Abstract
A device for inhaling a substance has a cold liquid atomizer, an assembly including the atomizer and a first tank arranged to contain at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution. The atomizer is in fluid communication with the first tank. A second tank is arranged to contain a pressurized gas and is in fluid communication with the assembly. A mouthpiece is in fluid communication with an outlet of the atomizer. A trigger is arranged to release a quantity of the gas out of the second tank and towards the assembly, and a pump is arranged to suction, inject and compress ambient air into the second tank.
Claims
1-24. (canceled)
25. A device for inhaling a substance comprising: a cold liquid atomizer; an assembly comprising said atomizer and a first tank arranged to contain at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomizer being in fluid communication with said first tank; a second tank arranged to contain a pressurised gas and being in fluid communication with said assembly; a mouthpiece in fluid communication with an outlet of said atomizer; a trigger arranged to release a quantity of said gas outside of said second tank and towards said assembly; and a pump arranged to suction, inject, and compress ambient air in said second tank.
26. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, wherein an inlet of said first tank is in fluid communication with said second tank.
27. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, wherein a first inlet of said cold liquid atomizer is in fluid communication with said second tank, and wherein a second inlet of said cold liquid atomizer is in fluid communication with said first tank.
28. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 27, wherein said cold liquid atomizer is located at least partially in said first tank.
29. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, wherein said pump is a manual pump.
30. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 29, wherein said manual pump is a two-way pump.
31. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 29, further comprising an additional piston other than a piston of said pump when said pump is a manual pump, said additional piston being activated by a pressurised gas contained in said second tank, the pressurised gas enabling the additional piston to perform a displacement movement accompanying a movement performed by extensor muscles of a user during a manual pumping performed with said manual pump.
32. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 29, further comprising a device arranged to transform mechanical energy into electrical energy.
33. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, further comprising a compartment comprising an aroma or an aromatic substance and being in fluid communication with said cold liquid atomizer.
34. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, comprising a stop valve located upstream from said cold liquid atomizer, said stop valve comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet being connected by a first fluid connection to an outlet of said second tank arranged to contain a pressurized gas and the second outlet being connected by a second fluid connection to a first inlet of said cold liquid atomizer, said stop valve being configured to be and remain closed as long as a pressure of said pressurised gas at said second inlet is less than a reference minimum pressure and being configured to open when and as long as said pressure of said pressurised gas at said second inlet is greater than or equal to the reference minimum pressure.
35. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, comprising a safety valve comprising an inlet fluidically connected to the second tank arranged to contain a pressurised gas, and an outlet in fluid communication with an outer surrounding environment, said safety valve being configured to be and remain closed as long as an inlet pressure at the inlet of the safety valve is less than a predetermined safety pressure and being configured to open when and as long as said inlet pressure at the inlet of the safety valve is greater than the predetermined safety pressure.
36. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, comprising a pressure regulator located between said second tank arranged to contain a pressurised gas and said cold liquid atomizer.
37. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, wherein the device is free of a battery.
38. An assembly comprising a device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25 and a station for filling said second tank with gas.
39. A method of using a device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, the method comprising atomizing at least one substance to be inhaled.
40. The device for inhaling a substance according to claim 29, further comprising a device arranged to transform mechanical energy provided by a user into electrical energy to activate the pump when the pump is a manual pump.
41. An assembly comprising a device for inhaling a substance according to claim 25, and a station for filling said second tank with air and/or recharging the device for inhaling a substance with electrical energy.
Description
[0124] These aspects, as well as other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings of the figures, wherein:
[0125] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0126] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of an assembly E according to the invention comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution.
[0127] FIGS. 2B and C illustrate another embodiment of an assembly E according to the invention comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution.
[0128] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention comprising a stop valve.
[0129] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention comprising a pressure regulator.
[0130] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention comprising a stop valve and a pressure regulator.
[0131] FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a stop valve.
[0132] FIG. 7 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a safety valve.
[0133] FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a pressure regulator.
[0134] FIG. 9 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a trigger.
[0135] FIG. 10 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of an association of a pressure regulator and a stop valve.
[0136] FIG. 11 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of an association of a pressure regulator, a stop valve and a safety valve.
[0137] FIG. 12 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0138] FIG. 13 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0139] FIG. 14 is a schematic, exploded view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0140] Generally, similar or identical elements are referenced by identical references in the figures. The drawings of the figures are not to scale, nor proportioned.
