Patent Description:
An electronic smoking device, e.g. designed as an electronic cigarette, generally comprises an elongate housing accommodating an electric power source (a battery, which often is rechargeable), an electrically activatable atomizer adapted to atomize a liquid supplied from a capsule mounted at the electronic cigarette, and control electronics, e.g. a switch (in the form of a button or a sensor which senses a user's puff) and related circuitry. Actuation of the switch (e.g. by pressing the button or upon detection of a user's puff at a mouthpiece) causes a heater in the atomizer to be powered for a certain time. Here and in the following, the action of the atomizer is referred to "atomizing" and the related product is referred to as an "aerosol", irrespective of its composition, which might include gaseous and smoke constituents.

<CIT> discloses an electronic cigarette and a capsule containing a liquid to be atomized (or evaporated) by an atomizer. The capsule comprises a shell which is sealed at one end by a puncturable membrane. To mount the capsule to the electronic cigarette, the capsule is inserted into a soft sleeve mouth piece and attached to the end of a tube accommodating the atomizer. When mounting, a spike provided at the end of a metal wick pierces the membrane, and the liquid of the capsule is guided by the wick to the atomizer. When the atomizer is activated, an aerosol is generated and the aerosol passes through some ducts provided at the exterior surface of the capsule to reach an end opening where it can be sucked by the consumer via the mouthpiece.

<CIT> describes a power supply section for an electronic cigarette. This section comprises an elongate housing sleeve, which accommodates a rechargeable battery, a puff sensor for detecting an aerosol inhaling puff of a user, and control electronics connected to the puff sensor and adapted to control the heater of an atomizer. At an end of the housing sleeve a connector provides mechanical support for a portion of the electronic cigarette, which comprises the atomizer and holds a capsule containing a liquid to be atomized. The connector includes electrical connections for the atomizer.

Generally, it can be difficult to assemble components of an electronic smoking device, like a battery, a puff sensor and/or control electronics, in an elongate housing sleeve (e.g. as known from <CIT>), because such a sleeve permits access via a relatively small aperture at the end of the electronic cigarette. The assemblage can therefore be time consuming and potentially involves some risk of damage to the components.

<CIT> discloses an electronic cigarette with a housing sleeve to linearly accommodate cigarette components.

<CIT> discloses a smoking device comprising a first device with an accumulator, a heating device, a first air inlet as well as a first air outlet and a second device with an agent, a second air inlet as well as a second air outlet, wherein an interface for connecting said first device and second device is provided so that said first air outlet is connected to said second air inlet.

<CIT> discloses an elongate aerosol-generating device having at least a portion of its transverse external cross-section defined by a shape having at least five sides, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the device confers stability against rolling.

<CIT> discloses an electronic cigarette comprising a bracket mounted in an outer sleeve in a disassemblable manner, wherein a battery and a control module are mounted on the bracket.

<CIT> discloses a electronic cigarette in which the battery and the atomizer elements are arranged on an insert within a housing sleeve.

The object of the invention is to provide an electronic smoking device, which can be manufactured in a more cost-effective and more reliable way, as well as a related process of manufacturing an electronic smoking device.

This object is achieved by an electronic smoking device having the features of claim <NUM>. Claim <NUM> is directed to a process of manufacturing such an electronic smoking device. Advantageous embodiments of the invention follow from the dependant claims.

Provided is an electronic smoking device, comprising an elongate housing sleeve having a first end and a second end, an atomizer section provided in addition to the housing sleeve such that an electrically activatable atomizer including an electric heater and a reservoir containing a liquid are arranged in the atomizer section and are not accommodated in the housing sleeve. The housing sleeve contains an elongate insert that is configured to fit into the housing sleeve via an aperture in one of the ends of the housing sleeve. The following components are mounted on the insert: a rechargeable battery as an electric power source adapted to power the electrically activatable atomizer, a puff detector adapted to detect a user requesting the generation of an aerosol, and control electronics connected to the puff detector and adapted to control the heater of the atomizer, wherein the puff detector is adapted to detect a user requesting the generation of an aerosol, and a connector, which is mounted at a second end of the insert which is located in the area of the second end of the housing sleeve when the insert is fitted into the device, wherein the connector is adapted to provide a connection to the atomizer section of the electronic smoking device, which comprises the atomizer and the reservoir, wherein the connector is adapted to provide a mechanical connection to the atomizer section of the electronic smoking device and includes electrical connections for the atomizer in the atomizer section.

