Inhaler

Abstract

An inhaler for inhaling a functional substance according to various embodiments includes a holder including an opening and an internal space communicating with the opening, a piercing member disposed in the internal space and protruding toward the opening, and a functional substance accommodating member inserted into the internal space of the holder along the longitudinal axis of the holder from the opening and accommodating the functional substance. The piercing member includes a plurality of holes capable of allowing air to communicate with each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The following various embodiments relate to inhalers. [Background technology]

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

[0003] The inhalers according to various embodiments induce vortex behavior of functional material powder without providing a separate vortex tunnel structure in the stick.

[0004] The inhaler according to various embodiments induces smooth ejection of functional substance powder.

[0005] The inhaler according to various embodiments aims to prevent noise due to capsule rotation.

[0006] The inhaler according to various embodiments prevents the lower hole of the capsule from being exposed, thereby preventing leakage of the functional substance powder from the lower hole of the capsule.

[0007] The inhaler, according to various embodiments, provides an appropriate resistance to inhalation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In various embodiments, the inhaler includes a holder including an opening and an internal space communicating with the opening, a piercing member disposed in the internal space and protruding toward the opening, and a functional substance containing member inserted from the opening along the longitudinal axis of the holder into the internal space of the holder and containing the functional substance, the piercing member including a plurality of holes that are air-communicative to each other.

[0009] In one embodiment, the holder includes a first holder surface having an opening formed therein, a second holder surface facing the first holder surface, and a side holder surface between the first holder surface and the second holder surface, and the internal space is formed by a recess formed concavely from the opening toward the second holder surface, and the piercing member can protrude from an end of the internal space toward the opening.

[0010] In one embodiment, the piercing member may include a base coupled to an end of the internal space, a body portion extending from the base toward the opening, a tip disposed at the end of the body portion, an air flow passage formed inside the body portion, and a plurality of air flow holes formed on the outside of the body portion and communicating with the air flow passage.

[0011] The plurality of airflow holes may be spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the body.

[0012] The functional substance containing member according to one embodiment may include a stick that can be inserted into the internal space, and a capsule that is disposed inside the stick and contains the functional substance.

[0013] The length of the piercing member from its base to its tip may be configured to be longer than the longitudinal length of the capsule.

[0014] The inhaler according to one embodiment may further include an elastic member disposed at an end of the internal space.

[0015] The airflow holes may be composed of a first set of airflow holes and a second set of airflow holes, the first set of airflow holes being formed in a first body region of the piercing member, and the second set of airflow holes being formed in a second body region of the piercing member, the first body region being a region between the base and an end of the elastic member when the elastic member is in an uncompressed state, and the second body region being a region between the end of the elastic member and the tip of the elastic member when the elastic member is in an uncompressed state.

[0016] The length of the second main body region in the longitudinal direction may be configured to be shorter than the length of the capsule in the longitudinal direction.

[0017] In an embodiment, an inlet through which airflow flows may be formed between the outside of the holder and the internal space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to various embodiments, the vortex behavior of the functional material powder can be induced even if the stick does not have a separate vortex tunnel structure.

[0019] 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 functional substance powder.

[0020] According to various embodiments, the functional material powder can be smoothly transferred without the need for rotation of the capsule, thereby preventing noise caused by the rotation of the capsule.

[0021] According to various embodiments, the lower hole of the capsule is not exposed, thereby preventing leakage of the functional material powder from the lower hole of the capsule.

[0022] According to various embodiments, the narrow airflow holes can provide an appropriate resistance to draw, improving the smoking experience.

[0023] 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 explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an inhaler according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a simplified diagram of an inhaler configuration according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a piercing member according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a functional substance containing member according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a piercing member and capsule configuration according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an inhaler according to one embodiment in operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The terms used in the embodiments are generally used and widely used at present, taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, these may change depending on the intentions of engineers working in the field, legal precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should not be simply defined by their names, but should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention.

[0026] Throughout the specification, when any part "includes" any component, this does not exclude other components, but means that it further includes other components, unless specifically stated to the contrary. Furthermore, terms such as "unit" and "module" used in the specification refer to 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.

[0027] 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 element in 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.

[0028] Figure 1 shows an inhaler 100 according to one embodiment, Figure 2 shows a schematic structure of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment in part A of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a piercing member 120 of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment, Figure 4 shows a functional substance containing member 130 of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment, and Figure 5 shows a schematic positional relationship between the piercing member 120 and a capsule 132 of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment. Finally, Figure 6 shows an operating state of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment.

