INHALER WITH BOUNDARY ELEMENT

Abstract

An inhaler system includes an inhaler article and a piercing article. The piercing article contains a recessed piercing element and is configured to receive a distal end of the inhaler article. The piercing element pierces or punctures a single hole into a capsule contained within the inhaler article when the inhaler article is seated into the piercing article.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An inhaler system comprising: an inhaler article comprising a body defining an inhaler outer surface, the body extending along an inhaler longitudinal axis from mouthpiece end to a distal end an inhaler length; and a piercing article comprising: a cylindrical housing, defining a cylindrical housing outer surface and a cylindrical housing inner surface, the cylindrical housing extending along a cylindrical housing longitudinal axis from a distal end to an open proximal end a cylindrical housing length, the cylindrical housing open proximal end is configured to receive the distal end of the inhaler article; and a piercing element contained within and fixed to the cylindrical housing or distal end, the piercing element extending along a piercing element longitudinal axis from a fixed distal end to a piercing end a piercing element length, the piercing element is recessed from the open proximal end a recessed distance; wherein the cylindrical housing inner surface has an open proximal end diameter and a distal end diameter being less than the open proximal end diameter; and wherein the cylindrical housing inner surface diameter tapers down from the open proximal end diameter to the distal end diameter.

17. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element is recessed from the open proximal end a recessed distance of at least about 25% of the cylindrical housing length.

18. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the cylindrical housing inner surface diameter tapers down preferably in a range from about 3% to about 13%.

19. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element is formed of a polymeric material.

20. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element is formed of a fibre-reinforced polymeric material.

21. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element is formed of polycarbonate or liquid crystal polymer.

22. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element is formed of a metal.

23. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the cylindrical housing is formed of a polymeric material.

24. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing article has a cylindrical housing outer surface diameter, the cylindrical housing outer surface diameter is a uniform diameter along the cylindrical housing length and is about 150% or less a diameter of the inhaler outer surface.

25. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element longitudinal axis is substantially coaxial with the cylindrical housing longitudinal axis, and the inhaler longitudinal axis, when the inhaler article is received within the piercing article.

26. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the inhaler article distal end mates with the piercing article distal end, when the inhaler article is received within the piercing article.

27. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element length is about 40% to about 60% of the cylindrical housing length.

28. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the piercing element has a first diameter adjacent the piercing end and a second diameter adjacent to the fixed distal end, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter.

29. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein at least about 80% of the cylindrical housing length is coextensive with the inhaler length, when the inhaler article is received within the piercing article.

30. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein the cylindrical housing inner surface diameter tapers down preferably in a range from about 5% to about 10%.

31. The inhaler system according to claim 17, wherein the cylindrical housing inner surface diameter tapers down preferably in a range from 5% to about 10%.

32. The inhaler system according to claim 16, wherein at least about 90% of the cylindrical housing length is coextensive with the inhaler length, when the inhaler article is received within the piercing article.

33. The inhaler system according to claim 17, wherein the piercing article has a cylindrical housing outer surface diameter, the cylindrical housing outer surface diameter is a uniform diameter along the cylindrical housing length and is about 150% or less a diameter of the inhaler outer surface.

34. The inhaler system according to claim 18, wherein the piercing article has a cylindrical housing outer surface diameter, the cylindrical housing outer surface diameter is a uniform diameter along the cylindrical housing length and is about 150% or less a diameter of the inhaler outer surface.

35. The inhaler system according to claim 23, wherein the piercing article has a cylindrical housing outer surface diameter, the cylindrical housing outer surface diameter is a uniform diameter along the cylindrical housing length and is about 140% or less a diameter of the inhaler outer surface.

Description

[0081] FIG. 1 is a transparent perspective view of an illustrative inhaler system.

[0082] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative piercing accessory.

[0083] FIG. 3 is a top view schematic diagram of the open end of the piercing accessory illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0084] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative piercing accessory.

[0085] FIG. 5 is a top view schematic diagram of the open end of the piercing accessory illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0086] 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.

[0087] FIG. 1 illustrates a transparent perspective view an exemplary inhaler system 100. The inhaler system 100 includes an inhaler article 110 and a separate piercing article 150. The inhaler article 110 may be received within the piercing article 150 to activate or pierce a capsule 130 disposed within the inhaler article 110. The inhaler article 110 is withdrawn from the piercing article 150 prior to use by the consumer.

[0088] 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.

[0089] The inhaler article end cap or end element 120 may include a linear piercing channel 124 extending through the length of the end cap or end element 120. The linear piercing channel 124 may be co-axial with the longitudinal axis L.sub.A of the inhaler body 112. The linear piercing channel 124 may be sized to allow a piercing element 160 to pass through the linear piercing channel 124. The end cap or end element 120 may define a resealable element disposed along or within the linear piercing channel 124. 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.

