Aerosol delivery device with an illuminated outer surface and related method

• US 9,451,791 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC), Performance Indicator, LLC
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC), Performance Indicator, LLC
• Inventors: Sears, Stephen Benson, Sebastian, Andries Don, Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Potter, Dennis Lee, Agrawal, Satish, Horner, M. Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay, Karabi
• Application Number:
  US14/173,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20150216233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/26 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation. For example, a light emitting diode may output light. A waveguide may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and provide illumination at an outer surface of the outer body. The waveguide may include an energy conversion material configured to alter a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation outputted by the illumination source to change a color of, or otherwise affect, the illumination. The illumination may also be dynamically adjusted. The waveguide may define the outer body, or the waveguide may be received with a separate outer body. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

one or more components configured to atomize an aerosol precursor composition;

an outer body at least partially enclosing the components;

one or more illumination sources configured to output an electromagnetic radiation; and

a waveguide configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the one or more illumination sources and provide illumination at an outer surface of the outer body, at least one of the one or more illumination sources being positioned outside of the waveguide and coupled to a longitudinal end thereof.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer body comprises the waveguide.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the waveguide comprises a reflective layer configured to reflect an ambient light.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is received within the outer body.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein the outer body defines one or more apertures extending therethrough to the outer surface.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises a roughened portion configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation toward the outer surface.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises an energy conversion material configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation and emit a secondary electromagnetic radiation defining a wavelength differing from a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises a plurality of sections, each of the sections having one of the illumination sources associated therewith.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer body comprises the outer body of a control body and the components comprise an electrical power source and a control component, the control component being configured to selectively direct an atomizer to atomize an aerosol precursor.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer body comprises the outer body of a cartridge and the components comprise a reservoir substrate configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer configured to produce heat.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the waveguide and the one or more illumination sources are configured to adjust illumination at the outer surface of the outer body based on at least one of an electrical power source level, an aerosol precursor level, a temperature, an ambient light level, and a detected draw.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the device is an electronic smoking article.

13. A method for illuminating an aerosol delivery device, comprising:

providing an aerosol delivery device, comprising;

one or more components configured to atomize an aerosol precursor composition;

an outer body at least partially enclosing the components;

one or more illumination sources; and

a waveguide, at least one of the one or more illumination sources being positioned outside of the waveguide and coupled to a longitudinal end thereof;

outputting an electromagnetic radiation with the one or more illumination sources;

directing the electromagnetic radiation through the waveguide; and

providing illumination at an outer surface of the outer body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the outer body comprises the waveguide.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising reflecting an ambient light with a reflective layer of the waveguide.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the waveguide is received within the outer body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing illumination at the outer surface of the body comprises directing the electromagnetic radiation toward one or more apertures defined in the outer body.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein directing the electromagnetic radiation through the waveguide comprises directing the electromagnetic radiation to a roughened portion of the waveguide.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein directing the electromagnetic radiation through the waveguide comprises directing the electromagnetic radiation to an energy conversion material configured to emit a secondary electromagnetic radiation defining a wavelength differing from a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein outputting the electromagnetic radiation comprises selectively outputting the electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of sections of the waveguide from a respective one of the illumination sources.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein providing illumination at the outer surface of the outer body comprises providing illumination at the outer surface of a control body,

wherein the components comprise an electrical power source and a control component, the control component being configured to selectively direct an atomizer to atomize an aerosol precursor.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein providing illumination at the outer surface of the outer body comprises providing illumination at the outer surface of a cartridge,

wherein the components comprise a reservoir substrate configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer configured to produce heat.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting illumination of the outer surface of the outer body based on at least one of an electrical power source level, an aerosol precursor level, a temperature, an ambient light level, and a detected draw.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the aerosol delivery device is an electronic smoking article.