US20070267032A1 - Healthy Pleasurable Inhalation Device - Google Patents

Abstract

A healthy pleasurable inhalation device for humans comprises a tubular portion containing a flavored powder easily dissolvable in saliva and a mouthpiece configured to distribute the powder in the user's mouth. The tubular portion contains apparatus to meter the mixing of powder with air as the user inhales through the device. A variety of configurations for the device tubular portion and mouthpiece are presented.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The field of the invention pertains to oral devices that provide a pleasurable experience. Foods and similar items, such as chewing gum, provide such experiences. Non-food items, such as cigarettes, cigars, smoking pipes and chewing tobacco, also provide such experiences. Disclosed below is a device intended to healthfully substitute for cigarettes, cigars and smoking pipes, in particular.
• The human respiratory tract can be divided into upper and lower airways. The upper airway tract includes the nose, mouth, pharynx and larynx. The lower airway tract consists of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. The division between the upper and lower airways is usually taken as the junction of the larynx and the trachea. The new device, and its technology, is based on oral inhalation.
• Considering the oral airway tract, the passage for oral flow can also be divided into three regions: (1) the entrance consisting of lips, front teeth and the leading edge of the tongue, (2) the middle region and arching channel bounded by the tongue and the hard palate, and (3) the oral pharynx where the passage joins the nasopharynx and the flow becomes vertical. While the flow rate of air obviously varies, the flow rate is assumed to be 0.5 L/sec.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• An objective of the invention is to enable people to “enjoy” the sensation of inhalation. The invention in its fundamental form consists of a generally tubular device with a mouthpiece. The tubular portion contains a flavored powder and a configuration that meters the flow of powder into the air stream leading to the mouth. The size and shape of the tubular portion can vary, depending on the amount of powder capacity desired for the device and also depending on appearance and comfort factors pertinent to the users.
• Use of the new device is somewhat similar to the use of smoking tobacco. When the user inhales through the mouthpiece, fresh air flows into the distal end, through the internal configuration of the tubular portion and mouthpiece, and then into the user's mouth. With each inhalation, flavored powder is mixed with the flowing air to be deposited in the user's mouth.
• Upon inhalation, the powder particles deposit on the tongue, in particular. Since the human tongue is particularly sensitive to taste and certain nasal passages sense smell during exhalation, the brain develops a pleasurable experience with the device. By design, the device causes deposit of the powder in the front portion of the respiratory tract, namely from the teeth to the middle portion of the palate. Deposition of the powder in this portion of the respiratory tract is important because the powder can cause bitterness if the powder particles reach the pharynx.
• The device is designed to control the two-phase flow (of air and powder) for deposit of the powder particles in the first and second regions and to avoid deposit of particles in the third region and beyond. To achieve this particular result with the two-phase flow, the new device allows variation of the following physical aspects: the airflow speed, volumetric airflow rate, airflow direction, the powder density, powder particle size and quickness of powder solubility in saliva.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the device ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3A is an end view of the mouthpiece ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3B is a cross-section of the mouthpiece ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the mouthpiece ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4A is a cross-section of a gate shown inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a gate shown inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 5A is an end view demonstrating the airflow of the angled channels inFIG. 3B;
• FIG. 5B is a side view demonstrating the airflow of the angled channels inFIG. 3B;
• FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of the second embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the third embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-section of the fourth embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 9A is a longitudinal cross-section of the mouthpiece of the fourth embodiment;
• FIG. 9B is an inner end view of the mouthpiece ofFIG. 9A;
• FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-section of the fifth embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 11A is a longitudinal cross-section of an alternative mouthpiece for the device ofFIG. 10;
• FIG. 11B is an end view of the mouthpiece ofFIG. 11A;
• FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-section of the device ofFIG. 10 with the mouthpiece ofFIG. 11;
• FIG. 13 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of a further modification of the device ofFIGS. 10-12;
• FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-section of the complete device ofFIG. 13;
• FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-section of the sixth embodiment of the device, including a filter adjacent the mouthpiece;
• FIG. 15A is a plan view of the filter ofFIG. 15;
• FIG. 16 is a plan view of an alternate form of the filter ofFIG. 15;
• FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-section of the seventh embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 18 is a plan view of the inner tube cap in the device ofFIG. 17;
• FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an optional non-cylindrical mouthpiece;
• FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-section of the device ofFIG. 17 with the mouthpiece ofFIG. 19 attached;
• FIG. 21A is a perspective view of a modified distal end cap;
• FIG. 21B is a longitudinal cross-section of the end cap ofFIG. 21A;
• FIG. 21C is a plan view of the end cap ofFIG. 21A;
• FIG. 22A is a plan view of an inner sealing strip;
• FIG. 22B is a perspective view of the folded inner sealing strip;
• FIG. 23A is a partial longitudinal cross-section of the device showing the modified end cap ofFIG. 21 and the sealing strip ofFIG. 22;
• FIG. 23B is a partial perspective view of the end cap and sealing strip assembled together;
• FIG. 24 is a longitudinal cross-section of the device showing the sealing strip partially removed;
• FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-section of the device showing the sealing strip fully removed;
• FIG. 26 is a longitudinal cross-section of the eighth embodiment of the device;
• FIG. 26A is a distal end view of the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 26B is a lateral cross-section view of the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 27A is a partial side view of the mouthpiece of the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 27B is a longitudinal partial cross-section of the mouthpiece of the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 27C is an end view of the mouthpiece of the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 28A is a lateral cross-section of a modified distal end for the device ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 28B is a horizontal longitudinal partial cross-section of the distal end ofFIG. 28A;
• FIG. 28C is a vertical longitudinal partial cross-section taken along theline28C ofFIG. 28A; and
• FIG. 28D is a second lateral cross-section taken along theline28D ofFIG. 28B.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Illustrated inFIG. 1 is the basic external appearance of the device. There is a mouth portion ormouthpiece1, a cylindricalmain body2 that is hollow or tubular, and a distal end filter orend cap3 to admit air into the device. In general, the device is somewhat thicker and longer than a cigarette but thinner and shorter than a large cigar.
• InFIG. 2 when there is no airflow drawn through the device, a flavoredpowder17 is confined in the area betweenpushup ring16,inner tube13,outer tube14,lower gate25 andupper gate18. When a user inhales,air11 flows into the device throughdistal end filter3. The air then flows throughinner tube13 andchannel23 of thelower gate25 towardupper gate18. Before the air reacheschannel24 ofupper gate18, the air flows through a region containing the flavoredpowder17. The air entrains a certain amount of powder and becomes a two-phase flow throughchannel24 ofupper gate18. The two-phase flow21 passes throughchannel20 in themouthpiece19 and finally into the mouth throughangled channel27.
• As air passes through the region between thelower gate25 andupper gate18 and the flavored powder becomes entrained, additional powder is continuously supplied to this region in response to thecompression spring15 acting against thering16 andpowder17.
• Theangled channels27 at the exit of themouthpiece19 direct the two-phase flow at an angle selected to distribute the powder in the user's mouth and avoid passage of powder into the pharynx. The powder will impinge the user's tongue, palate and other surfaces normally coated with saliva, rather than pass further to the pharynx.
• FIG. 3 further illustrates the structure of themouthpiece19. The number ofangled channels27 can vary from one to any number depending upon channel diameter and mouthpiece diameter. Minimum channel diameter is limited by any tendency of the powder to clog in thechannels27. The cross-sectional shape of thechannels27 can be varied for different purposes, for example, to suit various manufacturing processes.
• Illustrated inFIG. 4 is the structure of either thelower gate25 or theupper gate18. The gates need not be of identical size, and it may be preferential to make thepassages24 of theupper gate18 somewhat larger to accommodate the two-phase flow as powder becomes entrained in the air.
• FIG. 5 illustrates test results showing the flow patterns of the two-phase flow exiting theangled channels27 into the user's mouth. The two-phase flow clearly spreads widely from themouthpiece19 as intended.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a device including aduckbill check valve36.Powder17 is contained in the space between theinner tube35,push plate34 and theduckbill valve36. Acompression spring32 continuously urges thepowder17 toward theduckbill valve36. Absent inhalation, although thespring32 pushes thepowder17 toward theduckbill check valve36opening39, the friction among the powder particles and the friction between the powder and the duckbill check valve prevent the powder from exiting theduckbill valve opening39.
