ORAL DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS, IN PARTICULAR FOR LIQUIDS CONTAINING NICOTINE OR CANNABIS

Abstract

An oral dispenser for discharging a liquid in atomized form. This oral dispenser has a liquid reservoir of variable internal volume for receiving the liquid prior to the discharge, and a spring mechanism. When the spring mechanism is loaded, the liquid in the liquid reservoir is placed lastingly under positive pressure. The oral dispenser moreover has an atomization nozzle unit with at least one nozzle opening, and an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the atomization nozzle unit. An outlet valve in the outlet channel can adopt an opened state and a closed state. A mouthpiece is provided for inhaling the liquid atomized by the atomization nozzle unit. A refill opening is separate from the atomization nozzle unit and connected to the liquid reservoir, wherein the spring mechanism is loaded by liquid fed through the refill opening into the liquid reservoir.

Claims

1. An oral dispenser for discharging a liquid in atomized form, comprising: a liquid reservoir of variable internal volume for storing the liquid prior to discharge; a spring mechanism by which, when the spring mechanism is loaded, the liquid in the liquid reservoir is permanently under positive pressure; an atomization nozzle unit with at least one nozzle opening with a maximum cross-section of 0.002 mm.sup.2; an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the atomization nozzle unit; an outlet valve provided in the outlet channel which can adopt an open state and a closed state; a mouthpiece for inhalation of the liquid atomized by the atomization nozzle unit; and a refill opening separate from the atomization nozzle unit and connected to the liquid reservoir, wherein the spring mechanism is loaded by liquid fed through the refill opening into the liquid reservoir.

2. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, including a nicotine-containing liquid in the liquid reservoir or a cannabis-containing liquid in the liquid reservoir.

3. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured such that in a fully loaded state with the liquid reservoir completely filled, the spring mechanism exerts a force which places the liquid in the liquid reservoir under a pressure of at least 4 bar.

4. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oral dispenser has an elongate form oriented in a main extent direction.

5. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoir is delimited at least in portions by a wall having a flexible form, and the spring mechanism is configured for exerting a force on the form-flexible wall to reduce a size of the liquid reservoir.

6. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the form-flexible wall is configured as an elastically expandable hose surrounding the liquid reservoir.

7. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the oral dispenser has a central mandrel surrounded by the elastic hose, and the liquid reservoir is provided at least partially as a ring between an outer face of the central mandrel and an inside of the hose.

8. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, the liquid reservoir is delimited at least in portions by a displaceable wall, and the spring mechanism is configured to exert a force on the displaceable wall, the force being oriented in a direction to reduce the size of the liquid reservoir.

9. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle opening comprises a plurality of nozzle openings configured as openings in a common nozzle plate.

10. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet valve is configured as a manually actuatable outlet valve.

11. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet valve is configured as a lip-actuatable outlet valve and has an actuating face on the mouthpiece or in the region of the mouthpiece, the actuating face, when force-loaded by a user’s lips, causing the outlet valve to transfer from the closed to the open state.

12. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet valve is formed as a breath-controlled outlet valve and has a vacuum chamber in communication with the mouthpiece and provided with a displaceable chamber wall, the displaceable chamber wall transferring the outlet valve from the closed to the open state by vacuum-induced displacement.

13. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, with at least one of the following further features: the refill opening is provided with an inlet valve openable by external positive pressure and/or by mechanical pressure of a refill connector and pressable into a closed position by internal pressure; and/or the oral dispenser has an outer housing; and/or the oral dispenser has an inner component having a valve recess in which a valve orifice element of the outlet valve is movably mounted, and/or the inner component in portions forming the outlet channel, and/or the inner component forming a guide mandrel or a central mandrel; and/or the liquid reservoir has a maximum volume of 10 ml; and/or a liquid filter is arranged in the outlet channel upstream of the atomization nozzle unit.

14. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one air channel through which air flows into the mouthpiece in order to be inhaled with the atomized liquid.

15. An inhalation system comprising: an oral dispenser for discharging a liquid in atomized form, the oral dispenser comprising: a liquid reservoir of variable internal volume for storing the liquid prior to discharge; a spring mechanism by which, the spring mechanism is loaded, the liquid in the liquid reservoir is permanently under positive pressure; an atomization nozzle unit with at least one nozzle opening with a maximum cross-section of 0.002 mm.sup.2; an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the atomization nozzle unit; an outlet valve provided in the outlet channel which can adopt an open state and a closed state; a mouthpiece for inhalation of the liquid atomized by the atomization nozzle unit; and a refill opening separate from the atomization nozzle unit and connected to the liquid reservoir, wherein the spring mechanism is loaded by liquid fed through the refill opening into the liquid reservoir; a refill dispenser containing pressurized liquid or pressurizable liquid and configured for coupling to the refill opening of the oral dispenser.

