# US 10,873,196 B2 · E-cigarette and re-charging pack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,196 B2 - Document ID: US10873196B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/717,513 - Filed: 2019-12-17 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-29 - Assignees: Nicoventures Holdings Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Holdings Limited - Inventors: Colin Gratton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873196B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/446: {Initial charging measures} - A24F 15/18: combined with other objects - A24F 40/00: Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/95: structurally associated with cases - B65D 25/10: Devices to locate articles in containers {(for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02)} - B65D 43/163: {the container and the lid being made separately (B65D43/161 takes precedence)} - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/46: Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - 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 H02J7/68)} - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 7/62: against overcurrent - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - H02J 7/92: with prioritisation of loads or sources - H02J 7/94: in response to battery current - H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage - H02J 7/977: {of the battery} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - H01M 10/4221: {with battery type recognition} - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - H02J 7/61: against overcharge - H02J 7/64: against overvoltage - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A rechargeable pack is provided for containing and recharging an e-cigarette. The pack includes a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the pack; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector. The second recharging mechanism can be configured to provide protection against the pack battery providing excessive current through the second connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a rechargeable pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette, the rechargeable pack comprising a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a tube for receiving an e-cigarette such that the e-cigarette can be contained within the rechargeable pack; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is received within the tube; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette using the pack battery when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector; the method comprising: detecting when a foreign object may be located in the tube; and responsive to the detecting, protecting against the pack battery providing current through the second connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises monitoring the current provided through the second connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting comprises determining if the current provided through the second connector exceeds a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises attempting and failing to find a signal associated with the presence of an e-cigarette in the tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is an optical signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is an electrical signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for normal use of the rechargeable pack, the tube has a substantially vertical orientation, and an e-cigarette received into the tube engages the second connector under the force of gravity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable pack comprises a lid and a switch for detecting opening and closing of the lid, the method further comprising: opening the lid to reset the rechargeable pack such that current may be provided across the second connector when the lid is next closed; and removing the foreign object. ### Claim 9 A rechargeable pack for containing and recharging an electronic vapor provision system, the rechargeable pack comprising: a pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a tube for receiving an electronic vapor provision system such that the electronic vapor provision system can be contained within the rechargeable pack; a second connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic vapor provision system when the electronic vapor provision system is received within the tube; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the electronic vapor provision system using the pack battery when the electronic vapor provision system is electrically connected to the second connector, wherein rechargeable pack is configured to detect when a foreign object may be located in the tube and, responsive to detecting the foreign object in the tube, to protect against the pack battery providing current through the second connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The rechargeable pack of claim 9, wherein the rechargeable pack is configured to detect the foreign object in the tube by monitoring the current provided through the second connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The rechargeable pack of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable pack is configured to detect the foreign object in the tube by determining if the current provided through the second connector exceeds a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The rechargeable pack of claim 9, wherein the rechargeable pack is configured to detect the foreign object in the tube by attempting and failing to find a signal associated with the presence of an electronic vapor provision system in the tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The rechargeable pack of claim 12, wherein the signal is an optical signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The rechargeable pack of claim 12, wherein the signal is an electrical signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The rechargeable pack of claim 9, wherein for normal use of the rechargeable pack, the tube has a substantially vertical orientation, and an electronic vapor provision system received into the tube engages the second connector under the force of gravity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The rechargeable pack of claim 9, wherein the rechargeable pack further comprises a lid and a switch for detecting opening and closing of the lid, and wherein opening the lid resets the rechargeable pack such that current may be provided across the second connector when the lid is next closed after the foreign object has been removed.