• When air is inhaled through the filter orend cap31, the air flows46 through thespace33 between theinner tube35 andouter tube42. The air flows into agap41 and on into theduckbill check valve36 picking uppowder17 in thespace43 leading37 to theopening39. Exiting theopening39, the two-phase powder and airflow passes through thechannel27 in themouthpiece19 and exits21 into the user's mouth.
• Illustrated inFIG. 7 is a third embodiment of the device wherein air is drawn in through a filter orend cap59 and then into aspace56 in thetube53 containing acompression spring57. Thecompression spring57 acts against aspring plate55 made of a porous material that allows air to pass through, but does not permit thepowder17 to pass into,space56. Thepowder17 is of sufficient particle size to permit air to flow there through and entrain some powder in theregion52. With the entrained particles, two-phase flow occurs inchannel51 of themouthpiece19 and the flow enters the mouth as shown at21. Aspowder17 is used,spring57 continues to compresspowder17 to re-supplyregion52 with adequate powder.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a fourth embodiment comprising modifications to the previous device. Upon inhalation,air81 flows in both through the filter orend cap69 and through anannular filter72. The air inhaled throughfilter69 passes intospace66 also containingspring67. The air continues through thepowder17, entrains powder inregion60 forming two-phase flow inchannel61 ofmouthpiece62. Theannular filter72 intube sidewall63 leads to a plurality ofslots71 between thepowder17 andmouthpiece62. The flow of additional air throughslots71 entrains additional powder mixing in with the two-phase flow inchannel61. The two-phase flow exits themouthpiece62 at21. A further optional modification comprises anon-porous spring plate65 forcing all inhalation to be throughfilter72 andslots71.
• Illustrated inFIG. 10 is a spiral core based design wherein the spring is eliminated and aspiral core86 is located inside thetube89. The powder is loosely placed85 within thespiral core86. Upon inhalation,air88 passes throughfilter87 and through the powder andspiral core86. As the air passes through thespiral core86 and powder, a portion of the powder is entrained, creating two-phaseflow entering channel83 in themouthpiece82. Thespiral core86 creates a circulating airflow that eventually entrains all of the powder as inhalation continues. The two-phase flow then exits themouthpiece82 as indicated at81. Anannular filter84 admits additional air to adjust the mix ratio of entrained powder to air inchannel83.
• Thespiral core86 lessens the likelihood that the powder will fall and compact when the device is held vertically. The pitch of thespiral core86 should be made small to control the powder. During inhalation, the device is most likely close to horizontal but otherwise is likely to be almost vertical when packaged, shipped or stored.
• In themouthpiece82 used inFIG. 10, the two-phase flow leaves the mouthpiece from locations very close to the edge of the mouthpiece. Since the human mouth is usually wet due to saliva, the outlets from the mouthpiece can be blocked by the mixture of saliva and powder particles. To avoid blockage, themouthpiece82 is modified by locating the outlet nearer the mouthpiece centerline but retaining the angle of the outlet.
• As illustrated inFIG. 11, the modifiedmouthpiece90 two-phase flow channel97 leads to twosmall channels91 which angle at92 toopenings94 and95 near the centerline of the mouthpiece. The two-phase flow93 thus enters the mouth from near the center of the mouthpiece.FIG. 12 illustrates the modifiedmouthpiece90 mounted on the device ofFIG. 10.
• InFIGS. 13 and 14, thespiral core100 ofFIGS. 10 and 12 is modified to a spring-like configuration that is attached to themouthpiece101. Thespiral core100 loosely fits within thetube102 and abuts thedistal end105 at103. By pushing on themouthpiece101, thespiral core100 can be compressed and released to disturb the powder inspace104 thereby eliminating the setting or blocking of the powder which can occur with settling over time.
• In the sixth embodiment shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, afilter136 is positioned at the entrance to themouthpiece101 beyond thetube102 andspiral core100. By adjusting the size of theholes138, the ratio of powder particles in the two-phase flow can be controlled. Moreover, the shapes of theholes138 also affect the two-phase flow performance. For example, as shown inFIG. 16, the holes can be circular shaped140, pentagon shaped141 or triangular shaped142 and ofdiffering size139.
• Illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18 is the seventh embodiment of the device wherein aninner tube111 is axially located relative to theouter tube112 thereby providing anannular gap106.Powder105 is located in theinner tube111, and the inner tube is formed withholes118 leading to theannular gap106.Powder105 tends to flow throughholes118 intogap106, as shown at110. When a user inhales,airflow107 enters thedistal end87 and moves108 through thegap106 entrainingpowder110 to form a two-phase flow109. The two-phase flow then enters themouthpiece113 and flows out throughpassage116.
• The inner tube includescaps114 and115, as shown inFIG. 18, and is formed withtabs120 allowing passages for theannular gap106.
• Another modification of the mouthpiece is shown at130 inFIG. 19. The modifiedmouthpiece130 is generally oval shaped with the major axis horizontal and minor axis vertical in normal use by a user standing or sitting up. With themouthpiece130 properly mounted on thetube112, as best shown inFIG. 20, the row ofholes118 faces downwardly allowing thepowder105 to utilize gravity to exit theinner tube111 into theannular gap106. As above, the air in theannular gap106 becomes two-phase flow109 and exits the mouthpiece at131.
