INHALER APPARATUS

• US 20180220708A1
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Nerudia Limited
• Inventors: SCOTT, Kenneth, Sudlow, Tom, LORD, Christopher, McDONALD, Stephen, JONES, David
• Granted Patent: US 11,406,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/167 in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/283 by encapsulation of the chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/10 Devices with chemical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/60 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/047 by exothermic chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/364 by chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0213 using bimetallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 Heating of fluids for non specified applications

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inhaler comprising: an assembly including a heater element arranged in the inhaler to be proximal to a substrate region configured for supporting a vapour or atomiser precursor substrate; wherein the assembly is configured such that the heater element is operative to achieve and maintain a target temperature in the substrate region throughout a period corresponding to a plurality of consecutive uses of the inhaler.

Claims

1. An inhaler comprising:

an assembly including a heater element arranged in the inhaler to be proximal to a substrate region configured for supporting a vapour or atomiser precursor substrate;

wherein the assembly is configured such that the heater element is operative to achieve and maintain a target temperature in the substrate region throughout a period corresponding to a plurality of consecutive uses of the inhaler.

2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the heater element is an electrical heater element.

3. The inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature controllable switch configured to control the heater element to achieve and maintain the target temperature throughout the period.

4. The inhaler according to claim 3, the assembly further comprising a temperature sensor operative to provide a signal to the temperature controllable switch indicative of a temperature in the substrate region.

5. The inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the assembly is configured such that the temperature controllable switch is integral with the temperature sensor.

6. The inhaler according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the temperature sensor is a one of a thermistor, thermocouple and resistance temperature detector (RTD).

7. The inhaler according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the temperature controllable switch is operative to couple and/or decouple the heater element from an electrical current source to achieve and maintain the target temperature throughout the period.

8. The inhaler according to any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the temperature controllable switch comprises a bi-metal strip.

9. The inhaler according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the temperature controllable switch is an electrical switch.

10. The inhaler according to any of claims 3 to 5, configured to receive and support a capsule in which a substrate is enclosed.

11. The inhaler according to claim 10, wherein the assembly is arranged such the heater element is disposed proximal to where a capsule is to be supported in the inhaler.

12. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heater element is arranged to define an interior space into which the substrate may be inserted.

13. The inhaler according to claim 10, wherein the heater element is arranged to define an interior space into which the capsule may be inserted.

14. The inhaler according to claim 10, dependent on any of claim 4 to claim 6, wherein the assembly is arranged such that temperature sensor is disposed proximal to where a capsule is to be supported in the inhaler.

15. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a current source.

16. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the assembly comprises the current source.

17. The inhaler according to claim 15, wherein the current source is an electrical battery.

18. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the heater element comprises a partitioned container respective partitions comprising constituent elements which when brought together create an exothermic reaction.

19. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 5 or claim 18, wherein the assembly is configured such that the period lies in the range 2 minute to 8 minutes, particularly in the range 3 minutes to 6 minutes and more particularly in the range 4 minutes to 5 minutes.

20. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the assembly is configured such that the heater element is operative to achieve and maintain the target temperature in the range from 20°

C. to 50°

C., in particular from 30°

C. to 50°

C., more particularly from 35°

C. to 45°

C., yet more particularly 35°

C. to 40°

C.

21. The inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 5 or claim 18, wherein the assembly is configured such that the heater element is responsive to an input to initiate heating of the substrate region to the target temperature.

22. The inhaler according to claim 21, wherein the input is a manual input.

23. An assembly in accordance with the assembly of the inhaler of any preceding claim.

24. A substrate for an inhaler of any preceding claim, wherein the vapour and/or atomiser precursor comprises one or more of nicotine, a nicotine derivative and nicotine analogue.

25. A substrate for an inhaler according to any preceding claim, wherein the vapour and/or atomiser precursor comprises one or more of a glycol, polyglycol and water.

26. The substrate according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the substrate is hydrophilic.

27. The substrate according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the substrate comprises a sintered material.

28. The substrate according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the substrate comprises polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

29. A capsule for an inhaler according to any of claim 1 to claim 22, wherein the capsule encloses a substrate according to any of claim 24 or claim 25.

30. The inhaler according to any of claim 1 to 5 or claim 18, further comprising a substrate in accordance with any of claim 24 or claim 25.

31. The inhaler according to any of claim 1 to 5 or claim 18, further comprising a capsule according to claim 24.

32. A vapour and/or atomiser inhaler device comprising an inhaler according to any of claim 1 to claim 22 or claim 30 or claim 31.

33. The vapour and/or inhaler device according to claim 32, operative as a smoking substitute device.

34. The vapour and/or atomiser inhaler device according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the period corresponds to the typical time for a person to smoke a cigarette.

35. An inhaler substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings.

36. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings.

37. A substrate substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the drawings.

38. A capsule substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the drawings.

39. A vapour and/or atomiser inhaler device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings.