1. TITLE: NASAL TOBACCO INHALER

II. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to nasal tobacco inhalers, and more particularly, to the type that is used to inhale powdered tobacco products.

III. BACKGROUND ART

2. Other Related Applications.

Several designs for inhalers have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes the features of the present invention that permits a user to inhale predetermined amounts of the powdered tobacco product. Also, the present invention permits the dispensing of these products without spillage.

Present laws prohibit lighting tobacco products in many areas. Smokers in long range flights crave for nicotine. The present invention provides a device to administer precise amounts of nicotine to the users.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a device that, with reasonable degree of accuracy, dispenses predetermined amounts of powdered tobacco products.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an inhaler that is volumetrically efficient.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents an isometric exploded view of the inhaler subject of the present application.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the inhaler with its components assembled.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectioned elevational view of the device shown in figure 2 taken along line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the inhaler represented in the previous figures, showing the flow of air during inhalation.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the insert or cartridge with its plug.

Figure 6 shows a bottom view of the inhaler with the bottom cap assembly removed.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes an elongated cylindrical housing 20 with ends 22 and 24, bottom cap assembly 40 and dispensing assembly 60. Cover assembly 80 includes a cooperating concavity to receive convex end 22. Optional cartridge or insert 100 is removably mounted within housing 20.

End 22 is rounded and closed, except for through opening 26. Tubular member 30 runs longitudinally, substantially coaxially, within housing 20 and substantially adjacent to the housing's internal wall. Member 30 has end 32 coinciding with opening 26. End 34 runs a predetermined distance shorter than end 24, in the preferred embodiment. In this manner, two spaces are defined within housing 20, namely, storage space 25 and tubular space 35, as best seen in figures 1; 2 and 3. Optional cartridge or insert 100 is shown in figure 3 with its internal space 105 replacing storage space 25 for storing the tobacco products.

Bottom cap assembly 40 is round and includes a peripheral wall 41, and inner thread 42 that mates with outer thread 28 of housing 20. Assembly 40 includes peripheral slot 46 that permits actuator 66 to go through, so that it can be actuated from the outside.

Dispensing assembly 60 includes a cylindral member 62 with cooperative dimensions to be rotably housed within assembly 40. Actuator 66 is mounted to the peripheral wall of assembly 60, and extends radially outwardly therefrom. Actuator 66 passes through slot 46 to permit a user to rotate assembly 60 between two extreme positions. A radially extending aperture 68 in assembly 60 is designed to coincide with end 34 at one of the extreme positions permitted by actuator 66 to travel within slot 46 as seen in figure 3. As seen in figure 2, the other extreme position brings aperture 68 in contact with storage space 25 (or aperture 102 of cartridge 100), where the powdered tobacco. By gravity, the product falls inside aperture 68, which is then rotated by actuator 66, and selectively brought in alignment with end 34 or storage space 25. As a user's nostrils suction air through hole 48, aperture 68, tubular space 35 and opening 26, outside air penetrates, as shown in figure 4, causing the powered tobacco product inside aperture 68 to move up through tubular space 35.

Cover assembly 80 has a concave wall 81 with inner concave surface 83. Tab 82 extends outwardly and facilitates the removal of assembly 80. Protuberance 86, as best seen in figure 3, is mounted on inner concave surface 83 and cooperates to selectively plug opening 26 to prevent extraneous matters from penetrating inside tubular space 35.

Cartridge or insert 100 is best seen in figures 5 and 6. Cartridge 100 has one closed end 104 and one open end 102 that is selectively

closed with plug member 106. The cross-section of cartridge 100 is selected in the preferred embodiment to be volumetrically efficient and cooperatively embrace tubular member 30.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

VII. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is apparent from the previous paragraphs that an improvement of the type for such a nasal tobacco inhaler is quite desirable for inhaling predetermined amounts of powdered tobacco.