• Theholes118 in theinner tube111 of the seventh embodiment must be sealed during shipment and storage prior to use. Illustrated inFIG. 21 is a modified end cap or filter150 having asolid end156 that is inserted ininner tube111 to seal the tube end. When in use, air flows from theinner cavity154 of thecap150 throughslots151 and intoannular gap106 betweeninner tube111 andouter tube112.
• FIG. 22A shows the structure of asealing strip140 used to block theholes118 ofinner tube111. The sealing strip is preferably paper withperforated lines145 and146 near the center of the sealing strip. These twoperforated lines145 and146 provide convenient bending lines to bend the sealing strip into the shape shown at147 inFIG. 22B. Near theends141 and143 of the sealingstrip147 are two additionalperforated lines142 and144 for separating the ends by force. The sealingstrip140 is bent into theshape147 prior to assembly about theholes118.
• FIG. 23A illustrates the sealingstrip147 inside the device between theinner tube111 and theouter tube112 to seal theholes118 and prevent powder from leaking into theannular gap106.FIG. 23B illustrates the sealingstrip147 wrapped about thedistal end cap150. The sealingstrip147 fits intonotches153 and158 in theend cap150. Thenotches153 and158 allow thestrip147 to slide lengthwise when the user grasps thecentral part148 of the strip.
• As shown inFIGS. 24 and 25, the user pulls the sealingstrip147 out exposingholes118 in theinner tube111 and uncovering the powder thereby allowing a portion to flow into theannular gap106. Since the two sealing strip ends141 and143 are larger than thenotches153 and158 inend cap150,FIG. 21, they cannot pass through the notches. Rather, the sealing strip breaks atperforated lines142 and144 leaving theends141 and143 jammed innotches153 and158 and preventing loss of powder throughnotches153 and158.
• Illustrated inFIG. 26 is a further modification of the device. Thedevice200 comprises two hemi-cylindrical lumens ortubes201 and202.Tubes201 and202 are divided by apartition205.Tube202 containspowder204 prior to use. As indicated by203, there is an opening betweentubes201 and202.
• On thedistal end206 of thedevice200, there is ametering slot207 which allowsairflow208 to pass intotube201. When a user inhales at theend210 of themouthpiece209,air208 flows through theslot207 and mixes with the powder near thebottom217 of thedevice200. The flow then becomes an air-powder two-phase flow219 that passes through themouthpiece209 into the user's mouth.
• Athin film door211 is located near thedistal end206. Thedoor211 is normally closed, preventing powder near the bottom217 from moving into thetube201, unlessair208 is drawn in by the user, forcing the door open.
• FIG. 27 illustrates in detail themouthpiece209 configuration. As the air-powder flow219 enters themouthpiece209, abarrier255 forces thelower portion216 of the flow toward theupper portion218 of the flow becoming theflow220. Theflow220 is then re-directed221 bysurface212 at anangle213 just before entering the user's mouth. The weight of the powder particles causes the powder to be preferentially deposited on the tongue and surrounding saliva-coated tissues of the mouth.
• Illustrated inFIG. 28 is an alternative form of the distal end for the embodiment ofFIG. 26. Powder fromtube202 flows in thedirection232 throughchannel230 and on intotube201. The powder does not directly flow intotube201 after flowing intochannel230 but rather thebarrier250 forces the powder to move indirections234 and235 to reachopenings251 and252. Thebarrier250 reduces the tendency of the powder to randomly flow intotube201 and thus partially serves the purpose ofthin films211 above. The size ofchannel230 can be designed to increase or decrease the flow of powder and therefore serves to meter the flow of powder.
• Airflow236,237 and238 from the environment passes throughair slots240,241 and242. Referring toFIGS. 28A and C,airflow237 carries the powder after flow in thedirections234 and235 intotube201 as a two-phase flow (air and powder). The sizes ofslots240,241 and242 are designed to meter the flow rate of entering air.
• It should be noted that themouthpiece209 is configured such that the user naturally knows the orientation of the device to enablegravity260 to move powder fromtube202 intotube201, as shown inFIG. 26. During manufacture, a piece of material may be inserted intochannel230 throughslot240 to prevent powder from exitingtube202. Just before use, the piece of material is merely extracted fromslot240.
• The mouthpiece, as disclosed above, is designed to direct the air-powder mixture oblique to the throat and thereby avoid a direct path to the throat. The powder particles are sized to encourage deposit on the tongue and within the mouth tract. Preferably, the particle size is 100-250 mm. Flavor powder granules work well. The granulation processes combine all the ingredients, such as sugar, citric acid and flavor powder (coffee, mint, strawberry, etc.) into individual granules. Alternatively, sugar granules, citrus granules and flavor powder in granule form can be mixed together.
• Suitable flavor powders are available under the Durarome® brand produced by Firmenick, of Geneva, Switzerland. These powders are encapsulated with a substance that quickly dissolves in the mouth, thereby quickly releasing the flavor. A fine silicate anti-caking agent may be added.