16. An oral dispenser for discharging a liquid containing nicotine or cannabis in atomized form, comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing the nicotine- or cannabis-containing liquid prior to discharge, the liquid reservoir being formed as a pressure reservoir storing the liquid under positive pressure; an atomization nozzle unit; an outlet channel connecting the liquid reservoir to the atomization nozzle unit; an outlet valve provided in the outlet channel and having an open state and a closed state; and a mouthpiece for inhalation of the liquid atomized by the atomization nozzle unit, wherein the outlet valve is configured as a mechanically lip-actuatable outlet valve and has an actuating face on the mouthpiece or in the region of the mouthpiece, the actuating face, under force-loading from a user’s lips, causing the outlet valve to transfer from the closed to the open state.

17. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outlet valve has a pivotingly movable actuating lever, the actuating lever being pivotable by force-loading of the actuating face and the outlet valve including a valve orifice element movable from a closed position to an open position by the pivot movement of the actuating lever.

18. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the oral dispenser has an air inlet channel through which ambient air is drawn in.

19. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 16,with at least one the following further features: the liquid reservoir has a variable inner volume; and/or the oral dispenser has a spring mechanism, wherein when the spring mechanism is loaded, the liquid in the liquid reservoir is permanently under positive pressure; and/or the atomization nozzle unit has at least one nozzle opening with a maximum cross-section of 0.002 mm.sup.2; and/or the oral dispenser has a refill opening separate from the atomization nozzle unit and connected to the liquid reservoir, wherein the spring mechanism is loaded by liquid being fed through the refill opening into the liquid reservoir; and/or the liquid reservoir is filled with a nicotine- or cannabis-containing liquid.

20. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle opening comprises a plurality of nozzle openings having cross-sections in total amounting to a maximum of 0.04 mm.sup.2.

21. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the atomization nozzle unit is configured such that with an internal liquid pressure of 4 bar, a liquid flow between 5 .Math.l/second and 30 .Math.l/second is dispensed by the atomization nozzle unit.

22. The oral dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the refill opening is arranged at a distal end of the oral dispenser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Further advantages and aspects of the invention arise from the claims and the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention which are explained below with reference to the figures.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows an oral dispenser according to a first preferred design in perspective view.

[0055] FIGS. 1A to 1C show the oral dispenser of FIG. 1 in other perspectives.

[0056] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the oral dispenser from FIG. 1 in two sectional views.

[0057] FIG. 2C shows an enlarged illustration of the atomization nozzle unit of the oral dispenser.

[0058] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the loading of the oral dispenser.

[0059] FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate the use of the oral dispenser.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an oral dispenser according to a second proposed design in perspective view.

[0061] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the oral dispenser from FIG. 4 in two sectional views.

[0062] FIGS. 6 and 7 show two alternative concepts for implementing an outlet valve which may be used in both designs of an oral dispenser according to FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0063] FIGS. 8A to 8C show an alternative form of a central mandrel for the oral dispenser according to FIGS. 1 to 3D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0064] FIGS. 1 to 3D show a first embodiment of an oral dispenser according to the invention.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows the oral dispenser 10 in an overall perspective illustration. The oral dispenser 10 has an elongate housing oriented in a main extent direction 2, at the proximal end 10A of which a mouthpiece 12 is provided. On its casing surface in this exemplary embodiment, an actuating pusher 52 is provided, by means of which a further outlet valve 50 (to be explained below) can be opened.

[0066] With reference now to FIGS. 1A to 1C, it is clear that at the proximal end in the mouthpiece 12, an atomization nozzle unit 40 is arranged which has a nozzle plate 42 with a plurality of nozzle openings 44. On the outer edge of the approximately cylindrical mouthpiece 12, a ring channel 82 is also provided, through which air can be drawn in through the mouthpiece 12. To this end, the air is drawn in through inlets 84.

[0067] A refill opening 60 is provided at the opposite distal end 10B of the oral dispenser 10.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 1A, an outer housing 70 of the oral dispenser 10 comprises two half-shells 70A, 70B. These half-shells contain a plurality of components (to be described below) which serve for mounting and for targeted atomization of liquid.

[0069] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the oral dispenser 10 in sectional illustration, wherein the section planes are offset by 90° relative to one another.

[0070] It is clear from the figures that three inner components 72, 73, 74 are provided inside the outer housing 70. The inner component 72, at its right-hand end in FIG. 2A, forms a central mandrel 76 which extends almost up to the distal end 10B of the oral dispenser 10. A hose-like component 32 of elastomer is pushed over this central mandrel 76. A space between an outside of the central mandrel 76 and an inside of this hose 32 forms the liquid reservoir 20. In the illustrations in FIGS. 2A and 2B, this liquid reservoir is not filled. The liquid reservoir is connected by radial openings 77 to a liquid channel 90, 92 which extends through the central mandrel 76 in the main extent direction 2.

[0071] The left-hand part 92 of this liquid channel in FIGS. 2A and 2B forms part of an outlet channel 92. Starting from the liquid reservoir 20, this outlet channel 92 leads to the outlet valve 50. In the design in FIGS. 1 to 3D, in addition to the actuating pusher 52, a valve orifice element 54 with an orifice 54A is attached this outlet valve 50 so as to be movable inside a valve recess 72A. The actuating pusher 52 is pressed into the position of FIG. 2A by a return spring. When pressed down against the force of the return spring, the orifice 54A can be brought into a position aligning with the outlet channel 92 so that the liquid flows through the valve orifice element 54 to the right-hand side. On the right-hand side and hence downstream of the outlet valve 50, firstly a liquid filter 46 is provided, which is configured as a membrane filter, inserted in the inner component 73 and preferably encapsulated thereby. The liquid flowing through the outlet valve 50 is thus freed of any contaminants which may be present and would otherwise be able to disrupt the function of the atomization nozzle unit 40.

[0072] The above-mentioned atomization nozzle unit 40 is situated downstream of the membrane filter 46. Its main component is a thin nozzle plate, for example made of silicon, which is punctured by a plurality of nozzle openings 44. The nozzle plate 42 is fixed in a sleeve-like plastic carrier 43 which in turn is inserted in a corresponding recess of the inner component 74.

[0073] Upstream of the described liquid reservoir 20 is the refill channel 90, as a channel provided in the central mandrel 76 and extending to the refill opening 60. The liquid reservoir 20 is however normally isolated against the external environment since an inlet valve 62 is provided in the form of an overpressure valve, which is pressed into its closed position under the positive pressure usually prevailing in the oral dispenser 10. For this, a valve body of the inlet valve 62 is pressed against an elastically deformable ring region which is formed by the component of the hose 32. This is explained below with reference to FIG. 3B.

[0074] As evident from FIG. 2B and also FIG. 1C, and as has already been mentioned in this context, the oral dispenser 10 has two air channels 80 which each open into the above-mentioned ring channel 82, which itself opens into the mouthpiece 12.

[0075] FIG. 2C shows an enlarged view of the atomization nozzle unit 40. It shows the sleeve component 41 surrounding a passage, in which the nozzle plate 42 with nozzle openings 44 is provided. The nozzle openings each have a clear cross-section of 100 .Math.m.sup.2. In the present exemplary embodiment, 25 such nozzle openings 44 are provided.

[0076] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the process of filling the oral dispenser 10. To fill the oral dispenser 10, a refill dispenser 110 is provided which, together with the oral dispenser 10, forms an inhalation system 100.

[0077] The refill dispenser 110 has a pressure reservoir with an outlet valve 114 at its upper end which can be opened by means of a valve connector. The valve connector forms a refill connector 112 for insertion into the refill opening 60 of the oral dispenser 10. If the oral dispenser 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, is pressed down on the refill opening 60 after application of the refill connector 112, the outlet valve 114 of the refill dispenser 110 is opened, and by force application by means of the refill connector 112, the inlet valve 62 of the oral dispenser 10 is also opened.

[0078] Since a pressure of 8 bar prevails in the refill dispenser 110, liquid can pass into the refill channel 90 through the refill connector 112 and into the liquid reservoir 20 of the oral dispenser. The liquid path 4 illustrates this.

[0079] There, under the pressure prevailing in the refill dispenser 110, the hose 32 is expanded and thereby elastically deformed such that, after removal of the oral dispenser 10 from the refill dispenser 110 and the resulting closure of the inlet valve 62, it exerts a pressure of around 4 bar on the liquid present in the liquid reservoir 20.

[0080] FIG. 3C shows the now loaded oral dispenser 10 with expanded hose 32.

[0081] If now, in the manner shown in FIG. 3D, the outlet valve 50 is opened by depressing the actuating pusher 52, the liquid flows out of the liquid reservoir 20 along the liquid path 6 through the orifice 54A of the valve orifice element 50 to the atomization nozzle unit 40, which performs the atomization as illustrated with the dotted arrows in FIG. 3D. At the same time, the user sucks on the mouthpiece 12, whereby an external air jacket is generated via the air channels 80 in the mouthpiece 12 and is inhaled by the user together with the atomized liquid.