The electronic smoking device comprises an elongate housing sleeve having a first end and a second end. The housing sleeve accommodates at least part of the following components: a battery, a puff detector, and control electronics. The battery is preferably a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery, and serves as an electric power source for powering an electrically activatable atomizer. The puff detector is adapted to detect or indicate a user's desire for the creation of an aerosol for inhalation. Typically, this is achieved by the puff detector detecting a user taking a drag on the electronic smoking device. The control electronics are connected to the puff detector and are adapted to activate an electric heater included in the atomizer when a user indicates a desire for the generation of a puff of aerosol.

The atomizer is adapted to atomize a liquid supplied from a reservoir to generate an aerosol which can be inhaled by a user via the mouthpiece. Generally, when the puff detector detects that the user of the electronic smoking device is sucking on the device, the heater of the atomizer is operated, as long as the puff detector detects that the user is sucking on the device or for a predetermined time.

In the above context, "at least part" means that at least part of one of the listed components (battery, puff detector, control electronics) is accommodated in the housing sleeve, e.g. the battery and/or part of the control electronics (or the complete control electronics) and/or the puff detector. Additional components not listed may be contained in the housing sleeve as well. Parts not accommodated in the housing sleeve, including parts like the atomizer or the reservoir containing the liquid, may be arranged in a different portion or section of the electronic smoking device, i.e. a portion not comprising the housing sleeve.

The electronic smoking device comprises an elongate insert permitting lateral access and fitting into the housing sleeve via one of the ends of the housing sleeve. At least part of the following components may be mounted on the insert: the battery, the puff detector, the control electronics, the atomizer. The insert comprises a first end, which is located at the first end of the housing sleeve when the insert is fitted into the housing sleeve and a second end, which is located at the second end of the housing sleeve when the insert is fitted into the housing sleeve. Again, "at least part" means that at least part of one of the listed components (battery, puff detector, control electronics, atomizer) is mounted on the insert, e.g. the battery and/or part of the control electronics (or the complete control electronics) and/or the puff detector. The atomizer (or part thereof) may be arranged on the insert as well. But the atomizer can also be included in a different portion of the electronic smoking device, as described above.

Generally, the elongate insert is a component designed to aid the assemblage of the electronic smoking device. It provides a platform onto which internal parts or components can be mounted prior to insertion into the housing sleeve. The insert may include means (e.g., protrusions and/or depressions) that separate and immobilise the components to prevent internal migration and potential damage in typical use as well as noises when the device is shaken. Thus, the components mounted on the elongate insert can be fixed in a reliable manner. In this way, the stability of the electronic smoking device is generally improved.

Moreover, the elongate insert assists in correct internal positioning and alignment of the respective components. For example, LEDs (not yet mentioned above) may be mounted on the insert in a precise position so that they are correctly located when the electronic smoking device has been assembled, e.g. directly under light windows provided in the housing sleeve or, e.g., an end cap attached to the housing sleeve.

The elongate insert facilitates the manufacturing of the electronic smoking device because the elongate insert including the components mounted thereon can be easily inserted into the confined internal cavity provided by the housing sleeve via a small aperture provided at the end of the housing sleeve.

Moreover, after components have been mounted on the elongate insert and before the insert is inserted into the housing sleeve, these components can be conveniently tested, if desired. In case a component fails the test, it can be replaced without problems and in a cost-effective manner. For example, the electronic components can be submitted to a final test after they have been assembled, positioned, connected and soldered together. Thus, failure rates can be largely reduced by identifying and fixing problems before the elongate insert is more or less irreversibly placed in the housing sleeve.

It is also conceivable that a major portion of the components of the electronic smoking device (e.g. including all or most of the electrical components) is assembled and/or tested on the elongate insert at one factory site, while the final assemblage of the electronic smoking device takes place at a different factory site.

Generally, when an electronic smoking device is manufactured according to the invention, an elongate housing sleeve having a first end and a second end and an elongate insert are provided. As long as the insert has not yet been placed into the housing sleeve, the insert permits access from a lateral side, so that at least part of components like a battery, a puff detector, control electronics and/or an atomizer (see above, also concerning the meaning of "at least part") can be mounted on the insert, via the lateral side of the insert. Afterwards, the insert including the components mounted thereon is fitted into the housing sleeve via one of the ends of the housing sleeve.