[0029] The inhaler 100 according to one embodiment can deliver a functional substance to a user; for example, the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment can comprise an inhaler that delivers nicotine in aerosol form to the user's lungs.

[0030] 1 and 2, an inhaler 100 according to one embodiment includes a holder 110, a piercing member 120, and a functional substance containing member .

[0031] In one embodiment, the holder 110 may be cylindrical and have an internal space 113, and the internal space 113 may be sized to allow the functional material containing member 130, which will be described later, to be inserted therein. An opening into which the functional material containing member 130 is inserted is formed on one side of the holder 110, and the opening and the internal space 114 are connected to each other.

[0032] For example, the holder 110 includes a first holder surface 111, a second holder surface 112, and a side holder surface 113. The opening may be formed in the first holder surface 111, and the second holder surface 112 may be a surface formed on the opposite side of the first holder surface 111. A side holder surface 113 is formed between the first holder surface 111 and the second holder surface 112. The internal space 114 may be formed as a recess concavely extending from the opening of the first holder surface 111 toward the second holder surface 112, and may be elongated along a longitudinal axis of the holder 110 (e.g., ±Y direction shown in FIG. 2).

[0033] In an embodiment, an inlet (not shown) may be formed between the outside of the holder 110 and the internal space 114 to allow air outside the holder 110 to flow into the internal space 114 .

[0034] In one embodiment, the piercing member 120 may be disposed in the internal space 114 and may be formed to protrude toward the opening of the first holder surface 111. For example, the piercing member 120 may protrude from an end of the internal space 114 toward the opening (e.g., in the +Y direction shown in FIG. 2).

[0035] The inhaler 100 according to one embodiment may further include an elastic member 140. For example, the elastic member 140 may be a coil spring disposed at an end of the internal space 114 and configured to apply an elastic force to push the functional substance containing member 130 in the opening direction of the holder 110 (e.g., the +Y direction shown in FIG. 2 ) when the functional substance containing member 130 is inserted into the internal space 114 of the holder 110.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, the piercing member includes a base 121, a body 122, a tip 123, an airflow passage 124, and an airflow hole 125.

[0037] In one embodiment, the base 121 may be fixed to an end of the internal space 114 of the holder 110. The main body 112 may extend in a longitudinal direction (e.g., the ±Y direction shown in FIG. 3 ) from the base 121 toward the opening of the holder 110. A tip 123 is disposed at the end of the main body 122.

[0038] In one embodiment, an airflow passage 124 is formed inside the main body 122, and for example, the airflow passage 124 may be a cavity formed along the longitudinal direction from the base 121 through the main body 122 to just before the tip 123.

[0039] The airflow holes 125 are formed on the outside of the body 122 and are capable of communicating with the airflow passage 124. A plurality of the airflow holes 125 are provided, and the plurality of airflow holes 125 are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction. For example, the plurality of airflow holes 125 may be spaced apart from one another in a zigzag pattern along the longitudinal direction.

[0040] Here, one end of the air flow passage 124 adjacent to the base 121 (e.g., the -Y direction side in FIG. 3) or the other end of the air flow passage 124 adjacent to the tip 123 (e.g., the +Y direction side in FIG. 3) is formed in a closed structure, and airflow flowing in through the air flow hole 125 adjacent to one end of the air flow passage 124 (e.g., the -Y direction side in FIG. 3) can pass through the air flow passage 124 and exit to another air flow hole 125 adjacent to the other end of the air flow passage 124 adjacent to the tip 123 (e.g., the +Y direction side in FIG. 3).

[0041] 2 and 4, the functional substance containing member 130 includes a stick 131 and a capsule 132. For example, the stick 131 may be configured in a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the internal space 114 of the holder 110, and the capsule 132 may be disposed inside the stick 131.

[0042] For example, a functional substance may be contained in the capsule 131. For example, the functional substance may include at least one of nicotine, theanine, caffeine, taurine, a pharmacological substance, or a mixture thereof. The functional substance may be in the form of fine granules or a dry powder.

[0043] As an example, the outer shell of the capsule 132 may be made of a material that can be penetrated or cut by the piercing member 120 .

[0044] 4, the stick 131 of the functional substance containing member 130 may include a plurality of compartments. For example, the compartment containing the capsule 132 may be configured as a cavity in which the capsule is contained. Here, the capsule 132 is fixed in the cavity, thereby preventing free rotation of the capsule 132 and preventing noise caused by rotation of the capsule 132 when the functional substance is inhaled.

