Customizable panel for aerosol delivery device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a control unit for use in an aerosol delivery device configured to receive a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable. The control unit comprises a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining a first portion of a receiving chamber, and a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame. In one implementation, the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, and the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber. In another implementation, the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, and the body frame includes a rail feature configured to slidably engage a complementary rail feature of the housing panel.

1 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a control unit that includes a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining at least a portion of a receiving chamber;   a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, at least a portion of the consumable configured to be received into the receiving chamber; and   a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame of the control unit, the housing panel including a rail feature,   wherein the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, wherein the body frame includes a complementary rail feature configured to slidably engage with the rail feature of the housing panel, and   wherein at least a portion of the removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable is configured to extend outside of the receiving chamber when the removable and replaceable housing panel is received onto the body frame of the control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing panel forms a single outer surface of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing panel forms two or more outer surfaces of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the body frame defines a first portion of the receiving chamber, and wherein the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing panel includes a customizable feature comprising one or more of a surface color of the housing panel, a surface contour of the housing panel, a surface pattern of the housing panel, a surface texture of the housing panel, one or more surface projections of the housing panel, a profile of the housing panel, a material of the housing panel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes an output element configured to provide a visually perceptible output signal, and wherein the housing panel includes an output feature configured to allow the output signal to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the output feature of the housing panel comprises one or more of an aperture that extends through the housing panel, a series of microperforations that extend through the housing panel, a light tube configured to transmit the output signal through the housing panel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes an input element configured to receive an input signal from a user, and wherein the housing panel includes an input feature configured to allow the input signal to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the input element of the control unit comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises an aperture that extends through the housing panel. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the input element of the control unit comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises or a corresponding button of the housing panel. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the body frame of the control unit or the housing panel includes a securing feature configured to releasably secure the housing panel to the body frame. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein the securing feature comprises one or more of a magnetic securing feature, a detent securing feature, a spring-loaded securing feature, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein the securing feature comprises a friction interface between the housing panel and the body frame. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the body frame of the control unit includes an electrical connection element proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the housing panel includes an electrical connector proximate a distal end thereof, and wherein the electrical connector of the housing panel is configured to couple with the electrical connection element of the body frame. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 14 , wherein the housing panel includes a power source configured to provide power to the control unit via the electrical connector and electrical connection element. 
     
     
         16 . A control unit for use in an aerosol delivery device configured to receive a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, the control unit comprising:
 a body frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the body frame defining at least a portion of a receiving chamber, and   a removable and replaceable housing panel configured to be releasably received onto the body frame, the housing panel including a rail feature,   wherein the housing panel forms part of an outer surface of the control unit, wherein the body frame includes a rail feature configured to slidably engage with the rail feature of the housing panel, and   wherein the receiving chamber is configured such that at least a portion of the removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable extends outside of the receiving chamber when the removable and replaceable housing panel is received onto the body frame.   
     
     
         17 . The control body of  claim 16 , wherein the housing panel forms a single outer surface of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         18 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein the housing panel forms two or more outer surfaces of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         19 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein the body frame defines a first portion of the receiving chamber, and wherein the housing panel forms a second portion of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein the housing panel includes a customizable feature comprising one or more of a surface color of the housing panel, a surface contour of the housing panel, a surface pattern of the housing panel, a surface texture of the housing panel, one or more surface projections of the housing panel, a profile of the housing panel, a material of the housing panel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The control unit of  claim 16  further comprising an output element configured to provide a visually perceptible output signal, and wherein the housing panel includes an output feature configured to allow the output signal to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         22 . The control unit of  claim 21 , wherein the output feature of the housing panel comprises one or more of an aperture that extends through the housing panel, a series of microperforations that extend through the housing panel, a light tube configured to transmit the output signal through the housing panel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The control unit of  claim 16  further comprising an input element configured to receive an input signal from a user, and wherein the housing panel includes an input feature configured to allow the input signal to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         24 . The control unit of  claim 23 , wherein the input element comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises an aperture that extends through the housing panel. 
     
     
         25 . The control unit of  claim 23 , wherein the input element of the control unit comprises a button, and wherein the input feature of the housing panel comprises or a corresponding button of the housing panel. 
     
     
         26 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein one or both of the body frame or the housing panel includes a securing feature configured to releasably secure the housing panel to the body frame. 
     
     
         27 . The control unit of  claim 26 , wherein the securing feature comprises one or more of a magnetic securing feature, a detent securing feature, a spring-loaded securing feature, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The control unit of  claim 26 , wherein the securing feature comprises a friction interface between the housing panel and the body frame. 
     
     
         29 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein the body frame includes an electrical connection element proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the housing panel includes an electrical connector proximate a distal end thereof, and wherein the electrical connector of the housing panel is configured to couple with the electrical connection element of the body frame. 
     
     
         30 . The control unit of  claim 29 , wherein the housing panel includes a power source configured to provide power to the control unit via the electrical connector and electrical connection element.