Accessory for an aerosol delivery device and related method and computer program product

• US 9,806,549 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Liberti, Michael Andrew, Guenther, Jr., Quentin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung V
• Application Number:
  US14/046,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 320103, 320107, 320113, 320115, 131329
• 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; and

an interface configured to establish an electrical connection between the aerosol delivery device and the portable electronic device, the interface comprising;

a first connector positioned at the first cavity and configured to connect to the portable electronic device;

a second connector positioned at the second cavity configured to connect to the aerosol delivery device; and

a circuit extending between the first connector and the second connector,

the case being configured such that the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device are removable therefrom,

the interface being configured such that the first connector disconnects from the portable electronic device upon removal of the portable electronic device from the case and the second connector disconnects from the aerosol delivery device upon removal of the aerosol delivery device from the case.

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, wherein the interface is configured to cause the portable electronic device to charge the battery.

8. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to establish a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device.

9. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to allow for connection of an additional accessory device to the portable electronic device.

10. An accessory device operation method, comprising:

providing an accessory device comprising a case and an interface,

the case defining a first cavity and a second cavity,

the interface comprising;

a first connector positioned at the first cavity;

a second connector positioned at the second cavity; and

a circuit extending between the first connector and the second connector;

providing for insertion of a portable electronic device into the first cavity of the case and into engagement with the first connector;

providing for insertion of at least a portion of an aerosol delivery device comprising a battery into the second cavity of the case and into engagement with the second connector;

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

providing for removal of the portable electronic device from the first cavity and disconnection of the portable electronic device from the interface upon removal; and

providing for removal of the aerosol delivery device from the second cavity and disconnection of the aerosol delivery device from the interface upon removal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising charging the battery of the aerosol delivery device through the electrical connection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating an indicator of the aerosol delivery device while charging the battery.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising establishing a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device through the interface of the accessory device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transferring a plurality of usage data from the aerosol delivery device to the portable electronic device.

15. The method of claim 10, 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.

16. A computer program product comprising at least one tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein that, when being executed, command a computer, the computer-executable program code portions comprising:

program code instructions providing for charging a battery of an aerosol delivery device in an accessory device comprising an interface and a case through an electrical connection established by the interface between a portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device when the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device are inserted into the case, 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. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising program code instructions for activating an indicator of the aerosol delivery device while charging the battery.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising program code instructions for establishing a data connection between the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising program code instructions for transferring a plurality of usage data from the aerosol delivery device to the portable electronic device.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising program code instructions for indicating a remaining capacity of a cartridge of the aerosol delivery device.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising program code instructions for transferring a software update to the aerosol delivery device.

22. 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 of an accessory device when the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device are received in a case of the accessory device; and

charging the battery of the aerosol delivery device by transferring current from the portable electronic device through the 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.