Search

EP-3941248-B1 - CHARGING CASE FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE

EP3941248B1EP 3941248 B1EP3941248 B1EP 3941248B1EP-3941248-B1

Inventors

  • CALI, Ricardo

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200319

Claims (13)

  1. A case (10, 300, 400, 500) for an aerosol-generating device (100), the case (10, 300, 400, 500) comprising: a case housing (12); a holder (14) for receiving an aerosol-generating device (100), wherein the holder (14) is arranged to move with respect to the case housing (12) between a closed position in which removal of an aerosol-generating device (100) from the holder (14) is prevented and a docking position in which an aerosol-generating device (100) may be removed from the holder (14); a case power supply (22) positioned within the case housing (12); a case electrical connector (26) arranged to supply power to an aerosol-generating device (100) when the aerosol-generating device (100) is received within the holder (14); a charging connector (28) for receiving power from an external power supply; a sensor (32) arranged to sense the position of the holder (14) and generate a signal indicative of the position of the holder (14); and a controller (24) arranged to receive the signal from the sensor (32); wherein the controller (24) is configured to supply power received by the charging connector (28) from an external power supply to the case power supply (22) when the signal is indicative of the holder (14) being in the closed position; and wherein the controller (24) is configured to supply power received by the charging connector (28) from an external power supply to the case electrical connector (26) when the signal is indicative of the holder (14) being in the docking position.
  2. A case (10, 300, 400, 500) according to claim 1, wherein the holder (14) is arranged to rotate through an angle of between 80 degrees and 110 degrees with respect to the case housing (12) when the holder (14) moves between the closed position and the docking position.
  3. A case (10, 300) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a hinge (20), wherein the holder (14) is rotatable about the hinge (20) with respect to the case housing (12).
  4. A case (10, 300) according to claim 3, wherein the holder (14) is connected to the case housing (12) by the hinge (20), and wherein the holder (14) is moveable about the hinge (20) between the docking and closed positions.
  5. A case (400, 500) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a linkage (402, 502) having a first end and a second end, wherein the linkage (402, 502) is movably connected to the case housing (12) at the first end of the linkage (402, 502), and wherein the holder (14) is pivotably connected to the second end of the linkage (402, 502).
  6. A case (400, 500) according to claim 5, wherein the first end of the linkage (402, 502) is slidably connected to the case housing (12).
  7. A case (400) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the holder (14) is connected to the second end of the linkage (402) by a hinge (420).
  8. A case (400) according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the linkage (402) comprises a shaft, the shaft comprising a first shaft portion (408) defining the first end of the linkage (402) and a second shaft portion (410) defining the second end of the linkage (402), and wherein the second shaft (410) portion is rotatably connected to the first shaft portion (408).
  9. A case (500) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the holder (14) is connected to the second end of the linkage (502) by at least one of a ball joint and a universal joint.
  10. A case (10, 300, 400, 500) according to any preceding claim, wherein the case electrical connector (26) is arranged to supply power from the case power supply (22) to an aerosol-generating device (100) when the aerosol-generating device (100) is received within the holder (14) and when the holder (14) is in each of the docking position and the closed position.
  11. A case (10, 300, 400, 500) according to any preceding claim, wherein the case electrical connector (26) is positioned on the holder (14) and wherein the case (10, 300, 400, 500) further comprises a flexible connector (30) providing an electrical connection between the case electrical connector (26) and the case power supply (22).
  12. A case (10, 300, 400, 500) according to any preceding claim, wherein the holder (14) is rotatable with respect to the case housing (12) into an open position between the closed position and the docking position.
  13. A charging system (200) comprising: a case (10, 300, 400, 500) according to any preceding claim; and a charging cradle (202) arranged to receive at least part of the case (10, 300, 400, 500), wherein the charging cradle (202) comprises: a charging cradle power supply connector (204) for receiving power from an external power supply; and a charging cradle electrical connector (206) arranged to supply power received by the charging cradle power supply connector (204) from an external power supply to the charging connector (28) of the case (10, 300, 400, 500) when at least part of the case (10, 300, 400, 500) is received within the charging cradle (202).

Description

The present invention relates to a case having a rotatable holder for receiving an aerosol-generating device. The present invention also relates to a charging system comprising the case and a docking station. Known electrically operated aerosol-generating systems generally comprise an aerosol-generating device having an atomiser and an electrical power supply for supplying power to the atomiser. The atomiser may be an electric heater. Known systems also generally comprise an aerosol-forming substrate which is received by the device and atomised by the atomiser to release volatile compounds in the aerosol-forming substrate which form an aerosol for inhalation by a user. Some known systems also comprise a case for receiving the aerosol-generating device when not in use. Cases in different systems are known to provide different functions, such as protecting the device when not in use and recharging the battery of the device. In some known aerosol-generating systems, the aerosol-generating device is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising a solid aerosol-forming substrate, such as a gathered, crimped sheet of tobacco. In these systems, the device typically comprises an atomiser in the form of an electric heater arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate and a power supply for supply power to the electric heater. To maintain the device at a desired size, typically the power supply in the aerosol-generating device has sufficient capacity for heating only a single aerosol-forming substrate. Therefore, in systems comprising a case, once the device has been used with a single aerosol-generating article the device must be inserted into the case and re-charged before use with a further article. As an alternative to re-charging the device using the case, some users choose to use a docking station that receives the device and provides power from an external power supply. Although the docking station may provide convenient access to the device when sitting at a desk, for example, the user must continue to use the case for re-charging the device when away from the docking station. Therefore, in known aerosol-generating systems, the use of a docking station in addition to the case presents the user with additional cost and may also require the user to carry both the case and the docking station when the user wishes to use the docking station in a number of different locations. WO 2018/217030 A discloses a charging system for an aerosol generating device. A charge storage unit is rotatably installed in a case to receive an aerosol generating device in a detachable manner. The charge storage unit may be located at a first position where the cartridge opening of the aerosol generating device is received so as to be shielded from the outside by an external power supply apparatus. The case is rotatable about a hinge to a second position where the opening is received so as to be exposed to the outside from the external power supply apparatus. A first charging terminal provided in the charge storage unit is connected to the first charging terminal in the aerosol generating device in a state where the aerosol generating device is accommodated in the charge storage unit. Electrical power charged in an auxiliary power storage device can be supplied to the aerosol generation device under the control of an auxiliary power supply apparatus. The auxiliary power supply apparatus controls the auxiliary power storage device to be charged through a typical external power source built in a case such as an external power port. The charge storage unit includes a separate switching member capable of pressing the third button unit provided in the auxiliary power supply unit of the external power supply apparatus. When the charge storage unit is rotated from the first position to the second position, the switching member presses the third button portion. When the switching member presses the third button portion, the auxiliary power supply apparatus supplies the electric power of the auxiliary power storage device to the aerosol generating device through the first charging terminal of the charge storage unit so that the aerosol generating device can be preheated. It would be desirable to overcome or mitigate at least some of these disadvantages with known aerosol-generating systems and docking stations. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a case for an aerosol-generating device, the case comprising a case housing and a holder for receiving an aerosol-generating device. The holder is arranged to move with respect to the case housing between a closed position in which removal of an aerosol-generating device from the holder is prevented and a docking position in which an aerosol-generating device may be removed from the holder. The case also comprises a case power supply positioned within the case housing and a case electrical connector arranged to supply power to an aerosol-generating de