Electronic smoking article

Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a liquid aerosol formulation, a heater operable to at least partially volatilize at least a portion of the liquid aerosol formulation and form an aerosol, a power supply operable to apply voltage across the heater, at least one light emitting diode, a charging button assembly including a conductive post operable to form a first external, electrical contact at an upstream end of the electronic smoking article, and a second external, electrical contact including a portion of an outer surface of the outer housing at the upstream end of the electronic smoking article. The first and second external, electrical contacts charge the power supply.

1 . An electronic vaping article comprising:
 an outer housing configured to hold a liquid formulation;   a heater in fluidic communication with the liquid formulation;   a power supply configured to apply a voltage across the heater;   a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact electrically connected to the power supply, the power supply configured to be charged via the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; and   a sensor and feedback assembly including a connection board, a plurality of pins extending through the connection board, and a connection spring configured to bias the first electrical contact away from the power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pins include a first pin and a second pin, the first pin and the second pin electrically connected to the power supply. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the connection spring is electrically connected to the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a puff sensor on the connection board electrically connected to the plurality of pins.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 4 , wherein the connection board is between the power supply and the puff sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact is in a form of a conductive post. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrical contact is in a form of a conductive band. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact is at a center of an end face of the outer housing, and the second electrical contact is on a side wall of the outer housing. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light emitting diode configured to illuminate when the first electrical contact is pushed inward relative to the power supply.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the connection spring is configured to bias the first electrical contact away from the power supply. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a button switch, a capacitor, and an integrated circuit on the connection board.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mouth-end insert at a downstream end of the outer housing, the mouth-end insert defining diverging outlets.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are at an upstream end of the outer housing. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 13 , wherein the first electrical contact is farther from a downstream end than the second electrical contact. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic vaping article of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery.