HOLDER FOR INHALER ARTICLE

Abstract

A holder (150) for an inhaler article (110) includes a housing (151) defining an inhaler article cavity (154). A piercing element (160) is fixed to and extends into the inhaler article cavity. A sleeve (180) is disposed within the inhaler article cavity and is configured to retain an inhaler article. The sleeve is movable along the housing longitudinal axis. A spring element (200) is configured to bias the sleeve toward the open proximal end (156) of the housing.

Claims

1. A holder for an inhaler device comprising: a housing, having a housing outer surface and a housing inner surface, the housing inner surface defining an inhaler article cavity, the housing extending along a housing longitudinal axis from a distal end to an open proximal end a housing length, the housing open proximal end is configured to receive the distal end of an inhaler article into the inhaler article cavity; a piercing element fixed to and extending from the housing inner surface, into the inhaler article cavity along a piercing element longitudinal axis a piercing element length, the piercing element being recessed from the open proximal end a recessed distance; a sleeve disposed within the inhaler article cavity and configured to retain an inhaler article, the sleeve being movable along the housing longitudinal axis; and a spring element configured to bias the sleeve toward the open proximal end of the housing.

2. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is disposed within the inhaler article cavity between the sleeve and the distal end of the housing and contacts the sleeve and the distal end of the housing.

3. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is disposed about the piercing element.

4. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is a conical spring.

5. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element extends beyond the spring element when the sleeve compresses the spring element.

6. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an elongated slot extending along a longitudinal length of the sleeve and the housing further comprise an alignment pin extending from the inner surface of the inhaler article cavity, the pin being configured to mate with the elongated slot.

7. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve defines an first air inlet zone comprising at least one air aperture through the sleeve, the first air inlet zone proximate to a proximal end of the sleeve, the first air inlet zone configured to allow air to flow from an inside of the sleeve to an airflow channel formed between the sleeve and the housing inner surface, and the sleeve comprises a second air inlet zone comprising at least one air aperture through the sleeve, the second air inlet zone proximate to a distal end of the sleeve, the second air inlet zone configured to allow air to flow from the airflow channel to an inside of the sleeve.

8. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve defines an inner cavity and a portion of the inner cavity has a reduced internal diameter relative to remaining portions of the inner cavity.

9. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve defines an inner cavity having a reduced inner diameter between the first air inlet zone and the second air inlet zone, and the first air inlet zone and the second air inlet zone each have a greater inner diameter than the reduced inner diameter between the first air inlet zone and the second air inlet zone.

10. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining ring element fixed to the open proximal end of the housing, the retaining ring element retains the sleeve within the inhaler article cavity.

11. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, further comprising a marking element extending into the inhaler article cavity from the housing inner surface, the marking element configured to mark the surface of an inhaler article when the inhaler article is received within the inhaler article cavity.

12. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 11, wherein the marking element is configured to scratch, or apply a color, to the outer surface of an inhaler article when the inhaler article is received within the inhaler article cavity.

13. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 11, wherein the marking element is configured to mark the outer surface of an inhaler article when the piercing element penetrates a capsule disposed within the inhaler article.

14. An inhaler system comprising: an inhaler article comprising a body having an outer surface, the body extending along an inhaler longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end, a body length, and a capsule disposed within the inhaler article body; and the holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element pierces the capsule when the inhaler article is received in the inhaler article cavity.

15. The holder for an inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve extends from a sleeve open proximal end to a sleeve distal end and a base surface located at the distal end, the piercing element extends into the sleeve through the base surface.

16. The inhaler system according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve extends from a sleeve open proximal end to a sleeve distal end and a base surface located at the distal end, the piercing element extends into the sleeve through the base surface.

17. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the distal end of the inhaler article contacts the base surface of the sleeve.

18. The inhaler system according to claim 14, wherein inhalation air enters the housing open proximal end and then enters the inhaler article distal end.

19. The inhaler system according to claim 17, wherein inhalation air enters the housing open proximal end and then enters the inhaler article distal end.

20. The inhaler system according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve retains the inhaler article via interference fit.

Description

[0101] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative inhaler system.

[0102] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative holder.

[0103] FIG. 3A is a side elevation schematic diagram of an illustrative rectangular holder.

[0104] FIG. 3B is a top elevation schematic diagram of the illustrative rectangular holder of FIG. 3A.

[0105] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative rectangular holder of FIG. 3B taken along line A-A.

[0106] FIG. 4A is a side elevation schematic diagram of an illustrative flat holder.

[0107] FIG. 4B is a top elevation schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder of FIG. 4A.

[0108] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder of FIG. 4B taken along line A-A.

[0109] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating air flow through an inhaler article and system.