[0141] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention. According to this embodiment, the device for inhaling a substance 1 comprises: [0142] a cold liquid atomiser, for example a cold mister or a cold nebuliser, [0143] an assembly E comprising said cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomiser being in fluid communication with said first tank, [0144] a second tank 4 comprising a pressurised gas and being in fluid communication with said assembly E, [0145] a mouthpiece 5 of which an inlet is in fluid communication with an outlet of said atomiser and of which an outlet is free, [0146] a trigger 6 arranged to release a quantity of said gas outside of said second tank 4 and towards said assembly E, and [0147] a pump P arranged to suction the ambient air, inject it and compress it in said second tank 4.
[0148] According to this embodiment, said first tank comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of said second tank 4 comprising a pressurised gas. Furthermore, the device for inhaling a substance 1 comprises a trigger 6. According to a first example, the trigger 6 can be a valve which can be opened by a pushbutton or any other equivalent means which is accessible by the user. According to a second example, the trigger 6 can be a solenoid valve and comprise a suctioning detector or pressure sensor (not illustrated), a control unit (not illustrated) connected to the pressure sensor and an electrical source (for example, a battery) (not illustrated). According to this second example, when the user exerts a suctioning at the mouthpiece 5, the control unit will measure a depression in the device 1 via the pressure sensor and thus enable the passage of a current towards the solenoid valve (which constitutes the trigger 6) such that the latter passes from a rest position according to which it is closed at a work position according to which it is open. Since the second tank 4 comprises a pressurised gas and that it is in fluid communication with said first tank which is itself in fluid communication with an inlet of the cold liquid atomiser which is itself in fluid communication with the mouthpiece 5, the opening of the solenoid valve creating a depression in the device 1 will lead to a release of gas at the start of the second tank 4, the gas thus driving the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution contained in the first tank towards an inlet of the cold liquid atomiser. Such a driving of the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution by a gas facilitates the passage of the latter in the atomiser, but also the outlet of the aerosol obtained by the mouthpiece 5, which makes the use of this embodiment according to the invention all the more comfortable for the user. The passage of the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution in the atomiser leads to an atomisation such that an aerosol is formed (for example, in the form of a mist or of a nebulisate) comprising the substance to be inhaled in the form of fine droplets and simulating smoke which would, for example, be obtained with a conventional cigarette (smoke mainly produced by the combustion of tobacco).
[0149] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of an assembly E according to the invention comprising a cold liquid atomiser 2 and a first tank 3 containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomiser 2 being in fluid communication with said first tank 3.
[0150] FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate another embodiment of an assembly E according to the invention comprising a cold liquid atomiser 2 and a first tank 3 containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution. According to this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2C, the cold liquid atomiser 2 is partially present in the first tank 3. More specifically, according to this embodiment, a first inlet e1 (gas inlet) of the cold liquid atomiser 2 is in fluid communication with an outlet of the second tank 4 and a second inlet e2 (inlet for substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution) of the cold liquid atomiser 2 is in fluid communication with the first tank 3 containing the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution. For example, according to this embodiment, the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution moves up to the cold liquid atomiser 2 by Venturi effect, which is due to the passage of the pressurised gas through the cold liquid atomiser 2, which implies that the substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution is “suctioned” and moves up to the cold liquid atomiser 2 through the inlet e2.
[0151] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance 1 according to the invention. This embodiment comprises the same components as those illustrated in FIG. 1 and a stop valve 11 located upstream from the assembly E comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said cold liquid atomiser being in fluid communication with said first tank, said stop valve 11 comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet being connected by a first fluid connection to an outlet of said second tank 4 arranged to contain a pressurised gas and the second outlet being connected by a second fluid connection to a first inlet of said cold liquid atomiser, said stop valve 11 being configured to be and remain closed as long as a pressure P.sub.1 of said pressurised gas at said second inlet is less than a reference minimum pressure P.sub.min and being configured to open when and as long as said pressure P.sub.1 of said pressurised gas at said second inlet is greater than or equal to the pressure P.sub.min.
[0152] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance 1 according to the invention. This embodiment comprises the same components as those illustrated in FIG. 1 and a pressure regulator 10 located between said second tank 4 arranged to contain a pressurised gas and the assembly E comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomiser being in fluid communication with said first tank.
[0153] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance 1 according to the invention. This embodiment comprises the same components as those illustrated in FIG. 1 and simultaneously a pressure regulator 10 and a stop valve 11, said pressure regulator 10 and said stop valve 11 being located upstream from the assembly E comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomiser being in fluid communication with said first tank.