[0045] For example, a shearing portion made of acetyl cellulose is provided at the end of the compartment containing the capsule 132 (e.g., the -Y direction side in FIG. 4) to prevent leakage of the functional material powder. A mouthpiece that comes into contact with the user's mouth is provided at the rear end of the compartment containing the capsule 132 (e.g., the +Y direction side in FIG. 4). The cavity containing the capsule 132 and the mouthpiece are connected to allow air to pass through.

[0046] The stick 131 of the functional material containing member 130 does not have a vortex tunnel for forming a vortex (e.g., an airflow tunnel formed on one side of the stick 131 and communicating with the cavity containing the capsule 132). This is because the airflow that passes through the airflow passage 124 and the airflow hole 125 of the piercing member 120 according to one embodiment is introduced into the capsule 132 and forms a vortex.

[0047] 5, according to one embodiment, the body portion 122 of the piercing member 120 includes a first body portion region 1221 and a second body portion region 1222. The first body portion region 1221 is defined as the region of the body portion 122 between the base 121 of the piercing member 120 and the distal end of the elastic member 140 when the elastic member 140 is in an uncompressed state. The second body portion region 1222 is defined as the region of the body portion 122 between the distal end of the elastic member 140 and the tip 123 of the piercing member 120 when the elastic member 140 is in an uncompressed state.

[0048] The airflow holes 125 include a first airflow hole set 1251 and a second airflow hole set 1252. The airflow holes of the first airflow hole set 1251 may be formed in the first body region 1221, and the airflow holes of the second airflow hole set 1252 may be formed in the second body region 1222.

[0049] For example, the air flow holes 125 may include a first air flow hole 12511, a second air flow hole 12512, a third air flow hole 12521, a fourth air flow hole 12522, and a fifth air flow hole 12523 in order from the base 121 to the tip 123 of the piercing member 120, and the first air flow hole 12511 and the second air flow hole 12512 may be formed in the first body portion region 1221, and the third air flow hole 12521, the fourth air flow hole 12522, and the fifth air flow hole 12523 may be formed in the second body portion region 1222. The first airflow hole set 1251 may include the first airflow hole 12511 and the second airflow hole 12512, and the second airflow hole set 1252 may include the third airflow hole 12521, the fourth airflow hole 12522, and the fifth airflow hole 12523. Here, during transfer of a functional material, the first airflow hole set 1251 serves as an inlet through which air flows into the airflow passage 124, and the second airflow hole set 1252 serves as an outlet through which air flows out to the capsule 132.

[0050] In one embodiment, the length D from the base 121 to the tip 123 of the piercing member 120 may be configured to be longer than the length C of the capsule 132 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the ±Y direction shown in FIG. 5). When the length D of the piercing member 120 is configured to be sufficiently longer than the length C of the capsule 132 in the longitudinal direction, the piercing member 120 can enter one side of the capsule 132 (e.g., the −Y direction shown in FIG. 5) and penetrate to the other side of the capsule 132 (e.g., the +Y direction shown in FIG. 5). When the piercing member 120 penetrates the capsule 132, a through-hole through which air can pass is formed on the other side of the capsule 132, and the through-hole is connected to the mouthpiece of the functional substance containing member 130 so that air can pass through.

[0051] In one embodiment, a length D of the second body region 1222 of the piercing member 120 in a longitudinal direction (e.g., in the ±Y direction shown in FIG. 5 ) may be configured to be shorter than a length C of the capsule 132 in the longitudinal direction. Since the length D of the second body region 1222 in the longitudinal direction is configured to be shorter than the length C of the capsule 132 in the longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the second body region 1222 may be disposed inside the capsule 132 when the capsule 132 retracts from the base 121 of the piercing member 120 due to the elastic force of the elastic member 140. Here, at least a portion of the air flow holes 12521, 12522, and 12523 of the second air flow hole set 1252 formed in the second body region 1222 are located inside the capsule 132, and the air flow passage 124 and the interior of the capsule 132 are connected to each other so as to be airtight.

[0052] As another example, when the inhaler 100 according to an embodiment does not include a separate elastic member, the user may insert the stick 131 of the functional material containing member 130 into the internal space 114 of the holder 110, press it appropriately, and then slightly lift the stick 131 while it is still inserted in the internal space 114. Here, the user may lift the stick 131 to the inhalation position where the second airflow hole set 1252 is positioned inside the capsule 132. A marker (e.g., a guide line) indicating the inhalation position may be displayed on the outer surface of the holder 110 or the stick 131.

[0053] The operation of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0054] 6(a), when the functional substance containing member 130 is inserted into the holder 110, the capsule 132 is pierced in the longitudinal direction by the piercing member 120. Here, when the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment includes an elastic member 140, the elastic member 140 may be compressed by the functional substance containing member 130.

