CARTRIDGE AND CONTROL BODY OF AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE INCLUDING ANTI-ROTATION MECHANISM AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20140261495A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Novak, Charles Jacob III, Galloway, Michael Ryan, DePiano, John, Silveira, Frank S., Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Laine, Michael, Henry, Raymond Charles Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,609,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 heating conductor mounted on insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

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.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge comprising:

a reservoir substrate configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition;

an atomizer configured to atomize the aerosol precursor; and

a base extending between a body end oriented toward the reservoir substrate and the atomizer and a connector end configured to releasably engage a control body, the base comprising an anti-rotation mechanism at the connector end configured to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body when engaged therewith.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an inner periphery of the base.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein a width of each of the protrusions increases from the connector end toward the body end and a width of each of the recesses decreases from the connector end toward the body end.

4. The cartridge of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from the inner periphery of the base at the recesses.

5. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein a radial dimension of the inner periphery of the base decreases from the connector end toward the body end.

6. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a groove extending at least partially around the inner periphery thereof.

7. A control body for an aerosol delivery device, the control body comprising:

a control component;

an electrical power source; and

a coupler extending between a body end oriented toward the control component and the electrical power source and a connector end configured to releasably engage a cartridge, the coupler comprising an anti-rotation mechanism at the connector end configured to prevent rotation of the control body relative to the cartridge when engaged therewith.

8. The control body of claim 7, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an outer periphery of the coupler.

9. The control body of claim 8, wherein a width of each of the protrusions increases from the connector end toward the body end and a width of each of the recesses decreases from the connector end toward the body end.

10. The control body of claim 8, wherein a radial dimension of the outer periphery of the coupler increases from the connector end toward the body end.

11. The control body of claim 8, wherein the coupler further comprises a circumferential protrusion extending at least partially around the outer periphery thereof.

12. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

a control body comprising;

a control component;

an electrical power source; and

a coupler extending between a body end oriented toward the control component and the electrical power source and a connector end comprising an anti-rotation mechanism; and

a cartridge comprising;

a reservoir substrate configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition;

an atomizer configured to atomize the aerosol precursor; and

a base extending between a body end oriented toward the reservoir substrate and the atomizer and a connector end configured to releasably engage the control body, the connector end of the base comprising an anti-rotation mechanism configured to engage the anti-rotation mechanism of the coupler of the control body to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body when engaged therewith.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism of the base comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an inner periphery thereof and the anti-rotation mechanism of the coupler comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an outer periphery thereof.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein a width of each of the protrusions of the base and the protrusions of the coupler increases from the connector end toward the body end and a width of each of the recesses of the base and the recesses of the coupler respectively decreases from the connector end toward the body end.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of ribs extending from the inner periphery thereof at the recesses.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein a radial dimension of the inner periphery of the base decreases from the connector end toward the body end and a radial dimension of the outer periphery of the coupler increases from the connector end toward the body end.

17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the base further comprises a groove extending at least partially around the inner periphery thereof and the coupler further comprises a circumferential protrusion extending at least partially around the outer periphery thereof.

18. A method for forming an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

providing a control body comprising;

a control component;

an electrical power source; and

a coupler extending between a body end oriented toward the control component and the electrical power source and a connector end comprising an anti-rotation mechanism; and

providing a cartridge comprising;

a reservoir substrate configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition;

an atomizer configured to atomize the aerosol precursor; and

a base extending between a body end oriented toward the reservoir substrate and the atomizer and a connector end comprising an anti-rotation mechanism; and

engaging the connector end of the base to the connector end of the coupler such that the cartridge releasably engages the control body and the anti-rotation mechanism of the control body engages the anti-rotation mechanism of the cartridge to substantially prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the control body.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein engaging the connector end of the base to the connector end of the coupler comprises engaging a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an inner periphery of the base of the cartridge with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses alternatingly disposed about an outer periphery of the control body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein engaging the connector end of the base to the connector end of the coupler further comprises engaging a plurality of ribs extending from the inner periphery of the base at the recesses with the protrusions of the control body.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein engaging the connector end of the base to the connector end of the coupler further comprises engaging a circumferential protrusion extending at, least partially around the outer periphery of the coupler with a groove extending at least partially around the inner periphery of the base.