Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler for inhaling a functional substance according to various embodiments includes a first holder, a second holder rotatably connected to the first holder, a piercing member protruding into an internal space of the second holder, and a functional substance containing member disposed in the internal space of the second holder and containing the functional substance, wherein at least a portion of the functional substance containing member is opened by the piercing member upon rotation of the second holder.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The various embodiments below relate to an inhaler. [Background technology]

[0002] Research has been conducted into inhalers that deliver a target substance directly to the user's lungs. For example, Published Japanese Patent Application No. 10-2016-0065204 discloses a dry powder inhaler. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The inhaler according to various embodiments resides in inducing vortex behavior in the functional agent powder.

[0004] The inhaler according to various embodiments is intended to induce smooth ejection of a functional substance powder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In various embodiments, the inhaler includes a first holder, a second holder rotatably connected to the first holder, a piercing member protruding into an internal space of the second holder, and a functional substance containing member disposed in the internal space of the second holder and containing the functional substance, wherein at least a portion of the functional substance containing member is opened by the piercing member upon rotation of the second holder.

[0006] In an embodiment, the piercing members may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along a rotation axis of the second holder. The piercing members may be arranged on opposite sides of the rotation axis of the second holder.

[0007] In one embodiment, the piercing member may be arranged to protrude in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the second holder.

[0008] In one embodiment, the second holder may be rotatable between a first rotation position and a second rotation position relative to the first holder, and a rotation angle of the second holder at the first rotation position may be smaller than a rotation angle of the second holder at the second rotation position. Either the first holder or the second holder may be provided with a rotation angle marker that indicates a rotation angle of the second holder.

[0009] In one embodiment, the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder are configured as a cylinder connected to each other, and the functional substance containing member can be configured to be insertable into the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder.

[0010] In one embodiment, the functional substance containing member may include a stick that can be inserted into the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder, and a capsule that is disposed inside the stick and contains the functional substance.

[0011] In an embodiment, the diameter of the inner space of the second holder may be greater than the diameter of the inner space of the first holder.

[0012] In one embodiment, the piercing member is movable between a first piercing position and a second piercing position, the second piercing position may protrude further from the first piercing position toward the axis of rotation of the second holder.

[0013] In an embodiment, the functional material containing member includes a capsule containing the functional material, and a portion of the capsule is fixed to the first holder and can rotate relatively to the second holder.

[0014] In one embodiment, the piercing member may be disposed in the second holder while piercing at least a portion of the capsule. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to various embodiments, eddy current behavior of the functional material powder can be induced.

[0016] According to various embodiments, the internal airflow introduced into the inhaler penetrates the center of the functional substance containing member, thereby enabling smooth discharge of the functional substance powder.

[0017] The effects of the inhalers according to the various embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an inhaler according to various embodiments. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an inhaler in an operational state according to various embodiments. [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates an inhaler according to various embodiments. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an inhaler in an operational state according to various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The terms used in the embodiments are selected from general terms currently widely used while taking into consideration the functions in the present invention, but these may change depending on the intentions or precedents of engineers working in this field, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in specific cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings are described in detail in the corresponding description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings that the terms have and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0020] Throughout the specification, when any part "includes" any component, this does not exclude other components, but means that the other components are further included, unless otherwise specified to the contrary. Furthermore, the terms "unit", "module", etc. described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be realized in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0021] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an element in a sequence, it modifies the entire element and not each individual member of the sequence. For example, the phrase "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an inhaler 100 according to various embodiments, and FIG. 2 illustrates the inhaler 100 according to various embodiments in operation.

[0023] An inhaler 100 according to one embodiment delivers a functional substance to a user, for example, an inhaler 100 according to one embodiment may comprise an inhaler that delivers nicotine in an aerosol form to the lungs of a user.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, an inhaler 100 according to one embodiment includes a first holder 110, a second holder 120, a piercing member 130, and a functional substance containing member 140.

[0025] In an embodiment, the first holder 110 and the second holder 120 may be rotatably connected. For example, the first holder 110 may be configured as a cylinder having an internal space, and the second holder 110 may also be configured as a cylinder having an internal space. One end of the first holder 110 (e.g., a side end of the first holder 110 in the -Y direction in FIG. 1) may be rotatably connected to one end of the second holder 120 (e.g., a side end of the second holder 120 in the +Y direction in FIG. 1).

