WO2009043592A2

WO2009043592A2 - A multi - oil nasal and oral inhaler system

Info

Publication number: WO2009043592A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/008399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerard Hayes; Alan Haymes
Original assignee: Gerard Hayes; Alan Haymes
Priority date: 2007-10-03
Filing date: 2008-10-03
Publication date: 2009-04-09
Also published as: WO2009043592A3; IES20070708A2

Abstract

An inhaler comprising at least two distinct and closable compartments for holding vapour releasing substances, arranged so as to prevent cross-contamination of the vapour releasing substances between compartments.

Description

Title

A Multi - Oil Nasal and Oral Inhaler System.

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the inhalation of vapour releasing substances such as oil for therapeutic use. In particular, the present invention relates to a multiple vapour inhaler containing a plurality of oil compartments.

Background to the Invention The inhalation of vapours from oils or other vapour releasing substances through the nose or mouth has long been practices for therapeutic or complimentary use. Inhalation of oil vapours is very common to counteract the effects of the common cold or influenza, such as a blocked nose or sinuses. Substances typically used for these situations include menthol, eucalyptus and albus oil, all of which provide relief by helping to clear blocked airways within the head.

Aromatherapy is a further use of aroma releasing "essential oils" (volatile liquid plant materials), wherein different oils have been found to have different, effects on the body or mind when their vapours are inhaled. As an example, lavender oil is considered to have a calming and de-stressing effect when inhaled.

The inhalation of such oil vapours may be direct or indirect. Indirect methods include the burning of oils to release their vapour into a room, or in the case of clearing blocked airways, the inhalation of oil vapours with steam from an emulsion of the oil and hot water.

The present invention is concerned with more direct inhalation of vapours from aroma- releasing substances such as oils. One such practice is known as dry inhaling, wherein oil is introduced to an absorbent material which is held in the vicinity of the nose or mouth to allow the vapours to be inhaled. To make this more convenient, portable inhalers were developed which contain a store of vapour-releasing substance. A popular type of such inhaler is an inhaler shaped like a bullet which contains material soaked in an oil or mixture of oils. Openings are provided on one end of the bullet-like inhaler

CONFIREUATiON COPY through which the vapours from the oil(s) are released. In use, the open end of the inhaler is inserted into the nostril while the user inhales.

It will be appreciated that this type of invasive inhaler is not particularly hygienic. The inhaler is brought into direct contact with the interior of the nasal passage. Between uses, a cover is slotted on top of the part of the inhaler insertable in the nose. It will be appreciated that the exterior of the inhaler is a possible breeding ground for germs transferred onto the inhaler from the nasal cavity.

It would be desirable to have an more hygienic portable inhaler which is as efficient in permitting inhalation of vapours from oils, but which does not require contact between the user's nose or face and the inhaler.

A further problem with this type of prior art inhaler is that the inhaler only contains a single oil or mixture of oils. If a person has a preference for two or more oils, it is necessary for them to obtain separate inhalers for each oil.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inhaler capable of holding a plurality of different oils in isolation from one another.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an inhaler wherein different oils can be enjoyed separately or in combination.

It is further an object of the invention to provide an inhaler capable of being refilled.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an inhaler comprising at least two distinct and closable compartments for holding vapour releasing substances, arranged so as to prevent cross-contamination of the vapour releasing substances between compartments. The vapour releasing substance may be in oil, solution, gel, crystal or other form. The inhaler may comprise a central body portion separating the compartments, and keeping the compartments a fixed distance from one another.

The at least two compartments may be releasably attached to one another. According to one embodiment the at least two compartments snap-fit together. Each compartment may snap-fit or otherwise secure to the central body of the inhaler. The compartments may therefore be interchangeable about the central body.

Preferably the inhaler further comprises a strip of oil infused material in each compartment. The material may be any absorbent material.

Preferably the inhaler is substantially flat in shape having a pair of opposing faces, wherein at least one face of the inhaler is perforated to release the vapour from the vapour releasing substance contained therein. The perforations may be holes or slits of any shape or size.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the inhaler comprises four compartments and is substantially flat with an X-shape or cross-shape in cross-section, each compartment extending out from a central body portion.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the inhaler comprises four compartments and is a substantially flat disk shape, each compartment forming a quarter of the disk.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the inhaler comprises two compartments and is substantially flat and rectangular in shape with a compartment at each end.

