Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler according to one embodiment includes a housing having one side, another side opposite the one side, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the one side and the other side; a canister that is replaceably attached to the housing and contains an inhalable composition; a storage space to which the canister is openably connected and in which the inhalable composition is stored; a lever that controls the opening and closing operation of the canister; and a counter rotatably disposed between the canister and the lever; the counter can rotate a certain angle by operation of the lever to indicate the remaining amount of the inhalable composition in the canister.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In general, an inhaler is a device used to inhale a composition such as a drug in a liquid or gaseous state through the oral or nasal cavity during the inhalation process. Such an inhaler includes a container containing an inhalable composition, and the composition is ejected from the container through a narrow tube and finally into the oral or nasal cavity through an inhalation port, where it is inhaled by the user.

[0003] The above-mentioned background art was possessed or acquired by the inventors in the process of deriving the contents of the disclosure of this application, and cannot necessarily be said to be publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of this application. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Registered Publication No. 10-2021229 (Published on September 11, 2019) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of one embodiment is to provide an inhaler that can count the number of refills by utilizing the up and down movement of the canister when refilling an inhalable composition from a canister to a reservoir, thereby providing information on the remaining amount of composition in the canister and when it is time to replace the canister.

[0005] The problems to be solved in 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]

[0006] To achieve the above object, one embodiment of an inhaler includes a housing having one surface, another surface opposite the one surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the one surface and the other surface; a canister that is replaceably attached to the housing and contains an inhalable composition; a reservoir to which the canister is openably connected and in which the inhalable composition is stored; a lever that controls the opening and closing operation of the canister; and a counter that is rotatably arranged between the canister and the lever; wherein the counter can rotate a certain angle by operating the lever to indicate the remaining amount of the inhalable composition in the canister.

[0007] According to one aspect, the counter may further include a fixing portion having one end rotatably coupled to the housing and the other end formed in a hook shape, and the other end of the fixing portion may engage with the counter to restrict rotation of the counter in one direction.

[0008] According to one aspect, the counter may include a first counter member formed in a circular shape and having a center rotatably coupled to the interior of the housing; and a plurality of second counter members each formed in a sawtooth shape and arranged at regular intervals around the circumference of the first counter member; and the first counter member may be rotated when the canister is opened.

[0009] According to one aspect, the lever may include a support member extending in a first direction toward the canister; and a protrusion member rotatably coupled to the support member about a rotation axis provided on the support member; and when the lever is pressed, the protrusion member may apply a pressure force in the first direction to one of the plurality of second counter members, causing the first counter member to rotate.

[0010] According to one aspect, when the lever is pressed in the first direction, the support member may limit rotation of the protrusion member, and when the lever returns to its original position, the support member may allow rotation of the protrusion member.

[0011] According to one aspect, the protrusion member may be positioned such that, with its end raised toward one side of the housing, rotation toward the canister is unrestricted and rotation away from the canister is restricted.

[0012] According to one aspect, the device may further include a reset portion provided between the fixing portion and the counter, and the reset portion may disengage the fixing portion from the counter when the canister is removed from the housing.

[0013] According to one aspect, the counter may further include an elastic member provided on the first counter member, the elastic member being compressed in the direction of rotation of the first counter member by the lever, and causing the first counter member to rotate to its original position when the canister is removed from the housing.

[0014] In one aspect, the canister may be opened when the lever is pressurized to allow the inhalable composition to move to the reservoir, and closed when the lever is not pressurized.

[0015] According to one aspect, the first counter member may have different colors or a series of numbers displayed along the circumferential direction on one surface.

[0016] According to one aspect, the housing may include a display window formed on one side thereof, and the display window may expose a portion of the counter that displays the remaining amount to the outside.

[0017] According to one aspect, the reservoir may be made of a transparent material, and the housing may further include a display window formed at a position where the reservoir is disposed, the display window exposing the amount of the inhalable composition in the reservoir to the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to one embodiment of the inhaler, when filling an inhalable composition from a canister into a reservoir, the up and down movement of the canister is utilized to count the number of fillings, thereby providing information on the remaining amount of composition inside the canister and when it is time to replace the canister.

[0019] 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 following description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A counter that operates in conjunction with a lever. [Figure 5] 1 shows the counter that is rotated when the lever is pressed. [Figure 6] The counter returns to its original position when the canister is removed. 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, so the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the details shown in such drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used for the same components even if they are displayed in different drawings. In addition, when describing the embodiments, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known structures or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0022] Furthermore, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish the component from other components, and do not limit the essence, procedure, or order 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 other component, but that there may also be another component "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between the components.

