Devices and Systems for Delivery of Compounds and Related Methods

This patent application is a continuation of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 18/755,666, filed on Jun. 27, 2024, entitled DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERY OF COMPOUNDS AND RELATED METHODS, which is a continuation of patented U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/468,753, filed Sep. 18, 2023, entitled DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERY OF COMPOUNDS AND RELATED METHODS and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,053,030, which is a continuation-in-part of patented U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/454,002, filed Aug. 22, 2023, entitled NON-ELECTRIC, NON-HEATED DEVICES FOR ORAL DELIVERY OF COMPOUNDS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,114,693, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/407,701 filed Sep. 18, 2022, entitled NON-ELECTRIC, NON-HEATING DEVICES FOR THE INHALATION OF NON-VOLATILE COMPOUNDS. This application claims the benefit of priority to, and incorporates by reference the entirety of, these above-referenced priority applications.

The invention primarily relates to the field of volatile compound delivery devices, specifically unpowered/unheated devices for the delivery of one or more volatile compounds to a device user.

Devices or systems for delivering volatile compounds, such as essential oils, have been proposed and developed in recent years as a means of providing users a safe and pleasurable oral sensory experience. Many of these products can be distinguished from the significantly more common electronic cigarettes or “e-cigarette” devices which usually have been presented as an alternative to traditional tobacco products.

E-cigarettes typically comprise a mouthpiece allowing a user to inhale an aerosol, the aerosol being created by the atomization of a liquid housed within the device. The atomization is accomplished by the heating of the liquid, the heat generated by the incorporation of battery which powers the device. The term “vape” is often used synonymously with e-cigarette use (though vaping can also sometimes refer to administration of vaporized compounds via other means such as hookahs). The term “vape” refers to the vapor which is inhaled upon generation by the device. Such aerosolized compounds provided by e-cigarettes or other smokeless devices can include nicotine or other compounds, e.g., cannabinoid compounds, essential oils, and other volatile compounds. The liquid in an e-cigarette can include nicotine and when it does, such an e-cigarette is sometimes referred to as a “HANDS” device, HANDS being an acronym for “heated aerosolized nicotine delivery systems;” a handheld device that heat either nicotine-infused liquid or tobacco sticks, producing an aerosol that can be inhaled.

Some of the essential oil delivery systems/products that have actually been brought to market are non-electronic or “passive” (unpowered) diffusion devices, as heat is not required for volatilization of some non-nicotinic compounds and the devices may rely solely on diffusion or some amount of inhalation power of a user (though this does not mean that the user actually inhales such compounds in significant extent beyond taking the compounds into the mouth). Some of the proposed devices of this class are provided in patent disclosures that describe additional proposed features for modifying the experience of delivering volatile compounds to a person, such as disposable cartridges.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,372 to Boden describes a non-electronic, cigarette-stimulating inhaler comprising a fluid-impermeable, resiliently flexible outer tubular sheath. The sheath is open at both ends. The device described in the '372 Boden patent comprises a wick within the sheath at one end and a soft, puncturable, liquid-containing capsule at the other, with an air chamber separating the two. The inhaler is activated by puncturing the end of the capsule closest to the wick and pinching the outer sheath at the location of the capsule to force the liquid contained therein into the air chamber prior to being absorbed by the wick. The empty capsule is then discarded.

French Patent Publication Number FR2654002 to Laurens describes a delivery device in the general form of a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or cigarette holder, for applying aromatherapy by inhalation. The device comprises a support for a volatile substance positioned within the body of the device. The device further comprises a mechanism making it possible to control the loss of head, e.g., in an adjustable manner, to regulate the flow of the inhaled air through the delivery device. Such a mechanism is embodied as either a sliding ring or the ability for the user to physically squeeze the body of the device between their thumb and forefinger to restrict airflow. Temporary closure means are provided on each side of the support such that when there is no inhalation, the substance impregnating the support cannot escape via evaporation. The device is embodied as being either a refillable inhaler or a disposable inhaler and provides a mechanism for inhaling volatile substances via either the users nose or mouth.

Austrian Patent AT522111 to Kornhausl describes a passive inhaler for the delivery of volatile substances such as from natural essential oils from an exchangeable insert. The Kornhausl device comprises an airflow channel in which the insert is positioned and held in place by an elastic seal, as well as a removable mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is made of vulcanite hard rubber or acryl and is held in place in an air-tight manner by means of an elastic seal. The main body of the device is made from solid wood or other wood-based material or from plastics.

Great Britain Patent GB2412876 to Jones describes a nicotine inhaler, suitable for use as a substitute for a cigarette for the inhalation of nicotine. The device is preferably disposable and constructed to visually mimic a cigarette, e.g., made of white, glossy cardboard. The Jones patent device comprises an elongated tube having an inlet and an outlet with a nicotine delivery element mounted inside the tube between the respective ends. The tube is provided with an adjustable regulating means, capable of adjusting the airflow through the device. The regulating means comprises two abutting members, e.g., discs, each with apertures therein. The two members are movable relative to one another to provide varying degrees of overlap of the apertures thus providing adjustable airflow.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,700,691 to Watanabe describes a flavor inhalation pipe comprising a hollow, cylindrical pipe body, a mouthpiece, and a tobacco (flavor) cartridge maintained within the pipe body but attached to the mouthpiece, with a coupling device reversibly coupling the pipe body and the mouthpiece to one another. The flavor cartridge can be replaced by detaching the mouthpiece from the pipe body (e.g., uncoupling the coupling device) and pulling the mouthpiece with attached flavor cartridge away from and out of the pipe body by holding the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece can be covered with a cap to provide a hygienic way of removing and replacing the flavor generation cartridge.

United States Patent Publication Number 2016/012277 to Frobisher describes a smoking “article” (e.g., an inhaler-type device in the form of a flow delivery article) having a flow control component. The proposed device is configured to provide at least one flow during a draw on the flow delivery article and at least one flow comprising a respective plurality of flow peaks, e.g., the at least one flow comprising at least one of a smoke flow, an airflow, a flavored flow, and a mixed smoke/air/flavored flow. The flow control component is configured to cause a plurality of flow changes, providing a time-varying flow with each flow change comprising changing the relative amount of flow through the different flow pathways.

Other patent art describing passive, non-aerosolized, non-heated, cigarette-like delivery devices include the disclosures of, e.g., EP2609822; U.S. Pat. Nos. 968,757, 4,175,556, 4,284,089, 4,429,703, and 4800903; US Patent Publication Nos. 20060130857, 20180207370, 20210052832; and PCT Publication Number WO2016026094.

Despite the number of proposed devices, the number of passive devices for the delivery of flavored or other non-pharmaceutical volatile compounds to a user that have been successfully developed remains markedly limited. Exemplary devices presently marketed include those by Emitto Styx (see emittostyx.com), Lung Love (see etsy.com/ca/listing/734302930/walnut-wood-lung-love-essential-oil?), Holy Smokes (see facebook.com/pg/manlyoiler/posts/), BreatheAura (see etsy.com/ca/shop/BreatheAura?), Kiff (see kickstarter.com/projects/kiff-story/kiff), monq aromatherapy (see monq.com/), Ripple+ (see therippleco.com/), Oil & Bark (see oilandbark.com/), and, e.g., breTH4life (see etsy.com/ca/shop/breTH4life?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1165024855).

The Nicorette™ line of products from Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, is also present in this marketspace, providing a Nicorette™ inhaler device (see medicines.org.uk/emc/product/4707/smpc#gref); however, notably, as is the approach for the plurality of nicotine replacement product lines sold under the Nicorette brand (e.g., Nicorette gum, lozenges, and nasal spray), this simple delivery device delivers nicotine-associated products.

The Applicant also has developed and marketed a “first generation” essential oil delivery device marketed under the brand name FÜM™. This original FÜM device is a tobacco-free, vapor free, non-electronic inhaler made of 100% natural materials and marketed to aid in quitting smoking and vaping. The FÜM device is a single-piece device made of wood, having a first open end for placing within a user's mouth to facilitate the inhalation of one or more volatile compounds via the mouth, and a second open end, with an air passageway directly connecting the two ends. A flexible, fibrous insert is designed to be used within the device, the fibrous insert capable of holding essential oils prior to use, placed within the device by inserting the fibrous insert into the device via the second open end of the device. The inserts comprise medical-grade polyester designed to hold essential oil(s). To operate the device, a user is instructed to (a) obtain an insert, (b) fray the end of the insert to activate it, (c) insert the non-frayed end of the insert into the end of the device, and (c) inhale through the device using their mouth and to exhale out of their nose.

Despite all of the above-described efforts present in the art to set forth non-electronic, cigarette-mimicking devices for use in smoking cessation efforts, pleasure, or both, the electronic device/vaping market continues to grow. This is especially true among adolescents. As reported by Miech, et. al., in JAMA Pediatrics, 2021; 175(2):185-190, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5667, published online Dec. 15, 2020, and corrected on Jan. 19, 2021, while increasing US adolescent nicotine vaping trends from 2017 to 2019 halted in 2020—due to decreases in perceived accessibility of some vaping products as well as increases in perceived risk of nicotine vaping between 2019 and 2020—adolescent nicotine vaping remains highly prevalent. 22% of 10and 12grade students in 2020 reported vaping within the previous 30-days of the time of the cited study and 41% reported vaping at least once in their lifetime. Worldwide, the global e-cigarette and vape market size was valued at 18.13 billion USD in 2021 and is estimated to balloon at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.0% from 2022 to 2030 (See E-cigarette and Vape Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Disposable, Rechargeable), By Distribution Channel (Online, Retail), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030) published March 2022). However, in stark contrast, the entire global aromatherapy market size was estimated to have a market size of less than 1/10that of e-cigarettes/vape products, with aromatherapy devices representing only a fraction of this total market. Thus, such products have historically demonstrated a very slow relative adoption of passive, non-nicotinic, vapor-free, non-electronic devices. In view of these facts, it is clear that the development of effective diffusion systems for delivery of volatile compounds, such as flavored essential oils, and similarly effective passive delivery/aromatherapy systems will require the application of inventive ingenuity.

This section offers guidelines for reading this disclosure.

The intended audience for this disclosure (“readers”) are persons having ordinary skill in the practice of technologies discussed or used herein. Readers may also be called “skilled persons,” and such technologies and related publicly available prior knowledge are collectively referred to as “the art.” Terms such as “understood,” “known,” and “ordinary meaning,” refer to the general knowledge of skilled persons.

The term “uncontradicted” means not contradicted by this disclosure, logic, or plausibility based on knowledge of skilled persons.

Disclosed here are several different but related exemplary aspects of the invention (referred also to as, e.g., “cases,” “facets,” “respects,” or “embodiments”). The invention encompasses all aspects as described individually and as can be arrived at by any combination of such individual aspects. In this respect, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any exemplary embodiment(s). No language in this disclosure should be construed as indicating any element/step is essential to the practice of the invention unless such a requirement is explicitly stated. Uncontradicted, any aspect(s) can be combined with any other aspect(s).

Uncontradicted, all technical/scientific terms used here, should be read, at least in one aspect, to have the same meanings as commonly understood by skilled persons, regardless of any narrower examples or descriptions provided here (including any term introduced initially in quotations). However, readers will also recognize that some aspects can characterized by the inclusion of elements, steps, features, characteristics etc., associated with specific descriptions provided here, and that such specific disclosures represent distinct embodiments of the invention apart from the corresponding aspect that is provided by interpreting the invention using any broader commonly used terminology or concept. Uncontradicted, disclosure of any aspect using known terms, which terms are narrowed by example or otherwise, implicitly discloses one or more related aspects in which the applicable terms are alternatively interpreted using the broadest reasonable interpretation of skilled persons.

Uncontradicted, the term “or” means “and/or” here, regardless of any occasional inclusion of the actual phrase “and/or” (e.g., phrases such as “A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” each simultaneously disclose aspects including (1) all of A, B, and C; (2) A and C; (3) A and B; (4) B and C; (5) only A; (6) only B; and (7) only C (and also support sub-groupings, such as “A or B,” “A or C,” etc.)).

Uncontradicted, the term “also” means “also or alternatively.” Uncontradicted, the terms “here” & “herein” mean “in this disclosure.” The term “i.a.” is an acronym standing for “inter alia” or meaning “(possibly) among other things.” “Also known as” is abbreviated “aka” or “AKA.” The term “elsewhere” means “elsewhere herein.”

For conciseness, symbols are used where appropriate. E.g., “&” is used for “and,” & “˜” for “about.” Symbols such as < and > are given their ordinary meaning (e.g., “≤” means “less than or equal to” & “≥” means “greater than or equal to”). A slash “/” between terms here can represent “or” (“A/B” means “A or B”) or identify synonyms of an element, as will be clear from context. The inclusion of “(s)” after an element or a step indicates that ≥1 of such an element is present, step performed, and the like. E.g., “element(s)” refers to both 1 element and ≥2 elements, with the understanding that each thereof is an independent aspect of the invention.