As explained above, a complete electronic smoking device as an electronic cigarette may include portions or sections in addition to the housing sleeve and the components contained therein. However, per definition the term "electronic smoking device" is also used for a device just including the housing sleeve and the components contained therein, because that device is related to electronic smoking and might be marketed separately.

In advantageous embodiments, the insert is designed, over at least <NUM>% of its length measured in a longitudinal direction of the housing sleeve, as a partial shell adapted to an internal curvature of the housing sleeve. In a cross section of the housing sleeve, a partial shell extends over significantly less than <NUM>°, e.g. over about <NUM>° (half shell) or even less, which permits an easy lateral access to the elongate insert during assemblage of the components (before the insert is fitted into the housing sleeve) and which utilizes the space available for the components in an efficient manner.

Generally, the dimensions of the insert are dictated by the size of the housing sleeve. Given that tolerances are tight, it might be advantageous if the insert is as open as possible since that reduces the amount of space lost for functional equipment. That is to say, the design of the insert may be such that the minimum amount of space is lost because of having to accommodate the insert itself.

The under surface of the insert may be flat so that it can rest on a surface as the components are assembled and put into place on the insert, which facilitates the manufacture of the device since, for example, it would stop the battery from rolling about.

As already mentioned above, the insert can comprise protrusions (and/or depressions) adapted to immobilise the components mounted on the insert. Moreover, the insert may comprise at least one compartment wall. A compartment wall or ridge may assist, e.g., in shielding LED light so that the light is just visible at a desired location, e.g. a window, and/or in stabilising light guides. Protrusions and/or compartment walls may also abut to the inner side of the housing sleeve after assemblage of the electronic smoking device, thus fixating the insert inside the housing sleeve against lateral movements.

The insert allows for much flexibility of the design. For example, a charging port can be mounted at one end of the insert, by definition at the first end of the insert, which is located at (i.e. in the area of) the first end of the housing sleeve when the insert is inside the housing sleeve. The charging port can be designed as, e.g. a micro USB port which would also allow for data transmission to the control electronics in case such function is supported. The charging port can be integrated in an end cap or end plate, which is attached to the insert and closes or even seals the first end of the housing sleeve in the fully assembled state of the device. Such end cap or end plate may further house a reset switch, e.g. to be used for transferring the control electronics into a well defined initial state.

According to the invention, the battery, the puff detector, and the control electronics are mounted on the insert, and a connector is mounted at a second end of the insert, which is located at (i.e. in the area of) the second end of the housing sleeve when the insert is inside the housing sleeve. The connector is adapted to provide a mechanical connection to another portion or section of the electronic smoking device, which comprises the atomizer. Moreover, the connector includes electrical connections for the atomizer. In this design, the housing sleeve houses most electrical components including the battery, which may be relatively large. Another portion of the device, which comprises the atomizer and which may support a liquid-containing capsule serving as a reservoir, is safely held by the connector, which also provides for the electrical connections to a heater of the atomizer. In this way, a modular set-up of the electronic smoking device is achieved, which generally facilitates the assemblage and is useful to the consumer in terms of spare parts. Another advantage is the possibility to provide, in a system, two sections with a housing sleeve and a battery so that one battery can be charged while the other one is in use.

The insert can also be utilised to mount or even integrate in the insert other components in addition to the basic components considered above.

For example, the insert can comprise at least one light guiding device. Such a light guiding device may comprise a light conductor, for example a light conductor directing light emitted from an LED placed on electronic circuitry to a window at the housing sleeve. Another example for a light guiding device is a light shielding wall or a pair of light shielding walls, which prevents light (emitted, e.g., by an LED placed on electronic circuitry) from illuminating any windows at the housing sleeve except for a certain window. This ensures a precise functional relation between light sources and exit windows for the light produced by the light sources. Such light guiding devices may also support the fixation between the elongate insert and the inner face of the housing sleeve.

Moreover, at least one electrical lead adapted to connect components mounted on the insert may be incorporated in the insert. In this way, loose wire connections can be avoided which could impede assemblage and could result in ill-defined gas flow passages. Generally, "printing" the electrical connections required for the control electronics, the battery and other electrical circuits directly onto the elongate insert will conserve space and remove the need for loose wires.

The puff detector can comprise a manually actuatable switch. Such switch can be pressed by the user as long as the user takes a puff in order to indicate that to the control electronics. Alternatively, upon pressing the switch, an initial signal is created which causes the control electronics to operate the heater of the atomizer for a pre-determined period.