[0055] 6(b), the capsule 132 is retracted from the base 121 of the piercing member 120, and the functional material is placed at the inhalation position. Here, a through-hole is formed at one end of the capsule 132 by the retraction of the piercing member 120, and the through-hole is connected to the internal space 114 of the holder 110, the airflow hole 125, the airflow passage 124, and the internal space of the capsule 132 in an air-communicable state.

[0056] For example, if the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment includes the elastic member 140, the capsule 132 may retract due to the restoring force (elastic force) of the elastic member 140. As another example, if the elastic member 140 is not provided, the user may move the capsule 132 to the inhalation position using a marker that indicates the inhalation position.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 6(c), when the user applies inhalation force while biting the mouthpiece at the inhalation position, an airflow path P is formed through the internal space 114 of the holder 110, the first airflow hole set 1251, the airflow passage 124, the second airflow hole set 1252, the internal space of the capsule 132, and toward the mouthpiece.

[0058] Here, the airflow (air) flowing into the airflow passage 124 through the first airflow hole 12511 or the second airflow hole 12512 flows into the internal space of the capsule 132 through the third airflow hole 12521, the fourth airflow hole 12522, or the fifth airflow hole 12523. The first airflow hole 12511, the second airflow hole 12512, the third airflow hole 12521, the fourth airflow hole 12522, or the fifth airflow hole 12523 are arranged in a zigzag pattern and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, so that the airflow flowing into the internal space of the capsule 132 can form a vortex. This vortex allows the functional material (e.g., nicotine powder) to be smoothly transported toward the mouthpiece without the capsule 132 rotating.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the inhaler 100, even if a separate vortex tunnel is not formed in the stick 131, the airflow flowing into the internal space of the capsule 132 can form a vortex due to the configuration of the airflow hole 125 formed in the piercing member 120, thereby allowing for smooth transfer of the functional substance (e.g., nicotine powder).

[0060] In addition, according to one embodiment of the inhaler 100, even if the capsule 132 does not rotate, the functional material can be smoothly transferred due to the configuration of the airflow holes 125 formed in the piercing member 120, thereby preventing unnecessary noise caused by the rotation of the capsule 132.

[0061] In one embodiment, the piercing member 120 of the inhaler 100 is inserted into the lower part of the capsule 132 when the functional substance is inhaled, thereby reducing unnecessary leakage of the functional powder through the lower part of the capsule 132.

[0062] The airflow path P of the inhaler 100 according to one embodiment includes a relatively narrow airflow hole 125, which can provide an appropriate inhalation resistance, thereby providing the user with a better smoking experience.

[0063] The above description of the embodiments is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to the content 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, a holder including an opening and an interior space communicating with the opening; a piercing member disposed in the interior space and protruding toward the opening; a functional substance containing member that is inserted into the internal space of the holder from the opening along the longitudinal axis of the holder and contains the functional substance; Including, The piercing member has a plurality of holes that are air-communicable with each other; Including, The inhaler further includes a resilient member disposed at an end of the interior space.

2. the holder includes a first holder surface having an opening formed therein, a second holder surface facing the first holder surface, and a side holder surface between the first holder surface and the second holder surface; the internal space is formed by a recess formed in a concave shape from the opening toward the second holder surface, The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the piercing member protrudes from a distal end of the interior space toward the opening.

3. The piercing member comprises: a base coupled to an end of the interior space; a main body extending from the base toward the opening; a tip disposed at a distal end of the body; an airflow passage formed inside the main body; a plurality of airflow holes formed on the outside of the main body and communicating with the airflow passage; 3. The inhaler of claim 2, comprising:

4. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of airflow holes are spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the main body.

5. The functional substance containing member is a stick insertable into the internal space; a capsule disposed inside the stick and containing the functional substance; 5. The inhaler of claim 4, comprising:

6. The inhaler of claim 5, wherein the length of the piercing member from the base to the tip is longer than the longitudinal length of the capsule.

7. The airflow holes are composed of a first airflow hole set and a second airflow hole set, the first set of airflow holes is formed in a first body region of the piercing member, and the second set of airflow holes is formed in a second body region of the piercing member; the first body region is a region between the base and an end of the elastic member when the elastic member is in an uncompressed state; 4. The inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the second body region is a region between the distal end and the distal end of the elastic member when the elastic member is in an uncompressed state.

8. The inhaler according to claim 7, wherein the length of the second body region in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the length of a capsule containing a functional substance in the longitudinal direction.

9. The inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein an inlet through which air flows is formed between the outside of the holder and the internal space.

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