Accessory for an Aerosol Delivery Device and Related Method and Computer Program Product

• US 20150097513A1
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Liberti, Michael Andrew, Guenther, Quentin Paul Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,806,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/00 Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/65 Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an accessory device usable with a portable electronic device and an aerosol delivery device. The accessory device may include a case configured to receive the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device therein. Further, the accessory device may include an interface that provides an electrical connection and/or a data connection between the aerosol delivery device and the portable electronic device. Thereby, the portable electronic device may charge the aerosol delivery device or vice versa and/or data may be exchanged therebetween. A related method and a computer program product are also provided.

Claims

1. An accessory device, comprising:

a case defining a first cavity configured to receive a portable electronic device and a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of an aerosol delivery device comprising a battery.

2. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the case is configured to receive a control body of the aerosol delivery device in the second cavity.

3. The accessory device of claim 2, wherein the case is configured such that an indicator on the control body is visible when the control body is received in the second cavity.

4. The accessory device of claim 2, wherein the case further comprises a third cavity configured to receive a cartridge of the aerosol delivery device.

5. The accessory device of claim 4, wherein the second cavity defines an opening at a longitudinal end of the case and the third cavity defines an opening at an opposing longitudinal end of the case.

6. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover and the rear cover being configured to lock together in a closed configuration to retain the portable electronic device in the first cavity and allow for insertion and removal of the aerosol delivery device.

7. The accessory device of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to establish an electrical connection between the battery of the aerosol delivery device and the portable electronic device.

8. The accessory device of claim 7, wherein the interface is configured to cause the portable electronic device to charge the battery.

9. The accessory device of claim 7, wherein the interface is configured to establish a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device.

10. The accessory device of claim 7, wherein the interface is configured to allow for connection of an additional accessory device to the portable electronic device.

11. An accessory device operation method, comprising:

providing an accessory device comprising a case and an interface;

providing for insertion of a portable electronic device and at least a portion of an aerosol delivery device comprising a battery into the case; and

establishing an electrical connection between the portable electronic device and the battery of the aerosol delivery device through the interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising charging the battery of the aerosol delivery device through the electrical connection.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating an indicator of the aerosol delivery device while charging the battery.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device through the interface of the accessory device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transferring a plurality of usage data from the aerosol delivery device to the portable electronic device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, and a digital media player.

17. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising:

program code instructions providing for charging a battery of an aerosol delivery device through an electrical connection established between a portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising program code instructions for activating an indicator of the aerosol delivery device while charging the battery.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising program code instructions for establishing a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program code instructions for transferring a plurality of usage data from the aerosol delivery device to the portable electronic device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising program code instructions for indicating a remaining capacity of a cartridge of the aerosol delivery device.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program code instructions for transferring a software update to the aerosol delivery device.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, and a digital media player.

24. A method for charging, comprising:

establishing an electrical connection between a portable electronic device and a battery of an aerosol delivery device through an interface,

wherein the portable electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, and a digital media player.