In other designs, the puff detector comprises an inhale sensor, which detects air flow or aerosol flow or a pressure drop inside the electronic smoking device, which is indicative for an aerosol inhaling puff, and causes the control electronics to power the heater of the atomizer. Again, the heater can be operated for a predetermined period or as long as the puff is sensed or detected. In the case of an inhale sensor, precise pressure conditions and/or flow resistances inside the housing sleeve may be important. The insert can assist in providing such conditions. For example, the insert may comprise a seal within the housing sleeve in order to separate different compartments from each other. Or the insert can be adapted to define a flow resistance within the housing sleeve, e.g. by defining an air flow passageway or by improving the homogeneity of air flow across components mounted on the insert in a well-defined manner.

In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the elongate insert irreversibly locks in the elongate housing sleeve when it is fitted into the housing sleeve. This can be accomplished, e.g., by means of a resilient claw engaging in a depression, and protects the electronic smoking device against unauthorised access. A similar effect can be achieved if the insert is glued to the housing sleeve.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of an embodiment. The drawings show in.

In the embodiment, an electronic smoking device comprises an elongate housing sleeve which surrounds a major portion of the components of the electronic smoking device. This housing sleeve accommodates an elongate insert on which the components included in the housing sleeve are mounted.

<FIG> shows a three-dimensional perspective view of the elongate insert of the embodiment, which is designated by reference numeral <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view and <FIG> is a top view of the insert <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the insert <NUM> is designed as an elongate partial or open shell <NUM> having a first end <NUM>. At the first end <NUM>, an end wall <NUM> rises from the shell <NUM>. Going away from the end wall <NUM>, the shell <NUM> provides a minor electronics area <NUM>, a battery area <NUM>, and a major electronics area <NUM>. The major electronics area <NUM> comprises a plurality of walls <NUM> extending perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell <NUM>, which are grouped as pairs with a gap between both walls of each pair, see <FIG>. These gaps each define a longitudinally extending slot <NUM>. The next section of the shell <NUM> is formed by a sensor area <NUM>, followed by a support ring <NUM>. Finally, a connector area <NUM> is shaped at the second end of shell <NUM> designated by reference numeral <NUM>.

The insert <NUM> includes a plurality of protrusions (and, consequently, depressions between the protrusions) which serve to immobilize or fix the components mounted on the insert <NUM>. The walls <NUM> and the slot <NUM> are part of these protrusions and depressions, respectively. <FIG> shows additional protrusions, which are generally designated by reference numeral <NUM>.

The insert <NUM> permits an easy lateral access because its shell <NUM> is open. That means, components of the electronic smoking device can be easily mounted and fixed on the insert <NUM>, i.e. by gluing, clamping or simply by placing in between associated protrusions.

<FIG> shows the state after all the components to be mounted on the insert <NUM> have been placed in position. A battery <NUM> in the battery area <NUM> can be charged by means of a charging port <NUM> at the end wall <NUM> and related electronics in the minor electronics area <NUM>. At the end wall <NUM>, there is further provided a reset switch, which can be pressed by a user in order to achieve an initial state of the electronic smoking device. An electronic circuit board <NUM> which includes most of the control electronics of the electronic smoking device is held by the slot <NUM> formed between the walls <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> includes a total of six light-emitting diodes (LEDs), i.e. three on each side of the circuit board <NUM>. The walls <NUM> form compartments, one for each LED <NUM>, so that light emitted by a given LED cannot enter a compartment of a different LED.

Another component is a puff detector <NUM>, which in this embodiment is an inhale sensor and is held in the sensor area <NUM> of shell <NUM>. Finally, a female axial connector <NUM> in mounted in the connector area <NUM>. A protrusion <NUM> fitting into a gap provided in the support ring <NUM> prevents the connector <NUM> from being rotated about the longitudinal axis of the device.

After the components have been mounted and fixed on the insert <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, they can be connected, if required. For example, a wire can lead from the pole of the battery <NUM> located on the side of the charging port <NUM> to the other side of the battery <NUM> in order to be connected to the circuit board <NUM>, and another wire connects the charging port <NUM> with the pole of the battery <NUM> located at the circuit board <NUM>. It is conceivable that such wires are integrated in the insert <NUM> or that channels for accommodating such wires are provided in the insert <NUM>.

After the components have been assembled, as shown in <FIG>, and connected, i.e. by soldering, the set-up can be easily tested. In this state, it is easy and inexpensive to replace faulty components.