Claims (12)

1. A pleasurable human inhalation device comprising a generally tubular portion and a mouthpiece, a flavored powder in the tubular portion, means on the device to admit air therein in response to inhalation through the mouthpiece, and means to meter mixing of air with powder to form a two-phase flow.

2. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1, including means in the mouthpiece to distribute the powder in the two-phase flow at an angle relative to the centerline of the mouthpiece.

3. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1, including a region in the device for mixing air with powder.

4. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1 wherein the means to admit air into the device and the means to meter mixing of air with powder comprise the same physical structure.

5. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1 wherein the flavored powder is in granular form.

6. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 5 wherein the granular flavored powder comprises coated granules.

7. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 5 wherein the granules include a sweetening agent and citric acid in addition to at least one flavor.

8. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 5 wherein the granular flavored powder comprises a mixture of granules separately containing a sweetening agent, citric acid or a flavor.

9. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1 wherein the flavor in the flavored powder is selected from the group consisting essentially of mint, coffee, tea, any fruit and any flavorful herb.

10. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 1 wherein the flavored powder includes a nicotine additive.

11. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 5 wherein the flavor in the granules is selected from the group consisting essentially of mint, coffee, tea, any fruit and any flavorful herb.

12. The pleasurable human inhalation device ofclaim 5 wherein the granules include a nicotine additive.

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