[0026] The internal space of the first holder 110 and the internal space of the second holder 120 may be connected to each other, and the internal spaces may be formed to a size such that a functional material receiving member 140, which will be described later, can be inserted therein.

[0027] In an embodiment, the piercing member 130 includes a first piercing member 131 and a second piercing member 132. One side of the first piercing member 131 is fixed to the inside of the second holder 120, and the other side of the first piercing member 131 has a cutting edge protruding toward the rotation axis C of the second holder 120. One side of the second piercing member 132 is fixed to the inside of the second holder 120, and the other side of the second piercing member 132 has a cutting edge protruding toward the rotation axis C of the second holder 120.

[0028] The first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 are disposed to be spaced apart in a direction parallel to the rotation axis C. For example, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in ±Y directions shown in FIG. 1. Also, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 may be disposed to face each other with the rotation axis C as the center. For example, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in ±X directions shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the central axis C.

[0029] In an embodiment, the functional substance containing member 140 includes a stick 141 and a capsule 142. For example, the stick 141 may be configured in a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the internal space of the first holder 110 and the internal space of the second holder 120, and the capsule 142 may be disposed inside the stick 141.

[0030] The area in which the capsule 142 is arranged in the functional substance containing member 140 may be set so that the capsule 142 is in a position facing the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132 when the functional substance containing member 140 is inserted into the internal space of the second holder 120.

[0031] For example, a functional substance may be contained in the capsule 141. For example, the functional substance may include at least one of nicotine, theanine, caffeine, taurine, or a mixture thereof. The functional substance may be in the form of fine granules or dry powder.

[0032] As an example, the outer shell of the capsule 141 may be made of a material that is pierced or cut by the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132 .

[0033] Since the functional substance containing member 140 is not fixed to the second holder 120 when the functional substance containing member 140 is inserted into the second holder 120, the functional substance containing member 140 and the second holder 120 can freely rotate relative to each other. For example, the diameter of the inner space of the second holder 120 may be larger than the diameter of the inner space of the first holder 110. Here, a part of the functional substance containing member 140 is forcibly fitted and fixed to the first holder 110 and rotated therewith, while another part of the functional substance containing member 140 (e.g., capsule 142 region) is not fixed to the second holder 120, so that the second holder 120 can rotate around the periphery of the functional substance containing member 140.

[0034] In an embodiment, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 are movable between a first piercing position and a second piercing position, and the second piercing position is in a state of protruding further toward the rotation axis C of the second holder 120 than the first piercing position. Here, a horizontal distance (e.g., ±X direction distance in FIG. 1) between the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 at the first piercing position may be set to be larger than an outer diameter of the functional substance containing member 140, and a horizontal distance (e.g., ±X direction distance in FIG. 1) between the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 at the second piercing position may be set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the capsule 142.

[0035] For example, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 may be placed at the first piercing position before the functional substance receiving member 140 is inserted into the internal space of the second holder 120. Then, the functional substance receiving member 140 may be inserted into the internal space of the second holder 120 without being obstructed by the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132. With the functional substance receiving member 140 inserted into the internal space of the second holder 120, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 are placed at the second piercing position. At the second piercing position, the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132 pierces the capsule 142, thereby opening at least a portion of the capsule 142 and exposing the functional substance in the capsule 142 to the outside of the capsule 142.

[0036] Alternatively, the first piercing member 131 and the second piercing member 132 may be placed at the second piercing position both before and after the functional substance containing member 140 is inserted into the internal space of the second holder 120. Here, when the functional substance containing member 140 is inserted into the second holder 120, an open region (longitudinal slit) may be additionally formed in the functional substance containing member 140 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis C (e.g., ±Y direction in FIG. 1).

[0037] In one embodiment, the second holder 120 is rotatable between a first rotation position and a second rotation position relative to the first holder 110, and the angle of rotation of the second holder 120 at the first rotation position compared to the initial position of the second holder 120 at the second rotation position may be even smaller than the angle of rotation of the second holder 120 at the first rotation position compared to the initial position of the second holder 120.

[0038] For example, when the second holder 120 is rotated with the piercing member 130 piercing the capsule 142, an open area is formed in the capsule 142 in the circumferential direction, and the functional material is discharged through the open area. Here, since the open area at the second rotation position is larger than the open area at the first rotation position, the user can adjust the open area according to his / her preference, and easily adjust the amount of the functional material transferred.

[0039] As an example, either the first holder 110 or the second holder 120 may be provided with a rotation angle marker that indicates a rotation angle of the second holder 120. For example, the rotation angle marker may indicate the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

[0040] The following describes the operation of the inhaler 100 according to various embodiments with reference to FIG.