The substantially flat shape of these embodiments enables the user to bring the perforated substantially flat face of the inhaler beneath his/her nose to inhale the vapour without having to introduce any part of the inhaler into the nostril or nasal cavity or cause contact between the inhaler and the nose or any part of the face. Use of the inhaler is therefore very hygienic. The inhaler may further comprise closing means to seal each compartment between uses. The closing means may be door-like features which fold, slide, pivot or otherwise move between an open position wherein vapour may be released from the inhaler and a closed position wherein each compartment is sealed and no vapour is released. In one embodiment each compartment has its own cover which slides relative to the compartment housing between an open and closed position. In a closed position, the cover envelopes the compartment housing, which is received fully into the cover. In alternative embodiments each cover or door may be hinged.

The inhaler may further comprise hanging means or means for attachment to hanging means to enable the inhaler to be hung and used as an air freshener in a room, car, or alternative environment.

Grip means may be provided on the inhaler to aid use. There may be grip means provided on each cover to aid opening and/or closing of the inhaler. Grip means may take the form of a finger or thumb print, one or more indentations or raised projections or similar.

The inhaler may be adapted to allow access to the interior of each compartment. Each compartment housing may comprise a slit through which access is permitted. Access to each compartment allows a vapour releasing substance to be inserted into the compartment prior to use. After use or multiple uses of the inhaler the vapour releasing substance may be released.

The invention further provides a kit comprising an inhaler as described above and a plurality of oil-infused material strips to be inserted into the compartments of the inhaler as desired.

The inhaler of the invention is suitable for oral and nasal usage in a hygienic/user friendly manner as the unit is not required to come into direct contact with nose or mouth to deliver beneficial/therapeutic vapours from the unit to the user. This automatically makes the inhaler more hygienic and user friendly in a group or public situation.

The inhaler may be a multi piece self assembly unit which can be constructed as a single inhaler holding any multiple oil mixture or built into a 2, 3 or 4 piece unit containing different oil mixtures at the same time.

This unit avoids/prevents cross contamination of any or all oils due to the fact that a centre body portion or holding piece separates each of the individual oil holding compartments from each other due to the solid structure of the central body portion. The separate compartments may simply click on to or push on to the centre holding piece and be detached from the centre piece giving the user multi choices in relation to a variety of oils as against the conventional inhaler which only delivers one single vapour to the user.

The inhaler of the present invention can also be refilled unlike prior art inhalers due to the fact that oil holding arms or compartment housings can be purchased separately and used with the centre holding piece. Material strips pre-loaded with oil can be inserted by the user into the compartments on an on-going basis if preferred. The compartments may also be supplied as a separate item as replacement items providing a favourite or most used oil of choice to the user.

The inhaler/freshener can be manufactured in a variety of designs in rectangular, square, oblong or round shapes and all colours.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of inhaler in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an inhaler according to one embodiment of the invention, in an open configuration.

Figure 2 shows the inhaler of Figure 1 in a closed configuration.

Figure 3 shows an inhaler according to a further embodiment of the invention, in a partially open configuration. Figure 4 shows the inhaler of Figure 3 in a closed configuration.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The present invention relates to a inhaler/freshener unit of the type containing aromatic oil(s) or inhalant(s). The unit is designed to be carried by a user in a pocket or bag or may be worn by the user, and is therefore fully portable.

Figures 1 to 4 show a variety of possible embodiments of the unit of the invention. It will be appreciated that there is no restriction on the overall shape of the unit. In the examples shown, the unit is circular or a four-point cross shape, however the unit may alternatively be square, rectangular, oblong, oval or any other shape.

The primary common feature in common with all embodiments of unit is at least two compartments for holding an aromatic or odoriferous substance. In use, the interior of these compartments, alone or in combination, are exposed to release the odour of the substance held therein. A second common feature is that the plurality of compartments are isolated from each other so there is no risk of cross-contamination of substances.

Figures 1 and 2 show a unit according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the unit is shown in a closed configuration in Figure 1 and in an open configuration in Figure 2. The unit comprises a central body portion 2, which is square in shape. Connected to each side of the square central body portion 2 is an arm 4 housing an individual compartment for a substance. In this embodiment the substance is an aromatic oil, which is held within an absorbent material located in each compartment. Each compartment contains a different oil which may be inhaled separately or in combination. Each arm 4 comprises an oil compartment housing 6 and a sliding cover 8. Cooperating stop means are provided on the housing 6 and within the cover 8 to prevent the cover from being completely removed from the housing. The oil compartment housing comprises an internal compartment within which the oil infused absorbent material is located. A plurality of holes 10 are defined in the housing through which the vapour from the oil can escape. With the cover of each arm in the open position, the holes are exposed, thereby allowing the user direct access to the escaping vapour. With the holes exposed, it is intended that the user draws the unit to under his/her nose to inhale the vapour through the nasal cavity. After each use, the cover is then re-closed to prevent the oil from evaporating. Cooperating means are located between the central body and each opposing edge of the covers to ensure a tight closing seal.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and 2, each arm is integrally molded to the central body. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) each arm is detachable from the central body to allow the arms to be interchanged according to user preference of each arm's oil. In this embodiment, each arm snap-fits onto the central body of the unit.

In a further embodiment, there is no central body. The unit comprises a plurality of oil compartment housings releasably attached to one another. For example, the unit may comprise a eucalyptus oil compartment, and a lavender oil compartment, the compartments being arranged end-to-end and being releasably detachable from one another.

Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of unit, the unit being circular in shape. As with the unit of figures 1 and 2, the unit in figures 3 and 4 has four substance compartments. The unit is sectioned into four parts, of wedge shape, each part housing a substance compartment. The upper face of each compartment housing 16 is perorated with holes 20 and is provided with a sliding cover 18. Each cover 18 is pulled radially outwards (as shown by the arrows) to expose the holes 20 through which the vapour from the oil is released. Each cover 18 in this embodiment is fully removable, although in alternative embodiments stop means or linking means may be provided to ensure each cover remains linked to the unit body in its open configuration.

It will be appreciated that the inhaler may take any form and is not limited to being flat in shape or having a cross or circular cross-section. It is also envisaged that any number of compartments may be provided, whether equal is size or of varying sizes.

The words "comprises/comprising" and the words "having/including" when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Claims

1. An inhaler comprising at least two distinct and closable compartments for holding vapour releasing substances, arranged so as to prevent cross-contamination of the vapour releasing substances between compartments.

2. An inhaler in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a central body portion separating the at least two compartments.

3. An inhaler in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the at least two compartments are releasably attached to one another.

4. An inhaler according to any previous claim wherein the at least two compartments are secured to the central body of the inhaler.

5. An inhaler according to any previous claim wherein the at least two compartments are interchangeable about the central body portion.

6. An inhaler in accordance with any previous claim further comprising a strip of oil infused material in each compartment.

7. An inhaler in accordance with any previous claim wherein the inhaler is substantially flat, having a pair of opposing faces wherein at least one face of the inhaler has perforations.

8. An inhaler in accordance with any previous claim wherein the inhaler comprises four compartments and is substantially flat with a cross-shape in cross-section, each compartment extending out from the central body portion.

9. An inhaler in accordance with any previous claim wherein the inhaler comprises four compartments and is a substantially flat disk shape, each compartment forming one quarter of the disk.

10. An inhaler in accordance with Claims 1 to 8 wherein the inhaler comprises two compartments and is substantially flat and rectangular in shape with a compartment at each end.

1 1. An inhaler in accordance with any of the previous claims further comprising closing means to seal each compartment between use.

12. An inhaler in accordance with any of the previous claims further comprising hanging means.

13. An inhaler in accordance with any of the previous claims further comprising grip means.

14. An inhaler in accordance with any of the previous claims wherein the inhaler is adaptable to allow access to the interior of each compartment.

15. An inhaler in accordance with any of the previous claims wherein the inhaler is refillable.

16. A kit comprising: a. an inhaler comprising at least two distinct and closable compartments for holding vapour releasing substances, arranged so as to prevent cross- contamination of the vapour releasing substances between compartments; and b. a plurality of oil infused material strips for insertion into the compartments of the inhaler.