Aspirator cartridge

Abstract

An aspirator cartridge has a novel structure, and an aspirator. This aspirator cartridge has a proximal end, which is located on the side of an aspirator that is closer to the mouth of a user when the aspirator is used by the user, and a distal end located on the opposite side from the proximal end. The cartridge includes a tank main body and a cover member that demarcate a tank for accumulating a liquid and an aerosol flow path extending in a direction that connects the proximal end and the distal end, the tank main body and the cover member being fitted together; and a flexible cap member arranged between the tank main body and the cover member, the cap member having a hole that communicates with the aerosol flow path.

1 . A cartridge for an inhaler which has a proximal end which is located close to a mouth of a user when the user is using the inhaler, and a distal end on an opposite side from the proximal end, the cartridge comprising:
 a tank body and a cover member that are fitted with each other to define a tank for storing a liquid and an aerosol flow path extending in a direction connecting the proximal end and the distal end; and   a flexible cap member that is arranged between the tank body and the cover member and has a hole communicating with the aerosol flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tank body includes an inner side wall forming the aerosol flow path, and   the tank is separated from the aerosol flow path by the cap member and the inner side wall.   
     
     
         3 . The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the cap member includes:
 a flat-plate portion having the hole; and 
 a side wall portion extending from an edge of the flat-plate portion in a direction toward the distal end and surrounding an end on the proximal end side of the inner side wall. 
   
     
     
         4 . The cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein
 a shape of the flat-plate portion includes a first side and a second side that are substantially parallel to each other, a third side that connects one end of the first side and one end of the second side, and a fourth side that connects the other end of the first side and the other end of the second side, and a distance between the first side and the second side is shorter than a maximum distance between the third side and the fourth side.   
     
     
         5 . The cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the first side and the second side are substantially linear, and the third side and the fourth side are substantially arcuate.   
     
     
         6 . The cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein
 a shape formed by inside of a side wall of the tank body when viewed from the proximal end side includes a fifth side that is substantially parallel to the first side, a sixth side that is substantially parallel to the second side, a seventh side that connects one end of the fifth side and one end of the sixth side, and an eighth side that connects the other end of the fifth side and the other end of the sixth side, and a distance between the fifth side and the sixth side is shorter than a maximum distance between the seventh side and the eighth side.   
     
     
         7 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the hole is a substantial circle.   
     
     
         8 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tank unit including the tank body, the cover member, and the cap member; and   a heater unit that is to be engaged with the tank unit and is configured to atomize the liquid to generate the aerosol.