Use of the abbreviation “etc.” (or “et cetera”) in association with a list of elements/steps means any or all suitable combinations of the recited elements/steps or any known equivalents of such recited elements/steps for achieving the function(s) of such elements/steps known in the art. Readers should interpret phrases like “and the like” similarly.

Uncontradicted, terms such as “and combinations,” “combinations thereof,” or “or combinations,” and “combinations of any thereof” regarding listed elements/steps means any or all possible/suitable combinations of the associated elements/steps. Thus, e.g., uncontradicted, a phrase like “combination of any thereof” refers to any or all combinations.

Aspects may be described as suitable for use(s) disclosed herein. Uncontradicted, terms such as “suitability” means acceptable or appropriate for performing a particular function/achieving particular state(s)/outcome(s), and typically means effective, practical, and non-deleterious/harmful in the context the term is used. E.g., uncontradicted, the term “suitable” means appropriate, acceptable, or in contexts sufficient, or providing at least generally or substantially all an intended function, without causing or imparting significant negative/detrimental impact.

Uncontradicted, heading(s) (e.g., “Construction, Terms . . . ”) and subheadings here are included for convenience and do not limit the scope of any aspect(s). Uncontradicted, aspect(s), step(s), or element(s) described under one heading can apply to other aspect(s) or step(s)/element(s) here.

Ranges of values are used to represent each value falling within such range that are within an order of magnitude of the smallest endpoint of the range without having to explicitly write each value of the range. E.g., a recited range of 1-2 implicitly discloses each of 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9, and 2.0 and 10-100 implicitly discloses each of 10, 11, 12, . . . 98, 99, and 100). Uncontradicted, all ranges include the range's endpoints, regardless of how a range is described. E.g., “between 1-5” includes 1 and 5 in addition to 2, 3, and 4 (and all numbers between such numbers within an order of magnitude of such endpoints, e.g., 1.0, 1.1, . . . 4.9, and 5.0). For the avoidance of doubt, any number within a range, regardless of the order of magnitude of the number, is covered by the range (e.g., a range of 2-20 covers 18.593). Uncontradicted, readers will understand that any two values in a range provided as a list herein can be combined as endpoints to form a range defining a more particular aspect of the invention (e.g., if a list of values 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of element X is provided, readers will understand that the disclosure implicitly discloses an aspect comprising 2-4×, 3-5×, and 1-3×, etc.

Terms of approximation (e.g., “about,” “˜,” or “approximately”) are used (1) to refer to a set of related values or (2) where a precise value is difficult to define (e.g., due to limits of measurement). Uncontradicted, all exact values provided here simultaneously/implicitly disclose corresponding approximate values and vice versa (e.g., disclosure of “about 10” provides explicit support for the use of 10 exactly in such aspect/description). Ranges described with approximate value(s) include all values encompassed by each approximate endpoint, regardless of presentation (e.g., “about 10-20” has the same meaning as “about 10-about 20”). The scope of value(s) encompassed by an approximate term typically depends on the context of the disclosure, criticality or operability, statistical significance, understanding in the art, etc. In the absence of guidance here or in the art for an element, terms such as “about” when used in connection with an element should be interpreted as ±10% of the indicated value(s) and implicitly disclosing ±5%, ±2%, ±1%, and ±0.5%.

Lists of aspects, elements, steps, and features are sometimes employed for conciseness. Unless indicated, each member of each list should be viewed as an independent aspect. Each aspect defined by any individual member of a list can have, and often will have, nonobvious properties vis-a-vis aspects characterized by other members of the list.

Uncontradicted, the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents encompass both the singular and the plural form of the referenced element, step, or aspect. Uncontradicted, terms in the singular implicitly convey the plural and vice versa herein (in other words, disclosure of an element/step implicitly discloses corresponding use of such/similar elements/steps and vice versa). Hence, e.g., a passage regarding an aspect including X step supports a corresponding aspect including several X steps. Uncontradicted, any mixed use of a referent such as “a” in respect of one element/step or characteristic and “one or more of” with respect to another element/step or characteristic in a paragraph, sentence, aspect, or claim, does not change the meaning of such referents. Thus, for example, if a paragraph describes a composition comprising “an X” and “one or more Ys,” the paragraph should be understood as providing disclosure of “one or more Xs” and “one or more Ys.”

“Significant” and “significantly” mean results/characteristics that are statistically significant using ≥1 appropriate test(s)/trial(s) in the given context (e.g., p≤0.05/0.01). “Detectable” means measurably present/different using known detection tools/techniques. The acronym “DOS” (or “DoS”) means “detectable(ly) or significant(ly).”

Uncontradicted, any value provided here that is not accompanied by a unit of measurement (e.g., a weight of 50 or a length of 20), either any previously provided unit for the same element/step or the same type of element/step will apply, or, in cases where no such disclosure exists, the unit most commonly used in association with such an element/step in the art will apply.

Uncontradicted, the terms “including,” “containing,” “comprising,” and “having” mean “including, but not limited to” or “including, without limitation.” Uncontradicted, use of terms such as comprising and including regarding elements/steps means including any detectable number or amount of an element or including any detectable performance of a step/number of steps (with or without other elements/steps). Uncontradicted, “a” means one or more, even when terms such as “one or more” or “at least one” are used in association with the referent “a.”

For conciseness, description of an aspect “comprising” or “including” an element, with respect to a collection/whole (e.g., a system, device, or composition), implicitly provides support for any detectable amount/number or ≥˜1%, ≥˜5%, ≥˜10%, ≥˜20%, ≥˜25%, ≥˜33%, ≥˜50%, ≥˜51%, ≥˜66%, ≥˜75%, ≥˜90%, ≥˜95%, ≥˜99%, or ˜100% of the whole/collection being made up of the element, or essentially all of the whole/collection being made up of the element (i.e., that the collection consists essentially of the referenced element). Similarly, a method described as including a step with respect to an effect/outcome implicitly provides support for the referenced step providing ≥˜1%, ≥˜5%, ≥˜10%, ≥˜20%, ≥˜25%, ≥˜33%, ≥˜50%, ≥˜51%, ≥˜66%, ≥˜75%, ≥˜90%, ≥˜95%, ≥˜99%, or ˜100% of the effect/outcome, representing ≥˜1%, ≥˜5%, ≥˜10%, ≥˜20%, ≥˜25%, ≥˜33%, ≥˜50%, ≥˜51%, ≥˜66%, ≥˜75%, ≥˜90%, ≥˜95%, ≥˜99%, or ˜100% of the steps/effort performed, or both. Explicit listing of percentages of elements/steps in connection with aspects does not limit or contradict such implicit disclosure.

Uncontradicted, terms such as “comprising” when used in connection with a step of a method provide implicit support for performing the step once, ≥2 times, or until an associated function/effect is achieved.

Uncontradicted, the term “one” means a single type, single iteration/copy/thing, of a recited element or step, or both, which will be clear from context. For example, the referent “one” used with a component of a composition/article or system can refer to one type of element (which may be present in numerous copies, as in the case of an ingredient in a composition), one unit of the element, or both. Similarly, “one” component, a “single” component, or the “only component” of a system typically means 1 type of element (which may be present in numerous copies),instance/unit of the element, or both. Further, “one” step of a method typically means performing one type of action (step), one iteration of a step, or both. Uncontradicted, a disclosure of “one” element provides support for both, but uncontradicted, any claim to any “one” element means one type of such an element (e.g., a type of component of a composition/system/article).

Uncontradicted, the term “some” means ≥2 copies/instances or ≥5% of a listed collection/whole is, or is made up of, an element. Regarding methods, some means ≥5% of an effect, effort, or both, is made up of or is attributable to a step (e.g., as in “some of the method is performed by step Y”) or indicates a step is performed ≥2 times (e.g., as in “step X is repeated some number of times”). Terms such as “predominately,” “most,” or “mostly,” (and “primarily” when not used to refer to an order of events or “mainly”) means detectably >50% (e.g., mostly comprises, predominately includes, etc., mean >50%) (e.g., a system that mostly includes element X is composed of ≥50% of element X). The term “generally” means ≥75% (e.g., generally consists of, generally associated with, generally comprises, etc., means 75%) (e.g., a method that generally consists of step X means that 75% of the effort or effect of the method is attributable to step X). “Substantially” or “nearly” means ≥95% (e.g., nearly all, substantially consists of, etc., mean ≥95%) (e.g., a collection that nearly entirely is made up of element X means that at least 95% of the elements in the collection are element X). Terms such as “generally free” of an element or “generally lacking” an element mean comprising ≤25-% of an element and terms such as “substantially free” of an element mean comprising ≤˜5% of an element.

Uncontradicted, any aspect described with respect to an optionally present element(s)/step(s) also provides implicit support for corresponding aspect(s) in which one, some, most, generally all, nearly all, essentially all, or all of such element(s) are lacking/step(s) not performed, in respect of the relevant aspect. E.g., disclosure of a system comprising element X implicitly also supports a system lacking element X.

Uncontradicted, changes to tense or presentation of terms (e.g., using “comprises predominately” in place of “predominately comprises”) do not change the meaning of the corresponding term/phrase.

Uncontradicted, all methods provided here can be performed in any suitable order regardless of presentation (e.g., a method comprising steps A, B, and C, can be performed in the order C, B, and A; B and A and C simultaneously, etc.). Uncontradicted, elements of a composition can be assembled in any suitable manner by any suitable method. In general, any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described here can be used in the practice of embodiments in at least the broadest version of the relevant aspect. Uncontradicted, the use of ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on is to distinguish respective elements rather than to denote a particular order of those elements, importance, or configuration.

Uncontradicted, any elements, steps, components, or features of aspects and all variations thereof, etc., are within the scope of the invention and broadest version of any aspect.

Elements associated with a function can be described as “means for” performing a function in a composition/device/system or a “step for” performing a part of a method, and parts of this disclosure refer to “equivalents,” which means equivalents known in the art for achieving a referenced function associated with disclosed mean(s)/step(s). However, no element of this disclosure or claim should be interpreted as limited to a “means-plus-function” construction unless such intent is clearly indicated using the terms “means for” or “step for.” Terms such as “configured to” or “adapted to” do not indicate “means-plus-function” interpretation, but, rather, describe element(s)/step(s) configured to, designed to, selected to, or adapted to achieve a certain performance, characteristic, property, etc. using teachings provided here or in the art.

Uncontradicted, the term “part” refers to a portion of a device, component, system, or assembly that is characterized by a unique construction or composition, and which is separate from, is separable from, or was at least at one point in time (e.g., during manufacturing of the associated device) separable/separated from one or more other part(s) or component(s) (e.g., where the applicable part represents one of a plurality of parts of an assembly).

Uncontradicted, the term “component” describes a part or collection of associated parts which perform one or more defined functions. A function can, depending on context, be selectively performed, conditionally performed, or both, or can be performed at all times during operation or can be an inherent feature of a part or component.

Uncontradicted, the term “mechanism” describes feature(s), part(s), component(s), or combination(s) thereof, that cause(s) or promote(s) the interaction of two or more elements (parts, components, devices, or combinations thereof, etc.). Often, but not always, a mechanism may be composed of two parts, features, or a combination thereof, that perform the interaction (e.g., a hook part and a loop part in a hook-and-loop attachment mechanism). In certain aspects, a “mechanism” can be represented as a single part, feature, or component, as in, for example, a magnet.

Uncontradicted, the term “assembly” refers to a component formed by an assembly of previously separated parts.

Uncontradicted, the term “feature” is used to describe a portion of a part or component that is associated with a well-defined structure, composition/material(s), or function.

In certain contexts, herein, the term “element” may additionally be used to reference a part, component, or assembly simply for ease of presentation. For example, disclosure herein may use the phrase “the X component of an of a delivery device,” “the X element of a delivery device,” “the X component,” or “the X element,” wherein “X” is the same named part. In a specific example, the following language may be used: “The insert support component of a delivery device,” wherein such an insert support component can comprise a “stabilizing component”, wherein the stabilizing component can comprise a “compressible positioner,” wherein the compressible positioner may be described as “a compressible component of a delivery device,” “a compressible element of a delivery device,” “the compressible component,”, or, e.g., “the compressible element.” Uncontradicted, the use of the term “element” can be interpreted as “part,” “component,” or “assembly,” or even a device in a system, as applicable by context, though readers will also understand that “element” also can refer to any part of an aspect (e.g., a volatile compound composition can be an element of a device or system aspect). The term element when applied to an object or structure can be useful in representing an object or structure that can be embodied either as a feature of a part/component or a separate part/component, such as a moveable fidget element of a device, or as a separate device in a system. Uncontradicted, any disclosure of a structure/object as a part or component implicitly also discloses a corresponding aspect where the described part or component is substituted with the term “element” and vice versa. E.g., any aspect herein describing a VCOC provides support for a volatile compound outlet element, which may be, e.g., a part of a component that performs both volatile compound outlet and volatile compound storage component functions.