[0041] 2A , the functional substance receiving member 140 may be inserted into the internal space of the first holder 110 and the internal space of the second holder 120. Here, the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132 may be moved from the first piercing position to the second piercing position, and the capsule 142 may be pierced by the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132.

[0042] 2B, the second holder 120 can rotate relative to the first holder 110. Here, since the stick 141 is fixed with respect to the first holder 110 and is not fixed with respect to the second holder 120, as the second holder 120 rotates, the first piercing member 131 or the second piercing member 132 cuts a part of the capsule 142, thereby forming an open area in the circumferential direction in the capsule 142.

[0043] 2C, the rotation of the second holder 120 stops at either the first rotation angle or the second rotation angle, and a user can set the first rotation angle or the second rotation angle according to a desired degree of functional material transfer. When the rotation of the second holder 120 is completed, an open area is formed in the capsule 142 in the shape of a slit, and a slit is formed by the first piercing member 131 and a slit is formed by the second piercing member 132. The slits are formed facing each other and spaced apart in a direction parallel to the central axis C, so that airflow passing through the slits can pass through the central area of ​​the capsule 142.

[0044] 2D, the functional material containing member 140 is separated from the second holder 120. Here, the functional material containing member 140 may be separated from the first holder 110, but the functional material may be transferred while being inserted into the first holder 110. In this case, the functional material is more effectively prevented from being separated from the functional material containing member 140 compared to the case where the functional material containing member 140 is completely separated from the first holder 110, and therefore unnecessary leakage of the functional material can be prevented.

[0045] When the user bites one end of the functional substance containing member 140 and inhales while the capsule 142 has a slit formed therein, external air flows into the inner space of the first holder 110 through an airflow hole formed in the first holder 110 or the second holder 120, and the air flows into the capsule 142 through the slit formed by the second piercing member 132. The air then exits through the slit formed by the first piercing member 132 and reaches the user, and the functional substance in the capsule 142 is also transferred to the user. Depending on the eccentric position of the slit, the air may penetrate the center of the capsule 142 and induce a vortex flow of the functional substance. The vortex flow induces a smooth movement of the functional substance, and the functional substance may be discharged more smoothly.

[0046] For example, when the capsule 142 is disposed in an unfixed state within the stick 141, the rotation of the capsule 142 may be induced through the eccentric air flow generated according to the eccentric position of the slit, so that the discharge of the functional material may be performed more smoothly.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates an inhaler 200 according to various embodiments, and FIG. 4 illustrates an inhaler 200 according to various embodiments in operation.

[0048] 3, the inhaler 200 according to one embodiment includes a first holder 210, a second holder 220, a piercing member 230, and a functional substance receiving member 240. The first holder 210, the second holder 220, and the piercing member 230 have the same or similar structures and functions as the first holder 110, the second holder 120, and the piercing member 130 described above, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted for brevity.

[0049] In an embodiment, the functional substance containing member 240 may be configured as a capsule containing a functional substance, and a part of the capsule may be fixed to the first holder 210, and the capsule may rotate relative to the second holder 220. As an example, the capsule may contain a functional substance. For example, the functional substance may include at least one of nicotine, theanine, caffeine, taurine, or a mixture thereof. The functional substance may have a fine granule or a dry powder form. As an example, the outer shell of the capsule may be made of a material that can be pierced or cut by the first piercing member 231 or the second piercing member 232.

[0050] The functional material receiving member 240 is disposed in a state of being inserted into an internal space of the second holder 220. Here, the functional material receiving member 240 may be disposed in an internal region of the second holder 220 adjacent to the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232.

[0051] In an embodiment, the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 are movable between a third piercing position and a fourth piercing position, and the fourth piercing position is in a state where it protrudes further toward the rotation axis C of the second holder 220 than the third piercing position. Here, a horizontal distance (e.g., ±X direction distance in FIG. 3 ) between the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 at the third piercing position may be set to be larger than an outer diameter of the functional substance containing member 240, and a horizontal distance (e.g., ±X direction distance in FIG. 3 ) between the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 at the fourth piercing position may be set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the functional substance containing member 240.