[0023] Components having functions common to those included in any of the embodiments will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the description of one embodiment is applicable to the other embodiments, and detailed description will be omitted to the extent that it overlaps.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a counter 900 which operates in conjunction with the lever 300 .

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the counter 900 being rotated when the lever 300 is pressed.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows the counter 900 returning to its original position when the canister 200 is removed.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment includes a housing 101 , a mouthpiece 102 , a reservoir 103 , a canister 200 , and a lever 300 .

[0031] The housing 101 includes a first surface formed on one side, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the housing 101 is, for example, a surface located on the top of the housing 101, and the second surface is, for example, a bottom surface of the housing 101.

[0032] The mouthpiece 102 may be disposed on a first surface of the housing 101. A user can inhale the inhalable composition contained in the inhaler 10 through the mouthpiece 102. In this case, the user can inhale the composition, for example, in an aerosol state, or in the form of a powder. Hereinafter, an inhaler 10 according to one embodiment will be described using an inhaler 10 that sprays the inhalable composition in an aerosol state as an example.

[0033] 1 and 2, the reservoir 103 may be disposed inside the housing 101. One side of the canister 200 is connected to the reservoir 103, and the inhalable composition contained in the canister 200 can be transferred to and stored in the reservoir 103. In addition, the inhalable composition stored in the reservoir 103 is expelled in an aerosol state through the mouthpiece 102 when the user applies inhalation force through the mouthpiece 102, so that the inhalable composition stored in the reservoir 103 is gradually consumed.

[0034] The canister 200 may be attached to the inside of the housing 101. In this case, the canister 200 may be replaceably attached to the inside of the housing 101. The canister 200 may contain an inhalable composition therein. The composition of the canister 200 may be filled in a certain amount inside the reservoir 103.

[0035] Lever 300 may be pressed by a user to fill the composition contained in canister 200 into reservoir 103. Lever 300 may form one side surface of housing 101, or may be located adjacent to the second surface. When a user presses lever 300, lever 300 pushes up the bottom surface of canister 200, connecting nozzle 220 of canister 200 to reservoir 103, allowing the composition to move from canister 200 to reservoir 103 through nozzle 220.

[0036] In the following description, the direction from one side surface of the housing 101 where the lever 300 is located toward the canister 200 is defined as a first direction, and the direction from the second surface of the housing 101 toward the first surface is defined as a second direction.

[0037] 3, in one embodiment of the inhaler 10 allows the user to visually check the remaining amount of composition stored in the reservoir 103 through a display window 120 provided in the housing 101. The inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may also include a counter 900 that counts the number of refills of the reservoir 103 in conjunction with the up and down movement of the canister 200, and a display window 110 that displays the remaining amount of composition in the canister 200. The composition stored in the reservoir 103 is sprayed in an aerosol state when the user applies inhalation force to the mouthpiece 102. At this time, the inhalation force activates an inhale interlocking valve 105 that opens and closes the reservoir 103, and the opening and closing movement of the inhale interlocking valve 105 is controlled by a piston 106. A relief valve (not shown) may be provided in the reservoir 103, and a relief vent hole 400 may be provided on a first surface of the housing 101. The relief valve is linked to the lever 300 via a relief bar (not shown) and a relief bar moving protrusion (not shown), and the relief valve opens first just before the lever 300 pushes up the canister 200 to fill the reservoir 103, thereby discharging residual gas from the reservoir 103. Furthermore, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may be provided with a cover 500 and a locking device 600 that prevent the canister 200 from coming off.

[0038] As described above, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment needs to communicate information about the remaining amount of composition in the canister 200 to the user so that the user knows when to replace the canister 200. Therefore, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment has a counter function that counts the number of fills of the fill lever 300 and conversely informs the user of how many fills are remaining. The counter 900 that performs this function calculates the number of fills taking into account the total amount of composition and the volume of the reservoir 103, counts the number of fills, and estimates the remaining number of fills. A counting method that operates mechanically in conjunction with the operation of the fill lever 300 may be used.

[0039] 4, the counter 900 of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may be rotatably mounted on one of a plurality of sides of the housing 101. In this case, the counter 900 may be disposed between the canister 200 and the lever 300. The counter 900 may be mounted so as to rotate in conjunction with the lever 300. For example, the counter 900 may rotate a certain angle in response to the operation of the lever 300, and may notify the user of the remaining amount of the inhalable composition in the canister 200 using a color, number, or the like.

[0040] Specifically, the counter 900 may include a first counter member 910 and a second counter member 920 .