[0082] FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B illustrate an alternative structure of the oral dispenser 10. The main difference between the structure of the preceding figures and this design is that in this design, the liquid reservoir 20 is delimited by a displaceable wall in the manner of a piston 36. This is guided by a central guide mandrel 78 and permanently force-loaded in the direction of the mouthpiece 12 by a spring mechanism 30 formed as a coil spring. When the liquid reservoir 20 is filled, because of the spring mechanism 30, the liquid stands under a pressure which is sufficiently high for atomization to take place at the atomization nozzle unit 40 in the fashion described above. As the discharge of the liquid from the liquid reservoir 20 progresses, the piston 36 is moved further in the direction of the mouthpiece.

[0083] When the refill dispenser 110 is applied in this design, the liquid reservoir 20 is here refilled, while at the same time the piston 36 is deflected further against the force of the spring mechanism 30. For this, the liquid flows from the refill opening 60 through the inlet valve 62 (here formed as an overpressure valve) into the refill channel 90 and through radial openings 74 in the guide mandrel 78 into the liquid reservoir 20.

[0084] FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative designs of the outlet valve which may be implemented equally well in both preceding embodiments of the liquid reservoir.

[0085] With the design according to FIG. 6, lip actuation of the outlet valve 50 is provided. For this, an actuation lever 56 is provided which is pivotable about a pivot axis 57, wherein the proximal end of said lever has an actuating face 55 which is pressed down in correct use by compression of the user’s lips. The orifice 54A of the valve orifice element 54 is provided on the opposite leg of the actuating lever 56. When the actuating face 55 is pressed down, the orifice 54A is raised so that it aligns with the adjoining parts of the outlet channel 92, and hence liquid passes from the liquid reservoir 20 to the atomization nozzle unit 40.

[0086] An air inlet opening 13 is provided on the mouthpiece 12. This allows the user to surround the mouthpiece and actuating face 55 with his lips and then draw in air through the air inlet opening 13 even before actuation of the actuating face 55. During this process, the discharge of the nicotine- or cannabis-containing liquid can be started by compression of the user’s lips and hence depression of the actuating face 55. By judicious application of force, the user is also able to align the orifice 54A only partially with the outlet channel 92 and thereby achieve only a low discharge of liquid. In a similar fashion to a cigarette, the user can thus control the discharge according to his wish.

[0087] The design according to FIG. 7 is a design with breath actuation of the outlet valve 50. When the user sucks on the mouthpiece 12, this not only serves to draw in air through the already described air channels 80, but also to extract air through the additional air channel 86 from a vacuum chamber 58 of the outlet valve 50, and the flexible chamber wall 59 of the vacuum chamber 58 therefore presses the valve orifice element 54 downward. In this way again, the orifice 54A in the valve orifice element 54 comes into communication with adjoining parts of the outlet channel 92 and liquid flows to the atomization nozzle unit 40.

[0088] In the example of FIG. 7, the vacuum chamber is connected to the environment via an opening 53. The flow resistance through the opening is greater than the flow resistance through the channel 86. Thus the vacuum is created in the vacuum chamber 58. An additional air channel corresponding to the above-described air channels 80 is not necessary with this design, since air can reach the mouthpiece through the opening 53 and the air channel 86.

[0089] In alternative designs, the opening 53 may also be omitted and instead the described air channels 80 provided. With suitable design of the respective choke effects of the openings, a vacuum can then be created in the vacuum chamber 59.

[0090] FIGS. 8A to 8C show a particular design of the central mandrel 76 and associated mounting. The central mandrel 76 is here divided into two mandrel components 76A, 76B. The inner mandrel component 76A has a slightly conical form. The outer mandrel component 76B has a plurality of ribs which are distributed circumferentially and connected together by thin connecting webs. The ribs themselves are formed conical on the inside corresponding to the conicity of the inner mandrel component 76A.

[0091] To mount the two-piece central mandrel in a hose 32, it is provided according to FIG. 8B that firstly the outer mandrel component 76B is inserted in the hose 32. This is no problem since, in the starting state of FIG. 8A, the outer diameter of the outer mandrel component 76B is smaller than the inner diameter of the hose 32.

[0092] Then the assembly of hose 32 and outer mandrel component 76B is pushed onto the conical inner mandrel component 76A. The outer mandrel component 76B thereby expands and with it the hose 32, so that the latter is placed under the desired pretension.

[0093] This structure of the liquid reservoir constitutes a version which is improved with respect to installation in comparison with the design of the central mandrel 76 of FIGS. 1 to 3D.