US2245658A - Inhaling device - Google Patents

Description

Jne 17, 1941. C, N ERlcksQN 2,245,658

INHALING DEVICE Filed oct. 15. 1937 @www Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STTES PATENT QFFICE 2,245,658 VINHALING. DEVICE Clarence N. Erickson, Glendale, Calif.

Applicationoctober 15, 1937, Serial No. 169,161

` (ci. 12s- 198)- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved inhaling device wherein a novel form of mask and a holder therefor are constructed, arranged and operated to facilitate the administration of oxygen and other gases as in the practice of oxygen therapy and the like. l

An object of this invention is to provide an inhaling device wherein an articulated, tubular mask holder or support affords a quick application and adjustment of vthe mask to suit the particular patient, either child or adult, while also serving to conduct gas to and discharge same into the mask in a most effective manner.

Another object is to provide an inhaling device which consists of comparatively few parts and is light as to weight, compact and capable of being folded and collapsed into small compass for shipping and storage purposes.

Another object is to provide an inhaling device which is equipped with an adjustable head rest for effecting a comfortable and properly tted application of the mask to the patient.

A further object is to provide a device such as described, wherein the mask is of simple and i-nexpensive one-piece form, justifyingthe discarding thereof after each use for sanitary purposes, yet is constructed and arranged so that it may be quickly adjusted to increase or decrease the size and vary the contour thereof to suit the particular patient.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an inhaling device arranged whereby the mask may be lifted from position covering the mouth and nose for access to the latter during treatment, while portions of the support or holder for the mask remains in i'ltted relation to the head so as to insure the return of the mask to the desired operative position.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form of inhaling device embodying my invention, subject, however, to modication, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing.:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the inhaling device of this invention, showing the manner of use thereof, I

Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the device,

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mask sheet when flat,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of one of the hinged joints of the tubular mask holder,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of another of the hinged joints in the holder, and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of one of the gas discharging ends of the mask holder.

.One embodiment of this invention, as shown in the accompanying drawing, comprises atubular articulated mask holder or support A anda mask B operatively associated therewith and adapted to lie over the nose and mouth of the patient, the said holder and mask kbeing comparatively small and light as to Weight.

As here shown, the holder or support comprises a tubular body member I to one end of which is connected the usual flexible tube C for supplying gas such as oxygen, from a source thereof not shown. The other end of this tubular member has a hinged joint D with a short tubular section 8, which also has a hinged joint E with a substantially C-shaped tubular mask holder 9. The free end or trunnion portions I0 of the C-shaped mask holder 9 are comparatively straight and aligned and adapted to extend through the sides of the mask into the interior of the latter. Arranged in these end portions are outlet 'orifices II which open at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said portions in a direction away from the face of the patient so as to avoid discharging the gas directly against the face, the terminals of said portions being closed as shown in Fig. 7.

As a meansffor fitting the appliance to the patient the section 'I supports a head rest I2 which is longitudinally adjustable thereon to pro'- vide for tting of the appliance to the particular patient, said rest adapted to engage the forehead of the patient, as shown in Fig. 1. It is seen that when the appliance is fitted, as shown in Fig, 1, the mask portions of the holder may be readily raised and lowered from the patient'without disturbing the adjustment of the device' and so that access may be had at will to the mouth and nose ofthe patient during treatments.

The hinge joint A may be of any suitable construction, provided it permits of a free hinge action and! establishes a gas feeding connection between thetubular members 'lf and 8'. One form of joint is 'particularly shown in Fig. 6 and comprises` an enlargement i3 on thee'nd of the' memb'er 'I and a similar enlargement I4 on the end of the tubular member 8 arranged to abut one another. The enlargement I4 has a tubular extension or boss I5 thereon which registers with a bore I6 affording communication of the boss with the bore of the tubular member l. The

boss I5 extends through an opening II in the enlargement I4 and receives a flanged screw I8 to hold the parts assembled, the flange of said screw bearing on the outer face of the enlargement I4. The enlargement I4 is provided with an annular groove |9 interiorly thereof, which communicates with the bore of the member 8 and also with a discharge opening 20 formed in the tubular member I5, whereby the gas from the latter will enter the groove |9 and thence pass through the tubular member 8.