[0090] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative piercing article or accessory 150. FIG. 3 is a top view schematic diagram looking into the open end 153 of the piercing article or accessory 150 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative piercing article or accessory 150. FIG. 5 is a top view schematic diagram looking into the open end 153 of the piercing accessory illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0091] The piercing article 150 includes a cylindrical housing 152 defining a cylindrical housing outer surface 154 and a cylindrical housing inner surface 156. The cylindrical housing extends along a cylindrical housing longitudinal axis L.sub.A from a distal end 151 to an open proximal end 153, a cylindrical housing length 159 that may be about 33 mm. The distal end 151 is illustrated as a closed end cap. The cylindrical housing open proximal end 153 is configured to receive the distal end 118 of the inhaler article 110. A piercing element 160 is contained within and fixed to the cylindrical housing 152 or distal end 151. The piercing element 160 extends along a piercing element longitudinal axis L.sub.A from a fixed distal end 162 to a piercing end 164 a piercing element length 169 that may be about 17 mm or about 18 mm. The piercing element 160 is recessed from the open proximal end 153 a recessed distance 170 that may be about 12 mm or about 13 mm. The piercing element 160 has a cutting surface 161 at the piercing end 164, the cutting surface may be a planar surface forming an angle of about 30 degrees with the piercing element longitudinal axis L.sub.A.

[0092] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a piercing element 160 having two different diameters. The piercing element 130 has a first length segment 166 adjacent the piercing end and a second length segment 168 adjacent to the fixed distal end 162. The first length segment 166 may have a substantially constant or uniform diameter. The first length segment may have a diameter of about 0.8 mm and a length of about 11 mm or about 12 mm. The second length segment 168 may have a substantially constant or uniform diameter that is greater than the first length segment 166 diameter, or the second length segment 168 may have a tapering diameter (as shown) decreasing from the fixed distal end 162 to the first length segment 166. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a piercing element 160 having a constant or uniform diameter. The second length segment 168 may have an initial diameter of about 1.8 mm and a final diameter of about 1.5 mm and a length of about 6 mm or about 7 mm.

[0093] The piercing article 150 cylindrical housing 152 cylindrical housing inner surface 156 has an open proximal end 153 diameter and a distal end 151 diameter that is less than the open proximal end 153 diameter. This cylindrical housing inner surface 156 diameter tapers down from the open proximal end diameter 153 to the distal end 151 diameter. The cylindrical housing outer surface 154 diameter may be constant at about 9.8 mm and the cylindrical housing inner surface 156 diameter may be about 8.4 mm at the open proximal end 153, and about 7.7 mm at the distal end 151.

[0094] The fixed distal end 162 of the piercing element 160 is fixed to the distal end by direct bonding with the closed distal end 151 of the piercing article 150. The closed distal end 151 of the piercing article 150 may define an endcap that seals the distal end of the cylindrical housing 152. The closed distal end 151 may include a recessed portion 157 that recesses into the closed distal end 151 from the outer surface. The recessed portion 151 may be coaxial with the piercing element 160 longitudinal axis L.sub.A. The outer perimeter 155 of the closed distal end 151 may form a smooth rounded edge joining the cylindrical housing outer surface 154 with the closed distal end 151.

[0095] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a piercing element 160 having a uniform diameter. The piercing element 130 has a length segment extending from the piercing end 164 to the fixed distal end 162. The length segment may have a length of about 17 mm or about 18 mm. The uniform diameter of the piercing element 160 may be about 1.2 mm. The piercing element 160 may be a metal piercing element 160. The fixed distal end 162 includes a surface comprising recesses to allow the material forming the distal end 151 of the cylindrical housing 152 to form an intimate bond with the piercing element 160 fixed distal end 162. The piercing element 160 may be pushed into place through the material forming the distal end 151 of the cylindrical housing 152 during assembly of the piercing article 150. Alternatively, the piercing element 160 may be placed in a mold and material forming the distal end 151 of the cylindrical housing 152 is molded around the piercing element 160 fixed distal end 162 during assembly of the piercing article 150.

[0096] The fixed distal end 162 of the piercing element 160 is fixed to the distal end by direct or mechanical fixation with the closed distal end 151 of the piercing article 150. The closed distal end 151 of the piercing article 150 may define an endcap that seals the distal end of the cylindrical housing 152. The closed distal end 151 may include a recessed portion 157 that recesses into the closed distal end 151 from the outer surface. The recessed portion 151 may be coaxial with the piercing element 160 longitudinal axis L.sub.A. The recessed portion 151 may be defined by a distal end portion of the fixed distal end 162 of the piercing element 160. A bottom planar portion of the recessed portion 151 may be defined by a distal end portion of the fixed distal end 162 of the piercing element 160. The outer perimeter 155 of the closed distal end 151 may form a smooth rounded edge joining the cylindrical housing outer surface 154 with the closed distal end 151.

[0097] The piercing article 150 cylindrical housing 152 cylindrical housing inner surface 156 has an open proximal end 153 diameter and a distal end 151 diameter that is less than the open proximal end 153 diameter. This cylindrical housing inner surface 156 diameter tapers down from the open proximal end diameter 153 to the distal end 151 diameter. The cylindrical housing outer surface 154 diameter may be constant at about 9.8 mm and the cylindrical housing inner surface 156 diameter may be about 8.4 mm at the open proximal end 153, and about 7.7 mm at the distal end 151.

[0098] FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 are top view schematic diagrams of the open end of the piercing accessories 150. The piercing element 160 extends out of the page and is surrounded by the cylindrical housing 152. Four reinforcing ribs or struts 158 are contained within the closed distal end 151. The reinforcing ribs or struts 158 connect the cylindrical housing inner surface 156 with the piercing element 160 fixed distal end 162. The cylindrical housing inner surface 156 is adjacent to the closed distal end 151 and may be configured to mate with the distal end 118 of the inhaler article 110 to provide a mating or seating fit. The reinforcing ribs or struts 158 may mate with the distal end 118 of the inhaler article 110 to provide a mating or seating fit.