[0154] FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a stop valve 11. This stop valve 11 comprises a chamber C having a gas inlet E.sub.gaz, a gas outlet S.sub.gaz, an orifice O and a piston PIST to which a needle p is connected, designed to engage with the orifice O. In the absence of pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz, the needle p is held abutted against the orifice O and thus closes this orifice O thanks to the force exerted on the piston PIST by an extended pre-tensed spring R. This closed position is held as long as a gas pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz is less than a reference minimum pressure P.sub.min. When the gas pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz becomes greater than the reference pressure P.sub.min, the piston PIST will move leftwards by compressing the spring R such that the needle p no longer blocks the orifice O, the stop valve 11 thus being open and letting the gas pass from its inlet E.sub.gaz to its outlet S.sub.gaz.
[0155] FIG. 7 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a safety valve S.sub.séc. This safety valve S.sub.séc comprises a chamber C having a gas inlet E.sub.gaz, an exhaust towards the atmosphere E.sub.atm, an orifice O and a needle p designed to engage with the orifice O. The chamber C includes an extended pre-tensed spring R to which the needle p is connected. In the absence of pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz, the needle p is held abutted against the orifice O and thus closes this orifice O, thanks to the force exerted by the extended pre-tensed spring R. This closed position is held as long as a pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz is less than a predetermined safety pressure P.sub.sécurité. The stop valve will pass into the open position as soon as the pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz is greater than the predetermined safety pressure P.sub.sécurité, the safety valve S.sub.séc thus being open and letting the gas pass from its inlet E.sub.gaz to the exhaust towards the atmosphere E.sub.atm.
[0156] FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a pressure regulator 10. This pressure regulator 10 comprises a chamber C having a gas inlet E.sub.gaz, an orifice O and a piston PIST to which a needle p is connected, designed to engage with the orifice O. In the absence of pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz, the needle p is held at a distance from the orifice O and thus leaves this orifice O open, thanks to the force exerted on the piston PIST by an extended pre-tensed spring R. This open position is held as long as a gas pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz is less than or equal to a reference maximum pressure P.sub.max. When the gas pressure at the gas inlet E.sub.gaz becomes greater than the reference maximum pressure P.sub.max, the piston PIST will move rightwards by compressing the spring R such that the needle p will block the orifice O, the stop valve 11 thus being closed and no longer letting the gas pass from its inlet E.sub.gaz to its outlet S.sub.gaz.
[0157] FIG. 9 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a trigger 6. This trigger 6 comprises a chamber C having a gas inlet E.sub.gaz, a gas outlet S.sub.gaz, a seat S and a piston PIST to which a needle p is connected, designed to engage with the seat S. The needle p is extended outwards from the chamber to end by a button B. In the absence of action on the button B, the needle p is held abutted against the seat S and thus closes the passage to gases, thanks to the force exerted on the piston PIST by an extended pre-tensed spring R. To pass to an open position and therefore to enable a passage of gas from the inlet E.sub.gaz to the outlet S.sub.gaz, a pressure must be exerted by a user on the button B, so as to compress the spring R and to shift the needle p such that it is no longer abutted against the seat S.
[0158] FIG. 10 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of an association of a pressure regulator 10 and a stop valve 11 such as described above. According to this embodiment, the pressure regulator 10 is positioned upstream from the stop valve 11 and in series with the stop valve.
[0159] FIG. 11 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of an association of a pressure regulator, a stop valve and a safety valve such as described above. According to this embodiment, the safety valve is positioned upstream from the pressure regulator, preferably between the second tank 4 and an outlet of the pump P. Preferably, the safety valve is mounted directly on or even in the second tank 4.
[0160] FIG. 12 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an example of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention. According to this embodiment, a pump P is fluidically connected to a second tank 4 arranged to contain a pressurised gas and being positioned upstream from a pressure regulator 10 to which it is fluidically connected. A safety valve S.sub.séc is positioned upstream from a stop valve 11 to which it is fluidically connected. An outlet of the stop valve 11 is fluidically connected to an assembly E comprising a cold liquid atomiser and a first tank containing at least one substance to be inhaled in liquid form or in solution, said atomiser being in fluid communication with said first tank. According to this embodiment, a trigger 6 is positioned between the assembly E and said stop valve 11.
[0161] Preferably, the chamber C comprises an opening (not represented in the figures) on the spring side of the piston PIST in order to let the ambient air enter into the chamber 6 on this side of the piston PIST.
[0162] FIG. 13 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0163] FIG. 14 is a schematic, exploded view of another embodiment of a device for inhaling a substance according to the invention.
[0164] The present invention has been described relative to specific embodiments, which have a purely illustrative value and must not be considered as limiting. Generally, it will appear obvious for a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and/or described above.
[0165] The use of the verbs “comprise”, “include”, “have”, or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, cannot in any way, exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned.
[0166] The use of the indefinite article “a” or “an”, or of the definite article “the”, to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.
