GB1482203A - Inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

1482203 Inhalers PANTA AG 17 July 1974 [19 July 1973 20 June 1974] 31726/74 Heading A5T [Also in Divisions E2 and G4] An inhaler containing a source of inhalant, especially liquid oxygen, in a housing 1, 2 Fig. 1, includes a feed pipe 3 through which inhalant may be fed to a delivery point, and a valve (8) Fig. 3, (not shown), for cutting off the flow of inhalant after a certain period of time determined by a timer (40), said feed pipe being received in a compartment inside the housing having an opening closable by a lid 5, the lid having a lug 19 which is engaged by a rod 18 to lock the lid in a closed position unless a member 9 is placed in a slot 7 in the housing to unlock the lid which may then be opened and the feed pipe withdrawn for use, the valve being opened when the lid is opened. The timer is actuated, on opening of the lid by movement of a winding element of the timer to a start position, the time for return of the winding element to a rest position constituting the period of flow. The unlocking member may comprise a plastics strip having longitudinally arranged slots (21) Fig. 5, (not shown), therein, the lowermost slot being engaged by a tongue (29) of a blade (28) on swivelling the lid, the bottom piece of the strip being cut off on further swivelling of the lid to partially cancel the strip for further use. The delivery piece 4 is removably mounted on pipe 3 and may comprise a face mask having a generally frusto-conical sleeve 4s, Fig. 19, with recesses 4g, 4h at the end of greater diameter thereof for, in use, resting against the chin and the bridge of the nose of the user. The sleeve contains a chamber 4o for medicines or perfumes formed between a fibrous filter 4i and a perforated wall 4n, the filter being positioned below an annular flange 4r from which cross-pieces 4q extend to define four apertures 4c in the base of the sleeve. In a further embodiment, the delivery piece consists of foamed polystyrene and has a perforated lid (4v) Fig. 21, (not shown), fitted on the base thereof to define a chamber (4w) between said lid and a perforated bottom (4u) of the delivery piece. Granular medicine carriers may be placed in this chamber. In another embodiment, the sleeve is made of paper or cardboard. Alternatively, a delivery piece of plastics sheet material having a frustoconical outer collar (4a) Fig. 13, (not shown), a recessed central part (4b) and at least one aperture (4c), is fitted onto a coupling piece (51) attached to the feed pipe. The coupling piece has a non-return valve (52) to prevent stale air passing into the feed pipe during exhalation, and an outlet valve (53) for exhaled air. The inhaler may contain a moistening device.