EP4701471A1

EP4701471A1 - Inhalation device

Info

Publication number: EP4701471A1
Application number: EP24721145.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Broderick COBURN
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2023-04-26
Filing date: 2024-04-24
Publication date: 2026-03-04
Also published as: CN121038651A; KR20250168587A; WO2024223623A1; JP2026511916A

Abstract

An inhalation device (10) has a charger (14) and an inhaler (12) with a rechargeable battery and a single atomizer, which is adapted to receive a consumable substance (18) and can be accommodated in or on the charger in at least two distinct positions, in both of which the inhaler (12) is removably held by mechanical and/or magnetic holding means, wherein the inhaler (12) protrudes from the charger in a first position and is configured to be operated in this position, wherein at least one part of the holding means (20, 22) is a magnetic material.

Description

Inhalation device

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an inhalation device .

PRIOR ART

In recent years , inhalation devices , which, for example , produce an aerosol to be inhaled, are continuously replacing conventional cigarettes . In this context , generally two types of inhalation devices are known . Firstly, a relatively small and in particular slim inhalation device can be provided, into which, for example , a to be heated tobacco stick is inserted as a consumable . Such an inhaler typically has a battery capacity for one to three vaping sessions or sticks and is easy to handle due to its compact si ze . The inhaler can, in particular when its battery needs to be recharged, be inserted into a signi ficantly larger charger that can still be carried, for example , in a pocket , which houses the inhaler when it is not in use . Such a charger can have a battery capacity for about 20 sessions .

Secondly, relatively large inhalation devices are known and have a battery capacity for about 20 sessions , and a tobacco stick can be directly inserted into such devices . These devices have the disadvantage of being not only relatively large , but also heavy, so that the user is required to handle a relatively large and/or heavy device when vaping . On the other hand, the above first-mentioned devices are easier to handle , but require the user to at least temporarily hold and/or carry around the charger which make the device less suitable for on-the-go use thereof . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above , it is an obj ect underlying the invention to provide a more versatile inhalation device . This is achieved by means of the inhalation device in accordance with claim 1 .

Further, the invention is related to an inhalation device having a charger and an inhaler with a single heater or atomi zer, which is adapted to receive a consumable substance and can be accommodated in or on the charger in at least two distinct positions , in both of which the inhaler is removably held by mechanical and/or magnetic holding means , wherein the inhaler protrudes from the charger in a first position and is configured to be operated in this position .

In particular, the inhalation device described herein has a charger and an inhaler with a rechargeable battery and a single heater or atomi zer . In other words , it essentially corresponds to the above first-mentioned type of known devices and, in particular, the inhaler is kept relatively simple as it has a single heater or atomi zer .

The inhaler is further adapted to receive a consumable substance , such as a stick, for example containing tobacco . However, the inhaler can also be adapted to receive or accommodate a consumable substance contained in a cartridge or a tank . Therefore , the consumable substance cannot only be essentially solid, such as tobacco , but also a liquid . The inhaler also comprises a heater or an atomi zer adapted to vapori ze the consumable substance .

The versatility of inhalation device is signi ficantly improved by the measure that the inhaler can be accommodated in or on the charger in at least two distinct positions , in both of which the inhaler is removably held by mechanical and/or mechanic holding means . Further, the inhaler protrudes from the charger in a first position and is configured to be operated in this position . In other words , during a vaping session, the user can hold the charger and use the inhaler protruding from the charger to inhale the vapori zed consumable substance . As regards mechanical holding means , these can, for example , be provided as snap connections and/or one or more protrusion or proj ection cooperating with one or more groove or recess . Further, the holding means can be purely mechanical without any part thereof being a magnetic material .

Signi ficance of the inhaler being operable in the protruding position is the fact that the inhaler does not have to be entirely removed from the charger, when it is to be used . Further, a second position of the inhaler can, for example , imply that the inhaler is essentially accommodated in or on the charger not protruding therefrom in this second position . Moreover, the inhaler is additionally adapted to be completely removed from the charger in order to be used . However, in accordance with the invention, the inhaler can also be only partly removed from the charger so as to protrude therefrom, so that it can be operated in this , first position . In other words , the inhaler will , for example , protrude from the charger in the described first position in a manner suf ficient to expose and make accessible a mouthpiece or stick inserted into the inhaler so as to allow vaping .

In particular, the protruding position allows the user to avoid contact of his or her mouth with the charger . While it will be suf ficient for the inhaler to protrude from the charger in the first position, exposing a mouthpiece and/or a tobacco stick inserted into it suf ficiently for vaping, the inhaler may, for example , protrude at least by 10% , preferably at least by 20% of its length and/or at least by 10 , preferably at least by 30 mm from the charger . The holding means will preferably be strong enough to withstand the forces of gravity acting on the inhaler, which tend to put the inhaler back into the fully accommodated position or let the inhaler fall from the charger when the direction, in which the inhaler can move relative to the charger, coincides with the vertical direction .

The invention signi ficantly provides versatility to the inhalation device , as the advantages of a removable inhaler with regard to easy handling are kept . At the same time an additional amount of vaping sessions is enabled, when the inhaler is used in the first position as it can then make use of the larger battery capacity of the charger . Due to the provision of mechanical and/or magnetic holding means removably holding the inhaler in two distinct positions , the inhaler can be described to be bistable and can be used in a stable position still at least partly provided on or in the charger as well as when fully removed from the charger . Since the charger typically has a si ze 3 to 4 times of that of the inhaler, the charger can still be handheld reasonably well and thus allows convenient vaping also in the above-mentioned first position of the inhaler .

Preferred embodiments are described in the further claims .

The holding means can be provided particularly ef ficiently, when they have at least one , preferably only one part thereof on the inhaler or the charger and two distinct parts on the other component , the charger or the inhaler . In other words , the one part provided on the inhaler or charger can cooperate with the two distinct parts on the other component so as to provide two essentially stable positions .

Further, the holding means can particularly be provided by at least one part thereof being made from magnetic material . Any further parts of the holding means cooperating therewith can be a ferromagnetic material , which is attracted by the mentioned magnetic material . Essentially three parts of holding means need to be used, at least one of which has to be magnetic .

Removal of the inhaler from the charger can be particularly facilitated, when the inhaler is accommodated in a through hole of the charger . In this case , the user can essentially apply pressure , for example , by means of a finger on one end of the inhaler so as to push the inhaler out of the charger in the direction of the other opposite end . This other end will typically be adapted to , for example , receive a tobacco stick as a consumable substance . However, the inhaler can also be accommodated in a cavity of the inhaler, which is closed at one side , and means can be provided to cause movement of the inhaler from a fully accommodated into a protruding position . In other words , special ej ection means can be provided to facilitate the extraction of the inhaler . Alternatively, in case of a closed cavity, the inhaler can already protrude slightly from the charger in order to allow grabbing thereof by the user in order to bring it into a position suf ficiently protruding to allow vaping without contacting the charger with the mouth .

The advantages of the invention with regard to an increased number of vaping sessions can particularly be reali zed, when contacts of the inhaler are in electrical contact with contacts of the charger in at least a second position . In this position, the inhaler will typically be substantially entirely accommodated in the charger in order to charge the battery of the inhaler . However, the contacts of the inhaler can also be in electrical contact with contacts of the charger in the first , protruding and operable position so as to allow the delivery of electrical energy from the charger to the inhaler, for example bypassing the inhaler battery or charging the inhaler battery simultaneously with a vaping session . In this manner, the large capacity of the charger battery can be used for an increased number of sessions .

In order to further facilitate handling of the inhaler . It is preferable to provide the inhaler to be movable between the two positions by means of a substantially linear movement . Moreover, the inhaler will typically be elongate , and the mentioned linear movement will typically be essentially along a longitudinal axis of the inhaler .

In particular, when the inhaler has rotational symmetry and can, consequently, be accommodated in the charger in substantially any position rotated around its rotational axis , it will be preferred to provide at least one part of the holding means and/or electrical contacts on the inhaler around its entire circumference . In this case , holding and/or delivery of electric energy from the charger will be enabled independently from the rotational orientation .

The design of the inhalation device can further be facilitated, i f electrical contacts of the inhaler are additionally adapted to cooperate with magnetic material provided in or on the charger . In this manner, the electrical contacts of the inhaler can, for example , in the first position, cooperate with magnetic material on the charger so as to hold the inhaler in the first position . In the second position, the electrical contact can cooperate with electrical contacts of the charger in order to deliver electric energy .

Full versatility with regard to charging is achieved, when the charger has electrical contacts at two positions along the removing direction of the inhaler .

The outer appearance of the device as a whole can be particularly pleasant , when the inhaler is , in at least one , typically the second position, flush with the surface of the charger at least one end of thereof . In particular, it can be flush at both ends , and it can also be recessed at one or both ends , so that the overall si ze of the device is essentially defined by the si ze of the charger .

As already indicated above , the advantages of the invention can be particularly present , when both the inhaler and the charger have a battery, the battery of the charger having a greater capacity than the battery of the inhaler . This essentially allows the inhaler, which can, as mentioned, be completely removed from the charger in order to have a light and compact handheld device for vaping, be used by itsel f , still allowing a limited number of sessions . An increased number of sessions can be provided when keeping the inhaler connected with the charger .

In this context , the charger can have a battery with a si ze of more than 2000 mAh, in particular about 3000 mAh, and the inhaler can have a battery with a si ze of less than 1000 mAh, in particular about 200 mAh . In other words , the battery capacity of the charger can be at least 3 , preferably 5 and advantageously 10 times greater than the inhaler' s battery capacity .

As already indicated above , a pleasant appearance and ef ficient operability can be provided, when the inhaler is rotationally symmetric .

Moreover, the charger typically having a larger battery and, as compared to the inhaler, additional components , such as a charging connection provided as USB, can be cuboid, in order to accommodate the mentioned components and at the same time keep a relatively compact si ze .

As also already indicated above , the distinct positions of the inhaler relative to the charge can be distinct along a longitudinal direction of the generally elongated inhaler . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings , in which

Fig . 1 shows the inhalation device with the inhaler fully accommodated in the charger,

Fig . 2 shows the inhalation device with the inhaler protruding from the charger,

Fig . 3 shows the situation of Fig . 2 with a tobacco stick inserted into the inhaler,

Figs . 4 to 21 show various embodiments in each of the first and second positions of the inhaler, and

Figs . 22 to 24 show perspective views of a particular embodiment with di f ferent positions of the inhaler .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As can be taken from Fig . 1 , the inhalation device 10 essentially has an inhaler 12 and a charger 14 , which can fully accommodate the inhaler 12 in a through hole 16 , as shown in Fig . 1 . In the embodiment shown, the inhaler 12 is flush with the charger 14 at both ends thereof , and part of the charger ' s housing ( the left part in Fig . 1 ) is relatively thin and essentially serves to protect the inhaler in the accommodated position . In contrast , another part of the charger housing, the right part in Fig . 1 , is signi ficantly larger in order to accommodate a relatively large battery and further components , such as one or more printed circuit boards and charging connections , with which the battery of the charger 14 can be charged for example by delivering energy from a well-known electrical socket .

As can be taken from Fig . 2 , the user can, for example , apply pressure at , for example , the lower end of the inhaler 12 , in order to bring same into the so-called first position, in which the inhaler 12 protrudes from the charger 14 .

As additionally shown in Fig . 3 , a consumable in the form of a tobacco stick 18 can be inserted into the protruding end of the inhaler 12 in order to consume aerosol produced by the inhaler 12 . As mentioned, the inhaler 12 can be operated in this position, but it can also be entirely removed from the charger 14 and can thus be used by itsel f , as , for example , shown in Fig . 24 .

The further figures show, how parts of the holding means can be provided on the inhaler 12 and the charger 14 in order to provide the two stable positions .

Firstly, as shown in Fig . 4 , magnetic material 20 can, for example , be provided at one particular position along the inhaler 12 , and magnetic or ferromagnetic material 22 can be provided at two distinct positions in the recess or through hole of the charger 14 accommodating the inhaler 12 . Thus , the inhaler 12 can be held in the fully accommodated position as shown in Fig . 4 by means of cooperation of the magnetic material 20 on the inhaler 12 with the lower one of ferromagnetic materials 22 , and it can be held in the protruding position shown in Fig . 5 , when the magnetic material 20 on the inhaler 12 cooperates with the upper ferromagnetic material 22 provided on the charger 14 .

As shown in Figs . 6 and 7 , the same two positions can be provided, when the inhaler 12 has magnetic material 20 at two distinct positions , one of which cooperates with ferromagnetic material 22 on the charger 14 in one position, and the other one cooperates with the ferromagnetic material 22 on the charger 14 in the other position .

As shown in Figs . 10 and 11 , the same ef fects can be achieved, when ferromagnetic material 22 is provided at two positions along the length of the charger 12 , and magnetic material 20 is provided at one position on the charger .

In a similar manner, magnetic and ferromagnetic material are exchanged, according to Figs . 8 and 9 as compared to Figs . 4 and 5 , and also cooperate as described in order to provide the two distinct but stable positions .

As shown in Fig . 12 , the holding force in the fully accommodated position can be increased, when not only the charger 14 has ferromagnetic material 22 at two distinct positions , but also the inhaler 12 has magnetic material at two distinct positions . By having these two positions essentially corresponding to each other, two parts of holding means cooperate in this position and increase the holding force and provide a kind of bias towards the fully accommodated position, which is typically a charging position . The holding force in the protruding position shown in Fig . 13 is somewhat reduced due to the fact that only one part of the holding means cooperates with one part thereof on the inhaler 12 , but this will still provide a stable position .

The described ef fect also applies to the embodiment of Figs . 14 and 15 , in which merely magnetic 20 and ferromagnetic materials 22 are exchanged for each other as compared to Figs . 12 and 13 .

In the embodiments described above , charging contacts on the inhaler and the charger can be provided in any suitable manner separate from the holding means in order to allow charging and/or the delivery of electric power from the charger 14 to the inhaler 12 in one or both positions . Fig . 16 essentially corresponds to the embodiment of Figs . 14 and 15 and additionally shows that ferromagnetic material 22 provided on the inhaler 12 can additionally be used to cooperate with charging contacts 24 of the charger 14 . In this case , corresponding to two separate charging contacts 24 provided on the charger 14 , the ferromagnetic material 22 is separated into two corresponding parts in order to allow cooperation with the charging contacts 24 of the charger 14 in addition to the magnetic material 20 provided on the charger 14 . As shown, the magnetic material 20 can in this place be provided on the thin, left part of the charger 14 , and electrical contact 24 can be provided on the thicker, right part thereof .

The embodiment of Fig . 17 based on that of Fig . 16 has further charging contacts 24 in the orientation of the figures above the charging contacts 24 shown in Fig . 16 so as to allow the delivery of electric power to the inhaler 12 also in the protruding position shown in Fig . 17 . In this case , also the upper strips of ferromagnetic material 22 of the inhaler 12 are adapted to cooperate with charging contacts 24 of the charger 14 , whereas this is not necessarily the case in the embodiment shown in Fig . 16 . In the situation shown in Fig . 17 , the battery of the inhaler can be bypassed . Further, the distance between the lower electrical contacts 24 and the upper magnetic material 20 essentially corresponds to the distance between the upper magnetic material 20 and the upper electrical contacts 24 . Consequently, in the position shown in figure 17 the upper ferromagnetic material 22 on the inhaler 12 can be used for charging, and the lower ferromagnetic material 22 on the inhaler 12 can be used for holding . Further, the inhaler 12 can be held with a particularly high holding force in a position corresponding to that of figure 16 , since both magnetic materials 20 can cooperate with both ferromagnetic materials 22 . As compared to Fig . 16 , Fig . 18 shows a similar embodiment , in which, however, the upper ferromagnetic material 22 is not adapted to cooperate with electrical contacts 24 provided on the charger, as this is unnecessary as indicated in Fig . 19 as compared to Fig . 17 .

For the sake of completeness , Figs . 20 and 22 show an embodiment , in which electrical contacts 24 of the inhaler 12 are separate from holding means thereof in the form of magnetic material 20 . Also in this case , additional contacts 24 could be provided on the charger 14 , in order to allow charging also in the protruding position shown in figure 21 .

Figs . 22 to 24 show a perspective view of an example embodiment , in which that part of the charger housing, which is described to be thin above , is essentially in the shape of a tube 28 inherently having a through hole 16 , in which the inhaler 12 can be fully accommodated as shown in Fig . 22 . In the embodiment shown, the tube 28 is connected to the remainder of the housing of the charger 14 at approximately the center 30 thereof . In this case , any holding means and electrical contacts shown in the lower parts of Fig . 4 to 21 will essentially be provided at this center part 30 . In this manner, the inhaler 12 can both be fully accommodated as shown in Fig . 22 , but it can also be held in a stable manner protruding from the charger 14 as shown in Fig . 23 and can be operated in this position . Finally, it can also be used when fully removed as indicated in Fig . 24 .

Claims

1. An inhalation device (10) having a charger (14) and an inhaler (12) with a rechargeable battery and a single heater or atomizer, which is adapted to receive a consumable substance (18) and can be accommodated in or on the charger in at least two distinct positions, in both of which the inhaler (12) is removably held by mechanical and/or magnetic holding means (20, 22) , wherein the inhaler (12) protrudes from the charger in a first position and is configured to be operated in this position , wherein at least one part of the holding means (20, 22) is a magnetic material.

2. The inhalation device (10) of claim 1, wherein the holding means (20, 22) have at least one part thereof on the inhaler

(12) or charger and two distinct parts thereof on the other component, the charger or inhaler (12) .

3. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the inhaler (12) can be accommodated in a through hole (16) of the charger.

4. The inhalation device (10) of the preceding claims, wherein contacts (22) of the inhaler (12) are in electrical contact with contacts (24) of the charger in at least a second position.

5. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the inhaler (12) is movable between the two positions by means of a substantially linear movement.

6. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one part of the holding means (20, 22) and/or electrical contacts (22) provided on the inhaler (12) are present around its entire circumference.

. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein electrical contacts (22) of the inhaler (12) are adapted to cooperate with magnetic material (20) provided in or on the charger.

8. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the charger has electrical contacts (24) at two positions along the removing direction of the inhaler (12) .

9. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the inhaler (12) is, in at least one position, flush with a surface of the charger at at least one end thereof.

10. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the inhaler (12) and the charger has a battery, the battery of the charger having a greater capacity than the battery of the inhaler (12) .

11. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the charger has a battery with a size of more than 2000 mAh, in particular about 3000 mAh and the inhaler (12) has a battery with a size of less than 1000 mAh, in particular about 200 mAh.

12. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the inhaler (12) is rotationally symmetric.

13. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the charger is cuboid.

14. The inhalation device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the distinct positions of the inhaler (12) are distinct along a longitudinal direction of the inhaler