US2449853A - Inhaler - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1948.

G. KARE INHALER Filed Aug. 5, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES 'PATE NT OFFICE,

INHALER George Karp, Los Angeles, Calif. Application Algae 5, 1947, Serial No. 766,379

4. Claims. (01. 128-198) The present invention relates to inhalers of the type used in the therapeutic treatment of bronchial or nasal congestions to obtain symptomatic relief therefor, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for vaporizing a volatile inhalant and conveying the released vapors, mixed with warm air, directly to the nostrils of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inhaler comprising a base having a socket mounted thereon, with a heating lamp screwed into the socket, and a reservoir member detachably connected to the base and completely enclosing the socket and heating lamp, said reservo-ir being removable to permit replacement of the lamp, yet at the same time beingsecured to the base in such a manner as to prevent casual removal therefrom by children who might touch the electrical contacts in the socket and receive electrical burns. a

A further object of the invention is to provide an inhaler that is simple to use, quickly andeasily disassembled for cleaning and refilling, and highly eifective in its mode of operation, 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inhaler that is compact, light in weight,

and simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the pre-- ferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler em line shown in the drawings, to form the complete unit. The three elements of the unit may be made of any suitable material, but are preferably injece tion-molded of heat-resistant plastic such, as phenol formaldehyde or the like, which produces an article that is light inweight, of good surface finish, and easily cleaned.

The base H is circular in plan form and in:

cludes a top M with an annular rim l extending downwardly from the outer periphery thereof, the

. l 2 bottomedge of said rim being adapted to rest on a tableor other structurefor support. The center of the base top I4 is depressed to form a circular recess l6, and disposed within this recess is a lamp socket 20 having a base 2! which is secured to the recess bottom 22 by screws 23. A heating lamp 24 is screwed into the socket, 20, and its bulb projects above the base top [4, as shown in Fig. 2. A cord 25 isled, through a hole 26 inthe rim l5 of the base, and-through another hole in the side wall of the recess l6,,and the two wires thereof are connected by screws 21 to the ter-- minals of the lamp socket 20. Projecting upwardly at opposite sides thereof, and bear against them flange 30 to secure the reservoir member l2 tQthe base I l. "The top of the reservoir member i2 is formed by an inverted cup-shaped portion 35, the side walls 36 of which extend down into the space enclosed by the cylindrical side walls 3|,

rather closely adjacent the top end of the lamp bulb 24, and then turn outwardly at 31 to J'oin the outerwall at a point spaced downwardly from the top edge thereof. The annular channel 49 defined by the side walls 3|, 36, and bottom 31, forms a cavity that is adapted to receive cotton ll or other absorbent material in whichthe medicinal inhalant is absorbed. The inner wall 36 of the cavity, and the inhalant absorbed in the cotton contained therein, are warmed by radiant heat from the lamp 24 to a temperature of about 205 so that the volatile medicinal ingredients of the inhalant are vaporized and mixed with warm air drawn through air holes 42 provided inthe flat top portion 43 of the reservoir member. The reservoir member 12 is completelyenclosed within the cover l3, which is dome-shaped, with cylindrical side walls 44 extending down over the side walls 3| of the reservoir member, and bearing on the base top M. A pair of lugs 45 project outwardly fromthe lower edge of the wall 44 on opposite sides thereof, and screwed into the bottom ends of the lugs are looking screws it, the heads of which are spaced out from the ends of the lugs by a distance equal to the thickness of the base top M. The heads of the screws it are adapted to be inserted through the enlarged openings in keyhole slots which are formed in the,

ba e top 14 at opposite sides thereof, after which 3 the cover is turned slightly to bring the screws into the narrow ends of the slots. This type of connection is the well-known bayonet lock, which enables the cover H to be connected to or disconnected from the base i l with only a slight twist of the cover.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the cover l3 are two nipples 52 having central passages 53 unicat withthe i e ior of...the. il $1, Conduit, means, in the form of two'lengths of rubber tubing 54, are inserted over the nipples 52, and nasals 55 are inserted into the outer ends of the tubing. The nasals 55 are tapered, tubular plugs of plastic which are adapted to be in, serted into the nostrils of the patient so as to. form a substantially leak-proof connection therewith. This arrangement providesazhighreone centration of the medicinal vapors in the, air inspired through the nostrils, by eliminating dilution with air that has not been drawn through the device. As a result, relief-from respiratory congestion is obtained-quickly-and withthe use of relatively small quantities of inhalant, since none of the vapor is lost to the atmosphere until it has served its-purpose. I

Air isadmitted to the: interior of the-inhaler I through passages or air holes 60 in the rim l5, and through otherholes 6| inthe' sides of the socket l6. The air that is drawn into the space enclosed within the socket l6 and reservoir member I2 is heated by the lamp 24 and risesthrough the air holes 42 into the-spaceenclosed between the cover l3 and reservoir-member; Hera-the air is mixed with vapor from the medicinal material absorbed in theficotton H, and is drawn out through the nipples 52, tubing 54,.and nasals 55 intothe nostrils of the patient. I

Theadvantages of my inventionwill be evident to those skilled in :theiart from .theforegoing description. The several parts of the inhaler are quickly and easily assembled or disassembled for the purpose of cleaning the parts and refilling the reservoir with "inhalant as;thei latter is used up. Thereservoir member l2 can be {removed from the base ll byloosening the. set. screws 32 and lifting the member off the flange '30, giving access t'othelamp socket for-replacement ofrthe lamp 2 1, if'necessary: When thereservoir member 12 is locked to the flange 30 by setscrews 32, the interior of the socket l6 is-inaccessible to children who might otherwise be tempted to :touch the terminal connection. 25, orto ,explore the inner socket of the :lamp base 2 0 with. resulting injury.

"While In have shownand described in 'COHSidr' erable detail what I believe to bethepreferred form of: my invention, it is to be understood that such details are not restrictive,;:andthatvarious changes-may bemade in-the shape. and-arrangement of the several parts without departing fromthe scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

I I claim:

1. An inhaler comprising a base having an annular flange projecting upwardly from. the -atop surface thereof-a lamp socketamounted. on said base within said flange, a heating lamp disposed within said socket, a reservoir member attached to said flange and enclosing said lamp,said reservoir member having an annular cavity formed in the-topend thereof to receive medicinal ma:

terial, said cavity eneircling the top end of said lamp in close proximitythereto, a cover enclosing said reservoir member, and conduit means communicating withthe interior of said cover for conveying the vapor from-said=material to the nostrils of the patient, said base and said reser-,

voir member having passages formed therein to permit air to be drawn into said reservoir member and thence into the space enclosed by said cover.

2. An inhaler comprising a base having an annular flange projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof, a lamp socket mounted on said basetw-ithin saidflange, .a heating lamp disposed 10 within saidzsocket, a reservoir member attached to said flange and enclosing said lamp, said resenvoir member having an annular cavity formed in the top end thereof to receive medicinal ma- --=-':teria1, said cavity encircling the top end of said ,lamp in closeproximity thereto, a dome-shaped cover enclosing said reservoir member, a pair of :nipples-projecting:from the top of said cover and haying. passages communicating with the interior thereof, and a pair of flexible tubes connected to said nipples, said tubes having nasals at the outer ends'thereof adapted for insertion into the nostrils of the-patient, saidloase and said reservoir member having passages formed'therein to admit air which'is warmed by said lamp and mixed with the vapors of said medicinal-materialbefore being drawn through said tubes.

3.- An'inhaler comprisinga base having a recess formed in the top surface thereof, a lamp socket mounted in the bottom of said recess, a heating 3O lamp disposed within said socket, an annular flange projectingupwardly from said base around the margins of'said recess, a reservoir member enclosing-said lamp and having side Walls extending down over said flange, means on said reservoir'member 'engageable with said flange to securesaid-member-thereto,'the top end of said reservoir member having 1 an annular cavity formed therein toreceive medicinal material which is'vaporizedby the heat of said lamp, a

40- cover enclosing said reservoir member, and conduitmeans communicating with the interior of said 'cover'for'conveying the vapor from said material directly to'the nostrils of the patient,'said base and saidreservoir member having passages formedtherein to permit air to be drawn into said'recess' whereit is warmed by said lamp and thence through the top of said reservoir member intopthe space enclosed by said cover, said air being mixed with the vapors given oil by said medicinal material," and thereafter drawn through said conduit means.

4. An inhaler'compr-ising abase having a central circularrecess formed in the top surface thereof, a lamp socketmounte'd in the bottom of 5 said recess, a heating-lamp disposed within said socket, an annular flange projecting upwardly from said base around the margins of said recess, a reservoir member enclosingsaid' lamp and having cylindrical side Walls 'exte'ndingdown over the 'outside" of said flange, a set screw having threaded engagement with said reservoir member and bearing at its inner end 'against said flange to-secure said member-thereto, the top end of said "reservoir member having an annular cavity --formed"thereir'l to receive medicinal material which is'vaporized bythe heat of said lamp,the insidewall of said annular cavity encircling the top end of'said lamp in'close 'proximity thereto, a cover enclosing said reservoir member, and con- =duit means-communicatingwith the interior of said cover-for conveying the vapor from said material directly to the nostrils of the patient, said base and said reservoir member having passages formed therein to permit" air to be drawn into said recess where it iswarme'd by said-lamp and 5 thence through the top of said reservoir member into the space enclosed by said cover, said air being mixed with the vapors given off by said medicinal material, and thereafter drawn through said conduit means.

GEORGE KARP.

REFERENCES CITED Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Libbey May 15, 1900 Dorment Nov. 13, 1917 Weidlich Apr. 21, 1925 Heckel Aug. 3, 1937 Robinson Jan. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date file of this patent:

Great Britain Dec. 2a, 1934

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