E-vaping device cartridge holder

• US 10,357,060 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rostami, Ali A., Kobal, Gerd, Pithawalla, Yezdi, Kane, David, Tucker, Christopher S., Lipowicz, Peter, Flora, Jason, Karles, Georgios, Mishra, Munmaya K., Koller, Kent B., Barnes, Catherine, Arena, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor S
• Application Number:
  US15/067,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20170258139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 392404
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/30 Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to removably couple with various cartridges. Different cartridges may be interchangeably coupled with the connectors. Different cartridges may be swapped from the connectors. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by cartridges coupled to the base. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the cartridges. The control circuitry may control electrical power supplied based on information accessed from one or more of the cartridges.

Claims

1. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power; and

a cartridge holder configured to removably electrically couple first and second cartridges to the power supply, the cartridge holder including first and second connectors electrically coupled to the power supply, the first and second connectors being configured to independently and removably connect with the first and second cartridges, the first and second connectors having different structures, such that

the first connector is complementary to a connector of the first cartridge,

the second connector is complementary to a connector of the second cartridge,

the first connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the second connector, such that the first connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the second cartridge, and

the second connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the first connector, such that the second connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the first cartridge.

2. The base of claim 1, further comprising:

a divider coupled to the cartridge holder, the divider being configured to partition the first and second connectors from each other, such that the first and second cartridges generate separate, respective first and second dispersions in isolation from each other.

3. The base of claim 1, wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

4. The base of claim 1, wherein

the cartridge holder includes first and second slots configured to receive and structurally support the first and second cartridges coupled to the first and second connectors, the first and second slots having different dimensions corresponding to respective dimensions of the first and second cartridges, such that the first slot is restricted from receiving the second cartridge and the second slot is restricted from receiving the first cartridge.

5. The base of claim 1, further comprising:

control circuitry configured to independently control electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first and second connectors, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, through the second connector, or through both the first and second connectors.

6. The base of claim 5, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to

establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector;

and

access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

7. The base of claim 6, wherein

the cartridge information includes,

information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information indicating a dispersion generator “

type”

of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge,

a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

a sub-combination thereof, or

a combination thereof.

8. The base of claim 1, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

9. An e-vaping device, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

a cartridge holder including first and second connectors electrically coupled to the power supply; and

first and second cartridges independently and removably coupled to the first and second connectors such that the first and second cartridges are removably electrically coupled to the power supply,

wherein the first and second connectors have different structures, such that

the first connector is complementary to a connector of the first cartridge,

the second connector is complementary to a connector of the second cartridge,

the first connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the second connector, such that the first connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the second cartridge, and

the second connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the first connector, such that the second connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the first cartridge.

10. The e-vaping device of claim 9, further comprising:

a divider coupled to the cartridge holder, the divider partitioning the first and second cartridges from each other, such that the first and second cartridges are configured to generate separate, respective first and second dispersions in isolation from each other.

11. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

12. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the cartridge holder includes first and second slots configured to receive and structurally support the first and second cartridges, the first and second slots having different dimensions corresponding to respective dimensions of the first and second cartridges, such that the first slot is restricted from receiving the second cartridge and the second slot is restricted from receiving the first cartridge.

13. The e-vaping device of claim 9, further comprising:

control circuitry configured to independently control electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first and second connectors, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, through the second connector, or through both the first and second connectors.

14. The e-vaping device of claim 13, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to

establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector;

and

access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

15. The e-vaping device of claim 14, wherein

the cartridge information includes,

information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information indicating a dispersion generator “

type”

of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge,

a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

a sub-combination thereof, or

a combination thereof.

16. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

17. A base, comprising:

a power supply configured to supply electrical power;

a cartridge holder configured to removably electrically couple first and second cartridges to the power supply, the cartridge holder including,

first and second connectors electrically coupled to the power supply, the first and second connectors being configured to independently and removably connect with the first and second cartridges, the first and second connectors having different structures, such that

the first connector is complementary to a connector of the first cartridge,

the second connector is complementary to a connector of the second cartridge,

the first connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the second connector, such that the first connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the second cartridge, and

the second connector is restricted from connecting with connectors that are complementary with the first connector, such that the second connector is restricted from connecting with the connector of the first cartridge; and

a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors.

18. The base of claim 17, further comprising:

a divider coupled to the cartridge holder, the divider being configured to partition the first and second connectors from each other, such that the first and second cartridges generate separate, respective first and second dispersions in isolation from each other.

19. The base of claim 17, wherein the first cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly and the second cartridge includes an atomizer assembly, the atomizer assembly being configured to generate an aerosol via applying mechanical force to a pre-aerosol formulation, the vaporizer assembly being configured to generate a vapor via heating a pre-vapor formulation.

20. The base of claim 17, wherein

the cartridge holder includes first and second slots configured to receive and structurally support the first and second cartridges coupled to the first and second connectors, the first and second slots having different dimensions corresponding to respective dimensions of the first and second cartridges, such that the first slot is restricted from receiving the second cartridge and the second slot is restricted from receiving the first cartridge.

21. The base of claim 17, further comprising:

control circuitry configured to independently control electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first and second connectors, based on cartridge information accessed through the first connector, through the second connector, or through both the first and second connectors.

22. The base of claim 21, wherein

the control circuitry is configured to

establish a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector;

and

access the cartridge information from the first storage device via the first communication link, the cartridge information being associated with the first cartridge.

23. The base of claim 22, wherein

the cartridge information includes,

information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information indicating a dispersion generator “

type”

of a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

information associated with a formulation held in the first cartridge,

a particular activation sequence associated with a dispersion generator included in the first cartridge,

a sub-combination thereof, or

a combination thereof.

24. The base of claim 17, wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.