In the embodiment, the insert <NUM> is manufactured by injection-moulding in one piece and is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Any other suitable plastics material, e.g. poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC), may be used as well.

It is also conceivable that the insert is composed of more than one piece. If the insert comprises light conductors, the light conductors may be formed, e.g., in one piece made of PMMA or PC, which is fixed to a main part of the insert made of, e.g., ABS.

In the next step of the assemblage of the electronic smoking device, the insert <NUM> including the components mounted thereon, as shown in <FIG>, is fitted into an elongate housing sleeve <NUM>, see <FIG>. The housing sleeve <NUM> forms the major part of the housing of the electronic smoking device and is designed as a hollow shell having a first end <NUM> and second end <NUM>. In the embodiment, the housing sleeve <NUM> is open both at its first end <NUM> and at its second end <NUM> so that the insert <NUM> can be moved into the housing sleeve <NUM> either via the first end <NUM> or via the second end <NUM>. In advantageous embodiments, the insert <NUM> irreversibly locks inside the housing sleeve <NUM>, i.e. by means of protrusions or claws emerging from one of the parts engaging in related depressions provided at the other part. In this case, only one of the ends of the housing sleeve <NUM> might be suitable for introducing the insert <NUM>.

By being of a shape which extends across the extent of the aperture of the housing sleeve <NUM> into which the insert <NUM> is inserted, the end wall <NUM> causes the insert <NUM> to be aligned with the cavity defined by the housing sleeve <NUM>. This then orientates the insert <NUM> so that it can be slid into place. The end wall <NUM> therefore protects the electronics components mounted on the insert <NUM> from being struck as the insert <NUM> is slid into place. The support ring <NUM> potentially has a similar effect.

Inside the housing sleeve <NUM>, the insert <NUM> is stabilised against lateral movement by the end wall <NUM> and the support ring <NUM>, both fitting to the internal wall shape of the housing sleeve <NUM>.

<FIG> shows three windows <NUM> on one side of the housing sleeve <NUM>. Another three windows are provided on the remote side. Each window <NUM> is associated with one of the LEDs <NUM>. Because of the precise alignment of the insert <NUM> including the LEDs <NUM> and the housing sleeve <NUM>, it is ensured that the light emitted from a certain LED <NUM> is shielded by the related walls <NUM> so that it can only penetrate one of the windows <NUM>.

In the embodiment, the shape of the end wall <NUM> is that of a rounded triangle. It matches to the cross-sectional shape of the housing sleeve <NUM>. This ensures that a particular orientation of the insert <NUM> is forced when it is inserted into the housing sleeve <NUM> and that the electronics components are aligned in a particular way, e.g. vis a vis the windows <NUM> or vis a vis any air ducts, etc..

<FIG> illustrates the complete electronic smoking device, designated by reference numeral <NUM>, according to the embodiment. In addition to the housing sleeve <NUM>, the electronic smoking device <NUM> comprises a mouth-ended portion <NUM>. The mouth-ended portion <NUM> includes a housing cap <NUM> provided with an inhalation hole at its free end (not visible in <FIG>) and accommodating an atomizer and a reservoir filled with a liquid to be atomised.

<FIG> displays all internal components of the electronic smoking device <NUM> in the absence of the housing sleeve <NUM> and the housing cap <NUM> for illustration purposes. Most of <FIG> is identical to <FIG>. Additionally, <FIG> shows the atomizer (designated by <NUM>) and the reservoir (designated by <NUM>). The atomizer <NUM> is mounted on the connector <NUM> by means of a male axial connector (not shown in the Figures). This connection provides for a mechanical connection between both portions of the electronic smoking device <NUM>, i.e. the portion defined by housing sleeve <NUM> and the mouth-ended portion <NUM>. Moreover, it connects an electrical heating wire included in the atomizer <NUM> to the battery <NUM> and the control electronics provided on the circuit board <NUM>.

In the embodiment, the material of the housing sleeve <NUM> is also ABS so that the material properties of the insert <NUM> and the housing sleeve <NUM> match to each other.

In the following, it is summarised how the electronic smoking device <NUM> according to the embodiment works.

