Method, system and device for switchless detection and charging

• US 10,098,383 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V. (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Alarcon, Ramon, Blau, David, Kepner, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US14/912,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160204637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/85 Maintenance, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A system, a method, and a device for detecting and charging electronic articles, and more particularly for charging batteries in electronic cigarettes.

Claims

1. A charging holder configured to charge a rechargeable battery of an electronic article, the charging holder comprising:

a spring-loaded pin contact configured to provide a first polarity of a charge signal, the spring-loaded pin contact comprising;

i) a pin configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a spring coupled to the pin, the spring configured to hold the pin against the rechargeable battery; and

an edge contact configured to provide a second polarity of the charge signal, the edge contact comprising;

i) a first surface configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a second surface coupled to the first surface, the second surface comprising a hole, wherein the pin is configured to project through the hole.

2. The charging holder of claim 1, wherein the electronic article is an electronic smoking article.

3. The charging holder of claim 1, wherein the edge contact comprises a compliant conductive material.

4. The charging holder of claim 3, wherein the compliant conductive material is conductively plated spring steel.

5. The charging holder of claim 1, wherein the edge contact is configured to flex when the rechargeable battery is in contact with the first or second surfaces.

6. The charging holder of claim 1, wherein the edge contact is configured to self-clean.

7. The charging holder of claim 6, wherein the first surface is configured to scrape debris off the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed in the charging holder.

8. The charging holder of claim 1, further comprising a slot configured to hold the rechargeable battery, wherein the spring-loaded pin contact and the edge contact are located in the slot.

9. The charging holder of claim 1, further comprising a slot for at least a portion of an electronic smoking article.

10. The charging holder of claim 1, wherein the charging holder is one of a docking station, a charging station, or a charging pack for an electronic smoking article.