[0052] For example, before use of the inhaler 200 according to an embodiment, the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 may be placed at the third piercing position. When a user uses the inhaler 200 according to an embodiment, the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 may move to the fourth piercing position. At the fourth piercing position, the first piercing member 231 or the second piercing member 232 penetrates the functional substance containing member 240, so that at least a portion of the functional substance containing member 240 is opened and the functional substance in the functional substance containing member 240 is exposed to the outside of the functional substance containing member 240.

[0053] Alternatively, at least one of the first piercing member 231 and the second piercing member 232 may be disposed in the second holder 220 in a state in which the first piercing member 231 or the second piercing member 232 penetrates at least a portion of the functional substance containing member 240 .

[0054] In one embodiment, the second holder 220 is rotatable between a third rotational position and a fourth rotational position relative to the first holder 210, and the angle of rotation of the second holder 220 in the third rotational position compared to its initial position may be smaller than the angle of rotation of the second holder 220 in the fourth rotational position compared to its initial position.

[0055] The operation of the inhaler 200 according to one embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 4( a ), in a state where the functional material receiving member 240 is pierced by the first piercing member 231 or the second piercing member 232 , the second holder 220 may be rotated with respect to the first holder 210 .

[0057] Here, as the second holder 220 rotates, the first piercing member 231 or the second piercing member 232 cuts a portion of the functional material containing member 240, thereby forming an open area in the circumferential direction in the functional material containing member 240.

[0058] 4(b), the rotation of the second holder 220 stops at either the third rotation angle or the fourth rotation angle, and a user can set the third rotation angle or the fourth rotation angle according to a desired degree of functional material transfer. When the rotation of the second holder 220 is completed, an open area is formed in the functional material containing member 240 in the shape of a circumferential slit, and a slit is formed by the first piercing member 231 and a slit is formed by the second piercing member 232. The slits are formed facing each other and spaced apart in a direction parallel to the central axis C, so that airflow passing through the slits can pass through a central region of the functional material containing member 240.

[0059] When the user bites one end of the first holder 210 and inhales while the slit is formed in the functional substance containing member 240, external air flows into the inner space of the second holder 210 through an airflow hole formed in the first holder 210 or the second holder 220, and the air flows into the functional substance containing member 240 through the slit formed by the second piercing member 232. The air then exits through the slit formed by the first piercing member 232 and reaches the user, and the functional substance in the functional substance containing member 240 is also transferred to the user. The air passes through the center of the functional substance containing member 240 according to the eccentric position of the slit, and a vortex behavior of the functional substance is induced. The vortex behavior induces smooth movement of the functional substance, and the functional substance can be discharged more smoothly.

[0060] The above description of the embodiments is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to the contents described in the claims should be interpreted as being included in the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. An inhaler for inhaling a functional substance, comprising: A first holder; a second holder rotatably connected to the first holder; a piercing member protruding toward an internal space of the second holder; a functional substance containing member disposed in the internal space of the second holder and containing the functional substance; Including, At least a portion of the functional substance containing member is opened by the piercing member upon rotation of the second holder.

2. The piercing member includes: A first piercing member; a second piercing member disposed so as to be spaced apart from the first piercing member in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the second holder; 2. The inhaler of claim 1, comprising:

3. The inhaler of claim 2 , wherein the first piercing member and the second piercing member are disposed opposite each other about a rotation axis of the second holder.

4. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein a tip of the first piercing member and a tip of the second piercing member are directed toward an axis of rotation of the second holder.

5. 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the second holder is rotatable relative to the first holder between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, and a rotational angle of the second holder in the first rotational position is smaller than a rotational angle of the second holder in the second rotational position.

6. The inhaler according to claim 5, wherein either the first holder or the second holder is provided with a rotation angle marker indicating a rotation angle of the second holder.

7. The inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder are configured as a cylinder connected to each other, and the functional substance containing member is configured to be insertable into the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder.

8. The functional substance containing member is a stick insertable into the internal space of the first holder and the internal space of the second holder; a capsule disposed inside the stick and containing the functional substance; 8. The inhaler of claim 7, comprising:

9. The inhaler according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of the inner space of the second holder is larger than the diameter of the inner space of the first holder.

10. 4. The inhaler of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first piercing member and the second piercing member are movable between a first piercing position and a second piercing position, and the second piercing position protrudes further toward the rotation axis of the second holder than the first piercing position.

11. The inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the functional substance containing member includes a capsule containing the functional substance, and a portion of the capsule is fixed to the first holder and rotated relative to the second holder.

12. The inhaler of claim 11, wherein the piercing member is disposed in the second holder while piercing at least a portion of the capsule.

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