The housing cap <NUM> can be removed from the housing sleeve <NUM> in order to get access to the reservoir <NUM>. In the embodiment, the reservoir <NUM> is designed as a capsule closed on one end by an aluminium film. This aluminium film is pierced by a spike extending from the atomizer <NUM>, when the reservoir <NUM> is mounted on the atomizer <NUM>. Thereafter, the housing cap <NUM> can be placed on the housing sleeve <NUM> again. When the user sucks on the housing cap <NUM>, a vacuum inside the housing sleeve <NUM> is created, which is sensed by the inhaling sensor <NUM> that transmits a corresponding signal to the control electronics on the circuit board <NUM>. If a puff is detected, the electric heater in the atomizer <NUM> is switched on. The liquid from the reservoir <NUM> is fed by a kind of metallic wick to the area of the heater so that it can be atomised, forming an aerosol. The aerosol leaves the atomizer area and is inhaled through the inhalation hole. The inhaling sensor <NUM> senses when the user stops sucking on the housing cap <NUM>. In response thereto, the heater is switched off.

The battery <NUM>, in the embodiment a rechargeable lithium ion battery, can be charged via charging port <NUM>. The status of the electronic smoking device <NUM> (e.g., charging, standby, sucking, error) is indicated by the LEDs <NUM>.

In summary, provided is an electronic smoking device, comprising an elongate housing sleeve having a first end and a second end and accommodating the following components: a battery as an electric power source adapted to power an electrically activatable atomizer including an electric heater, a puff detector adapted to detect a user requesting the generation of an aerosol, and control electronics connected to the puff detector (<NUM>) and adapted to control the heater of the atomizer. The electronic smoking device further comprises an elongate insert that permits fitting into the housing sleeve via one of the ends of the housing sleeve, wherein the following components are mounted on the insert: the battery, the puff detector, the control electronics, and a charging port for charging the battery, wherein the charging port is mounted at a first end of the insert.

The insert may be designed, over at least <NUM>% of its length measured in a longitudinal direction of the housing sleeve, as a partial shell adapted to an internal curvature of the housing sleeve.

The insert may comprise protrusions and/or depressions adapted to immobilise the components mounted on the insert.

The insert may comprises at least one compartment wall.

A connector may be mounted at a second end of the insert. The connector may be adapted to provide a connection to another portion of the electronic smoking device, which comprises an atomizer, and wherein the connector may further include electrical connections for the atomizer.

The insert may be designed as an elongate partial or open shell which provides a minor electronics area, a battery area, and a major electronics area.

At least one electrical lead may be adapted to connect components mounted on the insert is incorporated in the insert.

The insert may comprises a seal within the housing sleeve.

Preferably , the insert is adapted to define a flow resistance within the housing sleeve.

The puff detector may comprise an inhaling sensor. The inhaling sensor may be adapted to detect a pressure drop inside the electronic smoking device.

The electronic smoking device may comprise an electronic circuit board.

The elongate insert may permit lateral access. The elongate insert may be manufactured in one piece.

The first end of the insert may be located at the first end of the housing sleeve when the insert is fitted into the housing sleeve.

Claim 1:
Electronic smoking device, comprising:
an elongate housing sleeve (<NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), and
an atomizer section (<NUM>) provided in addition to the housing sleeve (<NUM>) such that an electrically activatable atomizer (<NUM>) including an electric heater and a reservoir (<NUM>) containing a liquid are arranged in the atomizer section (<NUM>) and are not accommodated in the housing sleeve (<NUM>),
wherein the housing sleeve (<NUM>) contains an elongate insert (<NUM>) that is configured to fit into the housing sleeve (<NUM>) via an aperture in one of the ends (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the housing sleeve (<NUM>), wherein the following components are mounted on the insert (<NUM>):
- a rechargeable battery (<NUM>) as an electric power source adapted to power the electrically activatable atomizer (<NUM>),
- a puff detector (<NUM>) adapted to detect a user requesting the generation of an
- aerosol,
- control electronics (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the puff detector (<NUM>) and adapted to control the heater of the atomizer (<NUM>), wherein the puff detector (<NUM>) is adapted to detect a user requesting the generation of an aerosol, and
- a connector (<NUM>), which is mounted at a second end (<NUM>) of the insert (<NUM>) which is located in the area of the second end (<NUM>) of the housing sleeve (<NUM>) when the insert is fitted into the device, wherein the connector (<NUM>) is adapted to provide a connection to the atomizer section (<NUM>) of the electronic smoking device (<NUM>), which comprises the atomizer (<NUM>) and the reservoir (<NUM>), wherein the connector (<NUM>) is adapted to provide a mechanical connection to the atomizer section (<NUM>) of the electronic smoking device (<NUM>) and includes electrical connections for the atomizer (<NUM>) in the atomizer section (<NUM>).