Method, system and device for switchless detection and charging
A system, a method, and a device for detecting and charging electronic articles, and more particularly for charging batteries in electronic cigarettes.
1. A charging holder configured to charge a rechargeable battery of an electronic article, the charging holder comprising:
a spring-loaded pin contact configured to provide a first polarity of a charge signal, the spring-loaded pin contact comprising: i) a pin configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a spring coupled to the pin, the spring configured to hold the pin against the rechargeable battery; and
an edge contact configured to provide a second polarity of the charge signal, the edge contact comprising: i) a first surface configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a second surface coupled to the first surface, the second surface comprising a hole, wherein the pin is configured to project through the hole.
2. The charging holder of claim 1 , wherein the electronic article is an electronic smoking article.
3. The charging holder of claim 1 , wherein the edge contact comprises a compliant conductive material.
4. The charging holder of claim 3 , wherein the compliant conductive material is conductively plated spring steel.
5. The charging holder of claim 1 , wherein the edge contact is configured to flex when the rechargeable battery is in contact with the first or second surfaces.
6. The charging holder of claim 1 , wherein the edge contact is configured to self-clean.
7. The charging holder of claim 6 , wherein the first surface is configured to scrape debris off the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed in the charging holder.
8. The charging holder of claim 1 , further comprising a slot configured to hold the rechargeable battery, wherein the spring-loaded pin contact and the edge contact are located in the slot.
9. The charging holder of claim 1 , further comprising a slot for at least a portion of an electronic smoking article.
10. The charging holder of claim 1 , wherein the charging holder is one of a docking station, a charging station, or a charging pack for an electronic smoking article.