[0110] The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawing fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0111] An inhaler system 100 includes an inhaler article 110 and a holder 150. The inhaler article 110 comprises a body 112 defining an inhaler outer surface. The body 112 extends along an inhaler longitudinal axis from mouthpiece, or proximal end 116 to a distal end 118 a body length.

[0112] A holder 150 for an inhaler device 110 includes, a housing 151, a piercing element 160 and a sleeve 180. The housing 151 has a housing outer surface 153 and a housing inner surface 152. The housing inner surface 152 defines an inhaler article cavity 154. The housing 151 extends along a housing longitudinal axis from a distal end 155 to an open proximal end 156 a housing length. The housing open proximal end 156 is configured to receive the distal end 118 of an inhaler article 110 into the inhaler article cavity 154. A piercing element 160 is fixed to and extends from the housing inner surface 152, into the inhaler article cavity 154 along a piercing element longitudinal axis a piercing element length. The piercing element 160 is recessed from the open proximal end 156 a recessed distance. A sleeve 180 is disposed within the inhaler article cavity 154 and configured to retain an inhaler article 110. The sleeve 180 is movable along the housing longitudinal axis.

[0113] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view an exemplary inhaler system 100. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative holder 150. FIG. 3A is a side elevation schematic diagram of an illustrative rectangular holder 150. FIG. 3B is a top elevation schematic diagram of the illustrative rectangular holder 150 of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative rectangular holder 150 of FIG. 3B taken along line A-A. FIG. 4A is a side elevation schematic diagram of an illustrative flat holder 150. FIG. 4B is a top elevation schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder 150 of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative flat holder 150 of FIG. 4B taken along line A-A.

[0114] The inhaler system 100 includes an inhaler article 110 and a separate holder 150. The inhaler article 110 may be received within the holder 150 to activate or pierce a capsule 130 disposed within the inhaler article 110. The inhaler article 110 may remain in the holder 150 during use by the consumer.

[0115] The inhaler article 110 includes a body 112 extending along a longitudinal axis L.sub.A from a mouthpiece end 116 to a distal end 118 and a capsule cavity 125 defined within the body 112. The body 112 may have a uniform diameter of about 7.5 mm and a length of about 55 mm. The body 112 may have a uniform diameter inner diameter of about 6.5 mm. The body 112 may have a uniform thickness about 1 mm. A mouthpiece air channel 115 extends from the capsule cavity 125 to the mouthpiece end 116. An end cap or end element 122 is disposed within the distal end 118 and extends to the capsule cavity 125. The end cap or end element 122 includes an air channel 123 extending along the end cap or end element 122. The air channel 123 creates a swirling airflow through the capsule cavity 125. The end cap or end element 122 and a boundary element 120 bound the capsule cavity 125. A capsule 130 is disposed within the capsule cavity 125. The capsule 130 contains particles comprising nicotine. The end cap or end element 122 and the boundary element 120 cooperate to contain the capsule 130 longitudinally within the capsule cavity 125. The capsule 130 axis of rotation may be coextensive with the longitudinal axis L.sub.A.

[0116] The inhaler article end cap or end element 122 may include a linear piercing channel extending through the length of the end cap or end element 122. The linear piercing channel may be co-axial with the longitudinal axis L.sub.A of the inhaler body 112. The linear piercing channel may be sized to allow a piercing element 160 to pass through the linear piercing channel. The end cap or end element 122 may define a resealable element disposed along or within the linear piercing channel. Resealable elements or membranes may include a septum or septum-like element. Resealable elements or membranes may be formed of elastic material such as rubber, silicone, metal foil co-laminated with a polymer, or latex and the like, or cellulose acetate tow, such as high-density cellulose acetate tow.

[0117] The sleeve 180 may have a base surface 181 for contacting the distal end 118 of an inhaler article 110. The base surface 180 may define a distal end of the sleeve 180 and oppose an open proximal end of the sleeve 180. The sleeve 180 may extend from the distal end to the open proximal end.

[0118] The sleeve 180 may include an aperture 182 and the piercing element 160 may extend thorough the aperture 182. The distal end 118 of the inhaler article 110 may contact the base surface 181 of the sleeve 180 and urge the sleeve to travel toward the piercing element 160.

[0119] The sleeve 180 may include an elongated slot 183 extending along a longitudinal length of the sleeve 180 and an alignment pin 170 extends from the inner surface 152 of the inhaler article cavity 154 and the alignment pin 170 configured to mate with the elongated slot 183. The elongated slot 183 may define an elongated opening that extends longitudinally along the sleeve 180.

[0120] The sleeve 180 may include two or more air inlet apertures 184. The air inlet apertures 184 may extend through the sidewall of the sleeve 180 to allow inlet air to pass through the sleeve 180, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described below. Thus, a consumer may draw air though the inhaler article 110 while the inhaler article 110 is seated onto the holder 150. Inlet air may flow from the open proximal end 156 of the housing 151 through the two or more air inlet apertures 184 and along an air channel formed between the sleeve 180 and the inner surface 152 of the inhaler article 110 to the air inlets of the inhaler article 123.