[0041] The first counter member 910 may be formed in a circular shape, and its center may be rotatably coupled to the inside of the housing 101. One surface of the first counter member 910 may be marked with a symbol or the like that indicates the remaining amount of the canister 200. For example, one surface of the first counter member 910 may be marked with different colors or a series of numbers along the circumferential direction.

[0042] A plurality of second counter members 920 may be provided, each formed in a sawtooth shape, and arranged at regular intervals around the circumference of the first counter member 910.

[0043] The second counter member 920 engages with the lever 300 and is moved in the circumferential direction when the canister 200 is opened, causing the first counter member 910 to rotate.

[0044] In this case, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may further include a fixing portion 930 to prevent the first counter member 910 from rotating in a direction other than the direction of rotation caused by the lever 300 .

[0045] The fixing portion 930 may have one end rotatably coupled to the housing 101 and the other end formed in a hook shape. The other end of such a fixing portion 930 may engage with the second counter member 920. This allows the fixing portion 930 to restrict the rotation of the first counter member 910 in one direction. In other words, the fixing portion 930 allows the second counter member 920 to rotate in a direction toward the canister 200 by the lever 300, but does not allow the second counter member 920 to rotate in a direction away from the canister 200.

[0046] As described above, when the lever 300 of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment is pressed by a user, the canister 200 is opened and the reservoir 103 is filled with an inhalable composition. At this time, the lever 300 and the counter 900 are linked to each other, so that the counter 900 rotates in response to the operation of the lever 300, indicating the remaining amount of the canister 200. When the lever 300 is pressed by a user, it is moved in a first direction, which in turn moves the canister 200 in a second direction and rotates the counter 900.

[0047] 4 and 5, the lever 300 may include a support member 310 and a protruding member 320.

[0048] The support member 310 may extend in a first direction toward the canister 200 .

[0049] The protruding member 320 may be rotatably coupled to the support member 310 around a rotation axis provided on the support member 310. The protruding member 320 may have an end portion formed on one side thereof that protrudes radially from the rotation axis. The end portion of the protruding member 320 may be disposed in an upright state facing the first surface of the housing 101.

[0050] When the lever 300 is pressed, the protruding member 320 is moved in a first direction and can exert a pressure in the first direction on one of the plurality of second counter members 920. This causes the second counter member 920 to rotate in a direction toward the canister 200, which in turn causes the first counter member 910 to rotate.

[0051] When the lever 300 is pressed in the first direction in this manner, the support member 310 can restrict the rotation of the protruding member 320. That is, the protruding member 320 is restricted from rotating in a direction away from the canister 200 with its end portion standing upright toward the first surface of the housing 101.

[0052] Therefore, when the lever 300 is pressed, the protrusion member 320 also moves in the first direction and comes into contact with the second counter member 920, and at this time, the protrusion member 320 does not rotate but pushes the second counter member 920 to rotate it in the direction toward the canister 200.

[0053] Finally, when the lever 300 opens the canister 200, the counter 900 may rotate to indicate the amount of composition remaining in the modified canister 200.

[0054] On the other hand, the support member 310 may allow the rotation of the protruding member 320 when the lever 300 returns to its original position. In other words, the rotation of the protruding member 320 in the direction toward the canister 200 may not be restricted with the end portion of the protruding member 320 standing upright toward the first surface of the housing 101.

[0055] Therefore, when the lever 300 moves in the direction opposite to the first direction, the protruding member 320 can return to its original position without rotating the second counter member 920.

[0056] After the reservoir 103 has been refilled with the composition a certain number of times, the counter 900 will indicate that there is no remaining amount in the canister 200, and the user can then remove the canister 200 from the housing 101.

[0057] 6, when the canister 200 is removed from the housing 101, the first counter member 910 is rotated to return to its initial position. At this time, to return to the initial position, the counter 900 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the lever 300. To allow such reverse rotation, the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may further include a reset unit 940.

[0058] The reset portion 940 may be disposed between the fixed portion 930 and the counter 900. The reset portion 940 may be disposed so that one end is rotatably attached inside the housing 101 and the other end is in contact with the fixed portion 930. When the canister 200 is removed from the housing 101, the reset portion 940 can push and rotate the fixed portion 930 in a direction toward the canister 200. This allows the hook portion of the fixed portion 930 that has been engaged with the second counter member 920 to be disengaged from the second counter member 920.

[0059] The counter 900 may further include an elastic member (not shown) provided on the first counter member 910.

[0060] The elastic member may be compressed in the rotational direction of the counter 900 when the first counter member 910 is rotated by the lever 300. Such an elastic member can rotate the first counter member 910 to its original position when there is no rotational constraint on the counter 900, for example, when the canister 200 is removed from the housing 101 and the rotational constraint by the fixing part 930 is released.

