Aerosol delivery device multiple contact connector

Abstract

A connector in an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, including aerosol delivery devices such as smoking articles that produce aerosol, may include multiple concentric pins, which each have multiple contact points for providing a more reliable connection and for preventing disruptions that may be caused from improper contacts. The connection may be between a cartridge and a battery portion of the aerosol delivery device or with a product use and behavior (“PUB”) instrument that can be attached to an aerosol delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a cartridge providing a substance to be vaporized;   a control body configured to be coupled with the cartridge using a connector; and   wherein the connector comprises three pins each with multiple contact points and separated by one or more insulators to prevent contact between the pins.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein two of the three pins establish an electric current and a third pin establishes a data connection. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the pins comprise concentric shapes. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge and the control body are circular and each of the concentric pins comprises a circular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple contact points are established by coupling with another connector that includes corresponding pins with multiple contact points. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 5 , wherein the connector is disposed on one end of the cartridge and the another connector is disposed on one end of the control body. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more insulators align the plurality of pins for connection with the another connector. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 an aerosol delivery device; and   a product use and behavior (“PUB”) instrument configured to be coupled with the aerosol delivery device by a connector;   wherein the connector comprises a plurality of concentric pins and one or more insulator layers between each of the concentric pins.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the concentric pins provide multiple contact points for connection with corresponding pins to form the coupling with the connector. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the corresponding pins comprise concentric pins to establish the multiple contact points with the concentric pins. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of concentric pins comprises three concentric pins with at least one insulator between each of the concentric pins. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein two of the concentric pins establish an electric current and one of the concentric pins establishes a data connection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises another connector configured to be connected with the connector. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the connector is disposed on one end of the PUB instrument and the another connector is disposed on one portion of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the connector comprises a male end and the another connector comprises a female end. 
     
     
         16 . A connector for an aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a plurality of concentric pins configured to connect with corresponding contact pins with multiple points of contact; and   a plurality of insulators configured to separate each of the plurality of concentric pins;   wherein each of the concentric pins corresponds with at least one of the contact pins.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the corresponding contact pins also comprise concentric pins for the multiple points of contact with corresponding ones of the plurality of concentric pins. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol deliver device comprises a cartridge and control body, wherein the connector is disposed on the cartridge and the corresponding contact pins are disposed on the control body. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of concentric pins comprises at least three concentric pins, wherein two of the concentric pins establish an electric connection and one of the concentric pins establishes a data connection.