The joint D, as here shown, comprises an enlarged laterally perforated head 2| on the outer end of the member 8 through which head is inserted a tubular coupling 22 so as to be freely rotatable within the head with its ends open and exposed on opposite sides of the head. A flanged nut 23 is screwed on the reduced .threaded end 24 of the coupling 22 and together with a flange 25 adjacent the other end of the coupling, holds the coupling freely rotatable Within the head 2|. It will be noted that the head 2| is provided with an internal circumferential groove 25 which communicates with the bore of the tube 8. The coupling 22 is provided between its ends with an opening 21 at all times in communication with the groove 26, whereby gas discharged from the tube 8 into the groove 26 will enter the coupling 22 through said opening 21. The C-shaped holder 9 is formed of two tubular members 28 and 29 having the trunnions or end portions I0 and the outlet orifices |I as aforesaid and also provided adjacent said ends I D with flanges 30 limiting the extension of said ends through the mask. The other ends of the tubes 28 and 29 are inserted into the ends of the tubular coupling 22 and may be soldered or otherwise fixed thereto as desired. It is seen that this arrangement provides for a small and effective mask holder which also serves to conduct gas to the mask and at the same time permit of such articulation of the holder as a whole, to insure the desired fitting of the mask and the appliance to the patient.

The mask B is simply and inexpensively con- Structed to justify a single use thereof for sanitary purposes and to provide for adjustment thereof to change its size and contour to suit a particular patient, whether child or adult. As here shown, the mask is formed of a single sheet F of exible resilient material, such as Celluloid or the like, transparency being a desirable feature so that observance of the nose and mouth of the patient may be had during treatment. 'I his single sheet of material F is preferably elongated and formed with rounded terminals andhas inwardly extending notches 3| opposed to one another between the ends thereof, said notches being substantiatlly V-shaped. The notches 3| vir.- tually divide the sheet F into two mask forming portions G and H joined by a comparatively narrow web portion J.

To form the mask the sides of the portions G and H are bent or exed towards one another and so as to fold at the web portion J as particularly shown in Fig. 3. The portions lyingfon opposite sides of the notches will overlap as shown in Fig. 3, and there will thus be formed a substantially conical mask of a size adapted to encompass the nose and mouth of a patient. The portion G of the mask is provided with apertures 32 adjacent 70 the notches 3|, which aperturesI are adapted to align with apertures of series of apertures 33 formed in corresponding portions of the part H of the mask. Inasmuch as the apertures 33 are arranged in arcuate rows and are several in number, it is seen that the mask may be adjusted to increase or decrease the size thereof and to vary its contour by bringing the apertures 32 into registration with different apertures 33. This adjustment will render the mask suitable for application to children and adults.

It should be noted that the mask may be readily removed from and attached to the holder and that it will pivot freely between the arms 28 and 29 of the holder so that the entire appliance may be properly tted to the patient. By having the ends of the portions I0 closed and the gas outlet orices opened on the sides of said end portions in a direction away from the open side of the mask, or in other words, upwardly or outwardly away from the face ofthe patient, the gas is prevented from being discharged directly against and burning the patient, yet is confined within the mask so that it Will be effectively administered.

I claim:

l. An inhaling device comprising an articulated tubular mask holder through which gas is introduced into a mask, a mask having openingsl in opposite sides thereof, and tubular end portions on said holder extended throughsaid openings and into the mask and having closed terminals and formed with outlet orifices in the'sides thereof, arranged to discharge the gas in a direction away from the open side of the mask.

2. In an inhaling device, a mask formed of a single elongated sheet of exible resilient material provided between its ends with opposed notches defining mask forming portions joined by a web which extends between the inner ends of the notches and facilitates the bending'of said portions to form a substantially concave-convex mask with sides of said portions overlapped, said overlapped portions having a-plurality of 'openings adapted to be selectively brought into registration to increase or rdecrease the size of'the mas-k. Y 3. In an inhaling device, a mask formedof a single elongated sheet of flexible resilient material provided between its ends uwith opposed notches defining mask forming portions joined by a web which extends between the innerends of the notches `and facilitates the bending of said portions t0 form a substantially concave-convex mask with sides of said portions overlapped, said overlapped portions having a plurality of openings adapted to be selectively brought into registration to increase or decrease the size of the mask, and a tubular holder having portions extensible through said openings for maintaining the mask assembled and discharging gas within the mask.

4. An inhaling device comprising atubular section adaptedto be connected at one end with a source of supply` of gas, a bifurcated tubular holder having opposed free endportions provided with gas dischargeropenings, a mask ,pivotally mounted on said free end portions, an intermediate tubular section, and independent hinge joints connecting said intermediate section with and between said first section and said holder.

CLARENCE N. ERICKSON.

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