Cartridge and control body of an aerosol delivery device including anti-rotation mechanism and related method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices including a cartridge and a control body. The control body may include a coupler and the cartridge may include a base. The base may be configured to releasably engage the cartridge. Further the base and the coupler may include anti-rotation mechanisms configured to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the base when engaged with one another. The anti-rotation mechanisms may include alternating protrusions and recesses in some embodiments. Related methods are also provided.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a control body comprising:
 a control component; 
 an electrical power source; 
 a coupler having a body end oriented toward the control component and the electrical power source and having a connector end; and 
 a plurality of electrical contacts positioned in the coupler between the body end and the connector end so as to be facing inwardly toward a central axis of the coupler; and 
   a cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition; 
 an atomizer configured to atomize the aerosol precursor composition; 
 a base configured to engage the coupler of the control body. 
   
     
     
         23 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein the atomizer comprises a heater and a liquid transport element. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 23 , comprising a plurality of electrical terminals electrically connected to the heater. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of electrical terminals have ends exposed on the base. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein the ends of the electrical terminals are positioned on the base to establish an electrical connection with the plurality of electrical contacts in the coupler when the base is engaged with the coupler. 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein the base and the coupler are configured so that the cartridge does not rotate relative to the control body when the base is engaged with the coupler. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein one or both of the base and the coupler comprise an anti-rotation mechanism. 
     
     
         29 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein an outer surface of the base is configured with an anti-rotation mechanism and an inner surface of the coupler is configured with an anti-rotation mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein the base and the coupler are keyed to join in one or more of a limited number of orientations. 
     
     
         31 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 22 , wherein the base comprises one or more recesses configured to receive one or more protrusions on the coupler. 
     
     
         32 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 31 , wherein the recesses and the protrusions are effective to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body when the base is engaged with the coupler. 
     
     
         33 . A control body for an aerosol delivery device, the control body comprising:
 a control component;   an electrical power source;   a coupler having a body end oriented toward the control component and the electrical power source and having a connector end; and   a plurality of electrical contacts positioned in the coupler between the body end and the connector end so as to be facing inwardly toward a central axis of the coupler.   
     
     
         34 . The control body of  claim 33 , wherein the coupler comprises an anti-rotation mechanism. 
     
     
         35 . The control body of  claim 34 , wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is configured on an inner surface of the coupler. 
     
     
         36 . The control body of  claim 33 , wherein the coupler is keyed to join with a base of a cartridge in one or more of a limited number of orientations. 
     
     
         37 . The control body of  claim 33 , wherein the coupler comprises one or more protrusions configured to engage one or more recesses on a base of a cartridge and thus prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body when the coupler is engaged with the base. 
     
     
         38 . A cartridge of an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition;   a base configured to engage a coupler of a control body; and   an atomizer coupled to the base, the atomizer configured to atomize the aerosol precursor composition.   
     
     
         39 . The cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein the atomizer comprises a heater and a liquid transport element. 
     
     
         40 . The cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein the base comprises an anti-rotation mechanism. 
     
     
         41 . The cartridge of  claim 40 , wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is configured on an outer surface of the base. 
     
     
         42 . The cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein the base is keyed to join with the coupler of the control body in one or more of a limited number of orientations. 
     
     
         43 . The cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein the base comprises one or more recesses configured to receive one or more protrusions on the coupler and thus prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body when the coupler is engaged with the base.