[0121] The holder 150 may include a retaining ring element 158 fixed to the open proximal end 156 of the housing 151. The retaining ring element 158 retains the sleeve 180 within the inhaler article cavity 154.

[0122] The holder 150 may include a spring element 200 configured to bias the sleeve 180 between a relaxed and compressed position. The spring element 200 may be contained within the inhaler article cavity 154 of the holder 150 and be compressed as the movable sleeve 180 and inhaler article 110 move toward the piercing element 160. The spring element 200 may be fixed to the distal end 155 of the holder 150 or fixed to the distal end of the sleeve 180, or fixed to both.

[0123] The spring element 200 biases the inhaler article 110 off of and away from the piercing element 160 once the piercing element 160 activates the inhaler article 110 by puncturing the capsule 130.

[0124] The housing 150 may have an overall longitudinal length in a range from about 40 mm to about 60 mm. The sleeve 180 may have an overall longitudinal length in a range from about 15 mm to about 30 mm. The spring element 200 may have an overall longitudinal length in a range from about 15 mm to about 30 mm. The sleeve 180 may travel or be movable an overall longitudinal distance in a range from about 15 mm to about 30 mm. The spring 200 may compress an overall longitudinal distance in a range from about 15 mm to about 30 mm.

[0125] In one embodiment, the inhaler article 110 has a longitudinal length of about 45 mm, and the housing 150 has a longitudinal length of about 50 mm to about 55 mm. Once received in the holder 150 (and the sleeve 180 and spring element 200 in the relaxed position), the inhaler article 110 has about 50% of its longitudinal length received within the holder 150 and about 50% of its longitudinal length extending from the holder 150. In this embodiment, A consumer may urge the inhaler article 110 onto the piercing element, compressing the spring element 200, puncturing the capsule 130 to activate the capsule 130. In the compressed position, less than about 10% of the inhaler article 110 longitudinal length extends from the holder 150 or about 1 mm to about 5 mm of the inhaler article 110 longitudinal length extends from the holder 150. The linear or longitudinal distance between the relaxed and compressed position may be from about 15 mm to about 25 mm, or about 20 mm.

[0126] The holder may include a marking element 190. The marking element 190 places a mark on the inhaler outer surface 112 to indicate that the capsule 130 has been activated or pierced. Then the inhaler article 110 may be maintained within the holder 150 and consumed by the user and the consumed inhaler article 110 may be replaced and user may then repeat this method with the holder 150 and further a non-activated inhaler article 110.

[0127] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating air flow though ah inhaler system 100. An inhaler article 110 is shown in broken lines and received within the sleeve 180 of the holder 150.

[0128] The sleeve 180 may define a first air inlet zone comprising at least one air aperture 184 through the sleeve 180. The first air inlet zone is proximate to a proximal end of the sleeve 180. The first air inlet zone is configured to allow air 10 to flow from inside of the sleeve 180 to an airflow channel 187 formed between the sleeve 180 and the housing inner surface 152. Airflow 12 moves from the first air inlet zone to the second air inlet zone.

[0129] The sleeve 180 may comprise a second air inlet zone comprising at least one air aperture 185 through the sleeve 180. The second air inlet zone is proximate to a distal end of the sleeve 180. The second air inlet zone is configured to allow air 14 to flow from the airflow channel 187 to inside of the sleeve 180.

[0130] The sleeve 180 defines an inner cavity 186 and a portion of the inner cavity 186 may have a reduced internal diameter D.sub.R relative to remaining portions of the inner cavity D. Preferably, a portion of the inner cavity 186 may have an internal diameter D.sub.R which is the same as or slightly less than the outer diameter of an inhaler article 110. This may advantageously allow the inhaler article 110 to be securely retained within the sleeve 180 due to an interference fit.

[0131] The portion of the inner cavity 186 between the first air inlet zone and the second air inlet zone may have a reduced diameter D.sub.R which is the same as or slightly less than the outer diameter of an inhaler article 110. In these embodiments, the air (inhalation air) is unable to pass from the proximal end of the sleeve to the distal end of the sleeve 180 between the sleeve 180 and the inhalation article 110. In these embodiments, the provision of a first and second air inlet zone 184, 185 advantageously allows air 10 to enter the open end 154 of the holder 150 and pass to the distal end of an inhaler article while still allowing the inhaler article 110 to be securely retained in the sleeve 180.

[0132] Inhalation air 10 enters the open end 154 of the holder 150 and passes through the sleeve 180 at the first air inlet zone 184 forming channel air 12 flowing along airflow channel 187 to the second air inlet zone 185. Air 14 flows into the inner cavity 186 via the second air inlet zone 185 and into the inhaler article 110. Air 16 flows through the inhaler article 110 to the consumer.