Cigarette-Simulating Inhaler
Patent No. US4083372 (titled "Cigarette-Simulating Inhaler") was filed by Boden on May 24, 1976. The application was issued on Apr 11, 1978.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the late 1970s when '372 was filed, inhaler devices at a time when such devices typically relied on pre-filled wicks saturated with essential oils. These devices commonly faced challenges related to manufacturing complexity, assembly time, and premature evaporation of the essential oils prior to consumer use. The construction of such inhalers often resulted in a bulky and unrealistic appearance, which was a non-trivial constraint.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed inhaler provides a simplified design that overcomes limitations of prior devices. By using a resilient, flexible outer sheath, a separate wick, and a hermetically sealed capsule containing essential oil, the invention enables low-cost manufacturing and assembly. The user activates the device by puncturing the capsule and releasing the oil into an air chamber for absorption by the wick. This architecture allows for a slim, cigarette-like appearance and addresses the problem of premature oil evaporation, enabling a convenient, disposable inhaler.
Claims
This patent contains zero claims, therefore there are no independent or dependent claims to analyze.
Patent Summary
Patent Family
File Wrapper
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US4083372
- Application Number
- US68948176
- Filing Date
- May 24, 1976
- Publication Date
- Apr 11, 1978
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents