Inhaler with swirl end plug

Abstract

An inhaler article includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end and a capsule cavity defined within the body. A mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end. An end cap is disposed within the distal end and extends to the capsule cavity. The end cap extends from an end cap distal end to an end cap inner end. The end cap includes an air channel extending from the end cap distal end to the end cap inner end. The air channel is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An inhaler article comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end; a capsule cavity defined within the body; a mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end; and an end cap inserted into the distal end and extending to the capsule cavity, the end cap extending from an end cap distal end face to an end cap inner end, the end cap inner end defining a distal end of the capsule cavity, and the end cap comprising an air channel extending from the end cap distal end face to the end cap inner end, the air channel being non-parallel with the longitudinal axis; wherein the air channel extends a distance along an arc that is co-axial with the longitudinal axis.

2. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the air channel is curved with respect the longitudinal axis and rotates around a circumference as a function of a location along a length of the end cap.

3. The inhaler article according to claim 2, wherein the air channel rotates around about 25% to about 50% of the circumference.

4. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the air channel comprises at least two air channels that are symmetrical and opposing each other along the end cap length.

5. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the air channel comprises at least two helical air channels that are symmetrical and each extend a distance along an arc that are co-axial with the longitudinal axis and oppose each other along the end cap length.

6. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the end cap comprises a linear piercing channel and a resealable element disposed on or within the linear piercing channel and the linear piercing channel is co-axial with the longitudinal axis.

7. The inhaler article according to claim 6, wherein the linear piercing channel has a first end forming a portion of the end cap distal end and an opposing second end forming a portion of the end cap inner end, and the resealable element is disposed on or within the end cap inner end.

8. The inhaler article according to claim 6, wherein the linear piercing channel has a first end forming a portion of the end cap distal end and an opposing second end forming a portion of the end cap inner end, and the resealable element is disposed on or within the end cap distal end.

9. The inhaler article according to claim 6, wherein the resealable element is a septum.

10. The inhaler article according to claim 1, further comprising a filter element disposed within the body and separating the capsule cavity from the mouthpiece end, the filter element in air flow communication with the capsule cavity and the mouthpiece air channel.

11. The inhaler article according to claim 10, wherein the filter element comprises fibres derived from polylactic acid.

12. The inhaler article according to claim 1, wherein the body has an outer diameter that is substantially constant from the distal end to the mouthpiece end, the outer diameter being in a range from about 7 mm to about 10 mm.

13. A system comprising; an inhaler article according to claim 1; and a capsule disposed within the capsule cavity of the inhaler article.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the capsule contains particles comprising nicotine.

15. An inhaler article comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end; a capsule cavity defined within the body; a mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end; and an end cap inserted into the distal end and extending to the capsule cavity, the end cap extending from an end cap distal end face to an end cap inner end, the end cap inner end defining a distal end of the capsule cavity, and the end cap comprising an air channel extending from the end cap distal end face to the end cap inner end, the air channel being non-parallel with the longitudinal axis; wherein the air channel is curved with respect to the longitudinal axis and rotates around a circumference as a function of a location along a length of the end cap.

16. The inhaler article according to claim 15, wherein the air channel rotates around about 25% to about 50% of the circumference.

17. The inhaler article according to claim 15, wherein the air channel comprises at least two helical air channels that are symmetrical and each extend a distance along an arc that are co-axial with the longitudinal axis and oppose each other along the end cap length.

18. The inhaler article according to claim 15, wherein the end cap comprises a linear piercing channel and a resealable element disposed on or within the linear piercing channel and the linear piercing channel is co-axial with the longitudinal axis.

19. The inhaler article according to claim 15, wherein the air channel comprises at least two air channels that are symmetrical and opposing each other along the end cap length.

20. The inhaler article according to claim 15, wherein the body has an outer diameter that is substantially constant from the distal end to the mouthpiece end, the outer diameter being in a range from about 7 mm to about 10 mm.

Description

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative inhaler article.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative inhaler article of FIG. 1 along the longitudinal axis.

(3) FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are perspective views of an illustrative end cap.

(4) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are perspective views of another illustrative end cap.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative end cap.

(6) FIG. 6 is cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative end cap.

(7) 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.

(8) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate an exemplary inhaler article 100. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the illustrative inhaler article of FIG. 1 along the longitudinal axis. The inhaler article 100 includes a body 110 extending along a longitudinal axis LA from a mouthpiece end 112 to a distal end 114 and a capsule cavity 116 defined within the body 110. A mouthpiece air channel 111 extends from the capsule cavity 116 to the mouthpiece end 112. An end cap 120 is disposed within the distal end 112 and extends to the capsule cavity 116. The end cap 120 extends from an end cap distal end 124 to an end cap inner end 122. The end cap 120 includes an air channel 113 extending from the end cap distal end 124 to the end cap inner end 122. The air channel 113 is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis LA.

(9) The air channel 113 extends from the end cap distal end or distal end face 124, to the end cap inner end or inner end face 122. The air channel 113 extends the length of the end cap body 123. The end cap inner end or inner end face 122 defines the distal end of the capsule cavity 116. The air channel 113 extends from the end cap distal end or distal end face 124, to the end cap inner end or inner end face 122 and defines a curved or arcuate path along an outer surface of the end cap body 123.

(10) The end cap inner end 122 and a porous support element 140 bound the capsule cavity 116. A capsule 130 is disposed within the cavity 116. The capsule 130 contains particles comprising nicotine. The end cap 120 and the porous support element 140 cooperate to contain the capsule 130 longitudinally within the capsule cavity 116. The mouthpiece end 112 is illustrated having a recessed end where the body 110 bounds an open space at the mouthpiece end 112. Alternatively the porous support element 140 can extend to the mouthpiece end 112 to fill the entire mouthpiece end 112.

(11) FIG. 3A to FIG. 4B illustrate opposing curved, or helical air channels 113 rotating about the circumference as a function of a location along the length of the end cap 120. The end cap 120 may include a collar element 125 having a larger diameter than the remaining body 123 of the end cap 120.

(12) FIG. 3A, FIG. 4A, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a linear piercing channel 121 extending through the length of the end cap 120. The linear piercing channel 121 may extend along a central axis of the end cap 120.

(13) FIG. 4B, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a resealable element 129 disposed on or within the linear piercing channel 121. FIG. 4B and FIG. 5 illustrate a resealable element 129 disposed on the end cap inner end 122 and sealing the linear piercing channel 121. FIG. 6 illustrates a resealable element 129 disposed on the end cap distal end 124 and sealing the linear piercing channel 121.

(14) A separate piercing element (not shown) may be utilized by a consumer to pierce the resealable element 129 along the linear piercing channel 121 and puncture the capsule 130 contained within the capsule cavity 116. The piercing element may be withdrawn from the inhaler article 100 to reseal the resealable element 129. A consumer may then utilize the inhaler device.