[0061] Referring further to FIG. 3, the housing 101 of the inhaler 10 in one embodiment further includes a display window, and the remaining amount of the canister 200 displayed on the counter 900 is displayed externally through the display window 110 so that the user can check it.

[0062] The display window 110 may be made of a hole or a transparent material formed on one side of the housing 101. The display window 110 may be formed at a position corresponding to the first counter member 910 of the counter 900. Such a display window 110 can externally display the color or number displayed by the first counter member 910.

[0063] Meanwhile, in order to check the remaining amount of composition in the reservoir 103, the reservoir 103 of the inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may be made of a transparent material, and the housing 101 may further include an indication window 120. The indication window 120 may be a hole formed on one side of the housing 101, or may be formed at a position corresponding to the reservoir 103. The indication window 120 can externally display the amount of inhalable composition in the reservoir 103. This allows the user to easily check whether the reservoir 103 has been filled and how much is left.

[0064] The inhaler 10 according to the above-described embodiment is provided with a counter 900 linked to the filling lever 300, and when filling the inhalable composition from the canister 200 into the reservoir 103, the counter 900 counts the number of fillings using the up and down movement of the canister 200, thereby providing information on the remaining amount of composition inside the canister 200 and when it is time to replace the canister 200.

[0065] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to specific components and other specific details, limited examples, and drawings. However, these are merely provided for a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made from these descriptions. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different manner than described, and / or the described structures, devices, and other components may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or replaced or substituted with other components or equivalents, while still achieving suitable results. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and all modifications equivalent to or within the scope of the following claims, including but not limited to the spirit of the present invention, are deemed to fall within the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. a housing having one surface, another surface opposite to the one surface, and a plurality of side surfaces connecting the one surface and the other surface; a canister replaceably attached to the housing, movable between a direction toward the one side and a direction toward the other side, the canister containing an inhalable composition; a reservoir to which the canister is openably connected and in which the inhalable composition is stored; a lever that controls the opening and closing of the canister by pushing up the bottom surface of the canister; and a counter rotatably disposed between said canister and said lever; Including, One side of the canister is connected to the storage location, When the lever is pressed, the lever pushes up the bottom surface of the canister, so that the nozzle of the canister is connected to the reservoir, and the composition contained in the canister can move from the canister to the reservoir through the nozzle; The counter a first counter member having a circular shape and a center rotatably coupled to the interior of the housing; and a plurality of second counter members, each formed with sawtooth, spaced at regular intervals around the circumference of the first counter member; Including, When the canister is opened, the first counter member is rotated; The lever is a support member extending in a first direction toward the canister; and a protruding member rotatably coupled to the support member around a rotation axis provided on the support member; Including, When pressure is applied, the lever moves in the first direction, and the inclined portion at the tip of the lever moves the canister in a second direction from the other surface toward the one surface, while the protrusion member applies a pressure force in the first direction to one of the plurality of second counter members, causing the first counter member to rotate by a certain angle, thereby indicating the remaining amount of the inhalable composition in the canister.

2. The housing further includes a fixing portion having one end rotatably coupled to the housing and the other end formed in a hook shape. The inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the other end of the fixing portion meshes with the counter to restrict rotation of the counter in one direction.

3. When the lever is pressed, the support member limits the rotation of the protruding member; 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the support member allows the projection member to rotate when the lever returns to its original position.

4. 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the protrusion member is positioned such that, with its end raised toward one surface of the housing, rotation toward the canister is unrestricted and rotation away from the canister is restricted.

5. The counter further includes a reset unit disposed between the fixed unit and the counter, The inhaler of claim 2 , wherein the reset portion disengages the fastener from the counter when the canister is removed from the housing.

6. The counter further includes an elastic member provided on the first counter member, 2. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is compressed along the direction of rotation of the first counter member by the lever, and rotates the first counter member to its original position when the canister is removed from the housing.

7. 10. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the canister opens when the lever is pressurized to allow the inhalable composition to move to the reservoir and closes when the lever is not pressurized.

8. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the first counter member has different colors or a series of numbers displayed circumferentially on one side.

9. The housing includes a display window formed on one side thereof, The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the display window exposes a portion of the counter that displays the remaining amount to the outside.

10. the reservoir is made of a transparent material; The housing further includes a display window formed at a location where the storage container is disposed; 10. The inhaler of claim 1, wherein the disclosure window exposes the amount of the inhalable composition in the reservoir to the outside.

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