Patent ID: 9032968
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: A24F

Abstract:
1. A tip charging electronic cigarette system, the system comprising: a cigarette body, the cigarette body including a shell and a mouthpiece, each of the shell and the mouthpiece having a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion of the shell terminating in a tip, the forward portion of the mouthpiece removably coupled to the rearward portion of the shell; the cigarette body further including a battery, a charging circuit operatively coupled to the battery, and a cartomizer operatively coupled to a switch assembly, wherein the battery is carried by the shell, and the cartomizer is carried by the mouthpiece so as to be separable from the shell and the battery upon removing the mouthpiece from the shell; a center charging contact carried by an insert and disposed at the tip, wherein the insert radially surrounds the center charging contact; an annular charging contact disposed adjacent the tip and defining an outer annular periphery of the tip, the annular charging contact radially surrounding and carrying the insert and being separated from the center charging contact by the insert, the insert being electrically non-conductive, such that the center charging contact and the annular charging contact are electrically insulated from one another; the center charging contact and the annular charging contact operatively coupled to the charging circuit; a light disposed behind the insert, the light being operatively coupled to the charging circuit, and the insert being one of transparent or translucent to permit the light to be visible through the insert when activated; and a charger assembly arranged for connection to a power source, the charger assembly having a cavity arranged to receive the forward portion of the shell, the charger assembly further including first and second electrical contacts disposed within the cavity, the first electrical contact arranged to make electrical connection with the center charging contact and the second electrical contact arranged to make electrical connection with the annular charging contact to permit charging of the battery when the tip is disposed in the cavity of the charger assembly, wherein the insert holds the center charging contact and the annular charging contact in a fixed position at the tip relative to the shell; and wherein the forward portion of the shell includes an annular groove, wherein the annular groove is formed in the annular charging contact, and wherein the charger assembly includes a detent arranged to engage the annular groove when the tip is disposed in the cavity of the charger assembly.