Inhaler

Abstract

In one embodiment, the inhaler comprises a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface on which an air inlet is formed, and a longitudinal channel formed therein extending from the first surface to the second surface; a cartridge attached to the first surface of the body and communicating with the channel, the cartridge containing an inhalable composition; and a rotor positioned in the channel adjacent to the air inlet, the rotor being rotatable to open or close the air inlet.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An inhaler is disclosed. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, an inhaler is a device used to inhale compositions such as drugs and other substances as a liquid or gas through the oral or nasal cavity during the inhalation process. Such inhalers include a container containing the inhalable composition, which is propelled from the container along a tube connected to the container and ultimately into the oral or nasal cavity of the user through an inhalation port.

[0003] In addition to liquid inhalers and vapor inhalers, other inhalers include powder inhalers, which spray fine powder of the composition as fine particles, and aerosol inhalers, which aerosolize the composition and deliver it.

[0004] Recently, the application fields of dry powder inhalers have expanded to include not only single-dose and multi-dose dry powder inhalers, but also dry powder inhalers for inhaling pharmacological substances, functional substances, and recreational substances such as nicotine.

[0005] The above-mentioned background art is what the inventors possessed or learned in the process of deriving the present invention, and is not necessarily publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1759972 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of one embodiment is to provide an inhaler that can prevent foreign matter from entering from the outside and an inhalable composition from leaking out when not in use.

[0008] The problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment of an inhaler to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inhaler includes a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface on which an air inlet is formed, and having a vertical channel formed therein extending from the first surface to the second surface; a cartridge attached to the first surface of the body, communicating with the channel and containing an inhalable composition; and a rotor positioned in the channel adjacent to the air inlet, the rotor being capable of rotating to open or close the air inlet.

[0010] According to one aspect, the rotating body includes a rotating cylinder inserted into the channel, a rotating opening formed at one end of the rotating cylinder, and a protruding member formed on one side of the rotating cylinder, and when the positions of the rotating opening and the air inlet are aligned, the cartridge and the air inlet can be connected.

[0011] According to one aspect, the main body is formed at a position adjacent to the first surface, and has a slit through which the protruding member passes, and the slit can guide the movement path of the protruding member.

[0012] According to one aspect, the slits include a first slit extending in a horizontal direction transverse to the vertical direction, and the first slit can guide the rotation path of the protruding member.

[0013] According to one aspect, the slit includes a second slit extending in a horizontal direction across the vertical direction and in the vertical direction and formed in an inverted U shape, and the second slit can guide the rotational and vertical movement paths of the protrusion member.

[0014] According to one aspect, the inner surface of the rotating cylinder may be spirally formed.

[0015] According to one aspect, the rotation opening may be the same shape as the air inlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to one embodiment of the inhaler, it is possible to provide an inhaler that can prevent foreign matter from entering from the outside and prevent the inhalable composition from leaking out when not in use.

[0017] The effects of the inhaler according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 shows a rotating body of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 shows the main body of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 shows a body with a different type of slit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters depicted in such drawings.

[0020] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed in this specification are merely examples for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and the embodiments may be implemented in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the claims.

[0021] Furthermore, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish the component from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. When a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled or connected to the different component, but additional components may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between the components.

[0022] Components having common functions with components included in one embodiment will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the description of one embodiment will be applied to other embodiments, and detailed description will be omitted to the extent that they overlap.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a rotating body 300 of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the main body 100 of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a body 100' with an alternative form of slit 130'.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment includes a main body 100 , a cartridge 200 and a rotating body 300 .

[0028] The main body 100 may include a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of side surfaces surrounding the first and second surfaces. A cartridge 200 may be attached to the first surface. An air inlet 110 may be formed in the second surface. A channel 120 may be formed inside the main body 100, penetrating the first and second surfaces. The channel 120 is a passage through which the inhalable composition is transferred for delivery to the user. Here, the inhalable composition may be transferred vertically from the first surface to the second surface.

[0029] The body 100 may also be provided with a flow distribution structure at the end adjacent to the second surface for adjusting the inhalation rate of the inhalable composition.

[0030] Furthermore, the main body 100 is made of materials such as PLA, ABS, PC, and PP, and may also be made of other biodegradable (environmentally friendly) materials or metals.

[0031] The cartridge 200 is attached to the first surface of the main body 100. The cartridge 200 may contain an inhalable composition therein and may be in communication with the channel of the main body 100. The cartridge 200 may contain one or more doses of the inhalable composition. The inhalable composition may contain substances such as nicotine, nicotine salts, caffeine, taurine, vitamins, etc. The inhalable composition may also contain flavor particles such as natural flavor particles, menthol, etc. The inhalable composition may be provided, for example, in the form of a dry powder. Here, the dry powder used in the inhaler 10 may or may not contain a carrier.

[0032] As described above, the inhalable composition is transferred through channel 120, which allows the user to inhale the inhalable composition into the body.

[0033] In addition, the cartridge 200 may be detachably coupled to the first surface. Therefore, when the inhalable composition contained in the cartridge 200 is consumed, a new cartridge 200 can be replaced and attached to the main body 100. Here, the cartridge 200 may be fastened by a magnet or by a snap-on fastening method.

[0034] A mesh is provided between the main body 100 and the cartridge 200. The mesh may be made of the same material as the main body 100, such as PLA. The mesh may also be made of a chemically stable metal such as stainless steel that is not toxic when inhaled.

[0035] Meanwhile, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment is a device that uses the inertial force of particles of the inhalable composition to pump an inhalable composition, including dry powder, and if the pumped particles of the inhalable composition are larger than a certain size, they may induce coughing in the user. Therefore, as a countermeasure structure to prevent the inflow of particles of an unspecified size, multiple baffles 140 may be provided in a zigzag configuration.

[0036] Furthermore, although the dry powder inhaler 10 has the advantage of being easily portable, because it is a method of directly inhaling fine powder, contamination of the inside of the main body 100 can have negative consequences for consumers. Therefore, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment includes a structure that can open and close the inside of the main body 100, which serves to prevent contamination of the inhaler 10 when not in use and also prevents residual powder from being discharged to the outside.

[0037] The rotor 300 is disposed within the channel 120 adjacent to the air inlet 110. The rotor 300 can rotate within the channel 120 to open or close the air inlet 110 or to adjust the inhalation level of the inhalable composition.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, the rotating body 300 includes a rotating cylinder 310 , a rotating opening 320 , and a protruding member 330 .

[0039] The rotating cylinder 310 can be inserted into the channel 120. The rotating cylinder 310 may be formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. Both ends of the rotating cylinder 310 may be formed in an open shape. Therefore, even when the rotating cylinder 310 is inserted into the channel 120, the channel 120 can communicate with the outside through the air inlet 110.

[0040] The inner surface of the rotating cylinder 310 may be spirally shaped, so that a vortex may be generated in the flow of the inhalable composition.

[0041] The rotation opening 320 may be formed at one end of the rotation cylinder 310. The rotation cylinder 310 may be arranged such that the rotation opening 320 and the air inlet 110 of the main body 100 are adjacent to each other.

[0042] The rotation opening 320 may be formed in the shape of, for example, a fan or a point. The rotation opening 320 may be formed in the same shape as the air inlet 110. Therefore, when the positions of the rotation opening 320 and the air inlet 110 match, the cartridge 200 and the air inlet 110 communicate with each other, and the channel 120 is opened. On the other hand, when the positions of the rotation opening 320 and the air inlet 110 do not match, the cartridge 200 and the channel 120 communicate with each other, but do not communicate with the air inlet 110. In other words, the channel 120 may be closed by the rotating body 300.

[0043] The protruding member 330 may be formed on one side of the rotary cylinder 310. The protruding member 330 may protrude from the side surface of the rotary cylinder 310 in a radial direction.

[0044] Referring again to FIG. 1, the body 100 may further include a slit 130 .

[0045] The slit 130 may be formed at a position adjacent to the first surface, and the protruding member 330 may pass through the slit 130. The protruding member 330 moves along the slit 130, and the movement of the protruding member 330 causes the rotating cylinder 310 to rotate or move vertically in the longitudinal direction. That is, the slit 130 can guide the movement path of the protruding member 330.

[0046] 3 and 4 show bodies 100, 100' with slits 130, 130' of various configurations.

[0047] The body 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes a first slit 130, and the body 100' shown in FIG. 4 includes a second slit 130'.

[0048] 3, the first slits 130 of the main body 100 according to one embodiment may be formed in a shape extending in a horizontal direction transverse to the vertical direction. Here, the protruding members 330 can rotate in the circumferential direction of the rotating cylinder 310 along the first slits 130. Therefore, the first slits 130 can guide the rotation path of the protruding members 330.

[0049] 4, the second slit 130' of the main body 100' according to another embodiment may be formed in an inverted U-shape that extends continuously in the horizontal and vertical directions. Here, the protruding member 330 may rotate in the circumferential direction of the rotary cylinder 310 along the second slit 130' or move vertically relative to the vertical direction of the main body 100'. Therefore, the second slit 130' can guide the rotational and vertical movement paths of the protruding member 330.

[0050] As described above, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment includes a rotor 300 having a rotary opening 320 that corresponds in size or shape to the air inlet 110 of the main body 100, and slits 130, 130' formed on one side of the main body 100, 100' to which a protruding member 330 formed on the rotor 300 is coupled, thereby limiting the range of movement of the protruding member 330. The air inlet 110, which communicates with the channel 120, can be selectively opened and closed by vertical or rotational movement of the rotor 300, and the degree of opening of the air inlet 110 can be easily adjusted.

[0051] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments and drawings that are limited to specific features, such as specific components, but these are provided to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made from these embodiments. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the described components, such as structures and devices, may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or may be substituted or replaced with other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should encompass not only the following claims, but also all equivalent or similar modifications within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a main body including a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface and having an air inlet formed therein, the main body having a longitudinal channel formed therein from the first surface to the second surface; a cartridge attached to a first surface of the body and communicating with the channel, the cartridge containing an inhalable composition; a rotor disposed in the channel adjacent to the air inlet; Including, The inhaler, wherein the rotor can rotate to open or close the air inlet.

2. The rotating body is a rotating cylinder inserted into the channel; a rotary opening formed at one end of the rotary cylinder; a protruding member formed on one side of the rotary cylinder; Including, The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge and the air inlet communicate when the rotation opening and the air inlet are aligned.

3. The body has a slit formed at a position adjacent to the first surface, through which the protruding member passes; The inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the slit guides a movement path of the protruding member.

4. The slits include a first slit extending in a horizontal direction transverse to the vertical direction, The inhaler according to claim 3 , wherein the first slit guides a rotation path of the protruding member.

5. The slits include a second slit extending in a horizontal direction intersecting the vertical direction and in the vertical direction and formed in an inverted U shape, The inhaler of claim 3, wherein the second slit guides the rotational and vertical movement path of the protruding member.

6. 3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the rotating cylinder is spirally formed.

7. 3. The inhaler of claim 2, wherein the rotational opening has the same shape as the air inlet.

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