Cartridge unit coupler
Some embodiments relate to a cartridge for use with an inhaler, the cartridge comprising: a plurality of source material units and a unit coupler configured for selectively interlocking to each of the source material units so that when the cartridge is operably attached to the inhaler, manipulation of the unit coupler moves the interlocked source material unit away from or back into the cartridge; the unit coupler and each of the source material units being formed with an interlocking geometry in which a protrusion of one fits within a respective recess of the other.
1 . A cartridge for use with an inhaler, the cartridge comprising:
a housing comprising:
a plurality of source material units; and
a unit coupler contained within said cartridge, said unit coupler configured for selectively interlocking to each of the plurality of source material units, the unit coupler positioned and configured to move away from or back into the housing with an interlocked source material unit of the plurality of source material units; the unit coupler and each source material unit of the plurality of source material units being formed with an interlocking geometry in which a protrusion of one fits within a respective recess of the other,
wherein the unit coupler is removable with the cartridge from the inhaler.
2 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a distal protrusion of the unit coupler, and wherein the protrusion is shaped and sized to fit within a respective recess defined in each of the source material units.
3 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge housing comprises a geometry defining two movement pathways: a first pathway in which the plurality of source material units are configured to slide past the unit coupler; and a second pathway in which a source material unit of the plurality of source material units that was interlocked to the unit coupler at the first pathway is configured to move together with the unit coupler along the second pathway.
4 . The cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein the first pathway is structured for rotational movement of the plurality of source material units relative to the unit coupler; and wherein the second pathway is structured for joint linear movement of the interlocked unit coupler and the plurality of source material units.
5 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of source material units are arranged on a carousel and are rotatable with respect to the unit coupler; the unit coupler being positioned radially outwardly with respect to the carousel.
6 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the unit coupler is located at a passageway of the cartridge housing.
7 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein an external side of the housing of the cartridge is formed with a bulge, and wherein at least a portion of the unit coupler extends into the bulge on an inner side of the bulge.
8 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the unit coupler interlocks to only one source material unit of the plurality of source material units at a given time and only that one source material unit can be pulled away from or returned back into the cartridge.
9 . The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the bulge defines a passageway having a width that matches a thickness of a source material unit of the plurality of source material units, so that only one source material unit of the plurality of source material units can pass through the passageway at a given time.
10 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , comprising a restricting frame that is movable between a first position in which the restrictive frame prevents movement of the unit coupler out from the cartridge, and a second position in which an opening of the restricting frame is aligned with the unit coupler to allow movement of the unit coupler.
11 . A kit comprising the cartridge according to claim 1 and an inhaler;
wherein the inhaler includes a transferring element configured to move between a proximal position within the inhaler and a distal position in which the transferring element is configured to reach out to the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded onto the inhaler, to actuate transfer of a source material unit to a use-position in the inhaler;
wherein a distal end of the transferring element is shaped and positioned with respect to the loaded cartridge such that rotation of the cartridge does not break or otherwise damage the transferring element.
12 . The kit according to claim 11 , wherein the transferring element is configured to connect to the unit coupler when the transferring element is at its distal position.
13 . The kit according to claim 11 , wherein the cartridge is substantially rounded and comprises a bulge, and wherein the distal end of the transferring element, at its distal position, extends adjacent an indentation in which the bulge of the cartridge is seated.
14 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , said plurality of source material units arranged within slots of a carousel; wherein one or more of the last 10% of slots in the carousel comprises an indicator for identifying that the cartridge was fully used.
15 . The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the indicator includes an empty slot that does not include a source material unit of the plurality of source material units.
16 . The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the indicator includes a source material unit of the plurality of source material units that does not include an electrically conductive member.
17 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of source material units are stacked or rotationally aligned with respect to the housing;
said cartridge further including at least one indicator positioned between adjacent source material units of the plurality of source material units,
wherein said inhaler includes:
a cavity shaped and sized for receiving said cartridge therein; and
a controller configured to infer a relative position of one or more said source material units of the cartridge based on a position of said indicator.
18 . The cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the indicator comprises an empty slot or a source material unit of the plurality of source material units having a structure different than a structure of at least 70% of a total number of the plurality of source material units in the cartridge.
19 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the unit coupler is configured to be pulled away from the cartridge housing.
20 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the unit coupler has an interlocking geometry with the inhaler, wherein the unit coupler is attached to a first source material unit of the plurality of source material units, and following use of the first source material unit, the first source material unit is configured to be returned to the cartridge along with the unit coupler.
21 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of source material units is configured to be interlocked with said unit coupler while the cartridge is not loaded onto the inhaler.
22 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises one or more of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerols (CBG), cannabichromenes (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabitriol (CBT).
23 . The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
24 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises one or more of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerols (CBG), cannabichromenes (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabitriol (CBT).
25 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
26 . An inhaler for use with a cartridge comprising a plurality of source material units, the inhaler comprises:
an inhaler body comprising a transferring element shaped and sized to engage a unit coupler of the cartridge to pull a source material unit of the plurality of source material units into a use-position within the inhaler body; said unit coupler configured for selectively interlocking to each of the plurality of source material units,
wherein said unit coupler is contained within the cartridge, wherein the unit coupler is removable with the cartridge from the inhaler,
and wherein a distal end of the transferring element is shaped to attach to the unit coupler of the cartridge by a slide fit coupling.
27 . The inhaler according to claim 26 , wherein the transferring element, the unit coupler and the source material unit of the plurality of source material units are linearly aligned with respect to each other when the cartridge is in a locked position with respect to the inhaler.
28 . The inhaler of claim 26 , wherein the unit coupler is linearly aligned with the transferring element when the cartridge is seated at a final position with respect to the inhaler.
29 . The inhaler of claim 26 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises one or more of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerols (CBG), cannabichromenes (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabitriol (CBT).
30 . The inhaler of claim 26 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
31 . A method for pulling a plurality of source material units from a cartridge configured for use with an inhaler, the method comprising:
loading onto the inhaler a cartridge comprising the plurality of source material units and a unit coupler contained within the cartridge, said unit coupler configured for interlocking with each of the plurality of source material units, wherein the unit coupler is removable with the cartridge from the inhaler; and
locking the cartridge to the inhaler while simultaneously engaging the unit coupler in preparation for pulling an interlocked source material unit of the plurality of source material units from the cartridge to a use-position within the inhaler.
32 . The method according to claim 31 , wherein the unit coupler in the provided cartridge is interlocked with a source material unit of the plurality of source material units before being loaded onto the inhaler.
33 . The method according to claim 31 , wherein interlocking a source material unit of the plurality of source material units to the unit coupler is performed simultaneously with locking the cartridge to the inhaler.
34 . The method according to claim 31 , wherein engaging the unit coupler comprises moving a transferring element of the inhaler to a position in which the transferring element connects to the unit coupler.
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises one or more of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerols (CBG), cannabichromenes (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabitriol (CBT).
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said cartridge is configured to release, using said inhaler, an active substance from said plurality of source material units, said active substance comprises Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).