarette to place the interior chamber in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere.