US2332798A

US2332798A - Atomizer

Info

Publication number: US2332798A
Application number: US426305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward B Hunn
Original assignee: Stanco Inc
Current assignee: Stanco Inc
Priority date: 1942-01-10
Filing date: 1942-01-10
Publication date: 1943-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1960-10-26

Description

E. B. HUNN oct. 26 1943.

ATOMIZER Filed Jan. 1o. 1942 FIC-Z -Z wn/D n F/G- a Ffa-zzz FIG.-

Ffa -JZ FIC-Z-Z WMM' y Patented Oct. 26, 1943 ATOMIZER Edward B. Bunn, Cranford, N. J., assignor to Stanco Incorporated, va corporation of Dela- Ware Application January 10, 1942, Serial No. 426,305

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a small compact atomizing device of size and shape convenient for carrying about ones person and suited for dispensing liquids in a dense finely diffused spray from liquid impregnated materials contained therein. The invention relates particularly to a small pocket size relatively inexpensive atomizer device for injecting medicinal liquids into the nasal and oral passages of the body in a relatively uniform iinely diffused spray from liquid impregnated materials charged to and sealed into the device at the time of its manufacture.

The invention may be fully understood from reading the following description and the illustrations afforded in the accompanying drawing of specific embodiments, the same numerals being given to similarly related parts.

Figure I is a vertical view of one form of the assembled atomizing device, partly in section, showing the ve principal parts of the atomizer, namely:

(a) Cap member (I).

(b) Body member (I).

(c) Compression member or pressure element (d) Absorbent packing (30).

(e) Sealing member (40).

Figure II is a cross sectional view along the line I'-I of Figure I.

Figure III is a vertical sectional view through the unassembled atomizer device with the parts relatively arranged as to indicate the manner of assembly;

Figures IVa, IVb, and IVc are vertical sections through various end forms of the nozzle portion of the body member I0, showing particularly variations in thickness of materials through which the atomizer hole of the same chamber is pierced;

-Figure V is a vertical view of a second form of the assembled atomizing device, partly in section, showing the same five parts; Va showing the absorbent packing member suitable therefor, separately;` and Figure VI is a vertical view of a third form of the assembled atomizing device, partly in section, showing the same ve parts; VIa showing the absorbent packing member suitable therefor, separately.

The cap member I is simply a dust cap made of any suitable rigid material, not acted upon or corroded by the materials used in the atomizer. Materials such as glass, molded plastics and metals are generally considered suitable. The

cap is made to t over the nozzle II of the body member I0 either by a friction iit, or preferably by means of screw threads 2 (or slots) adjusted to move upon the screw threads I2 (or lugs) on the nozzle II of thebody member I0. The cap is usually between 1A!" and long and of conical or hemispherical external shape. The cap may, or may not, be fitted with a gasket 3.

The body member I0 is a tubular element open at one end and closed near the opening above the -nozzle by the septum I3. The tubular eiement may be externally either of circular or polygonal cross section and internally preferably of either circular or rectangular cross section. It may be made of any suitable rigid material not acted upon or corroded upon by liquids used in the atomizer such as glass, metal, etc. but preferably is of either molded plastic or metal. The tubular element is usually between 11A?" and 1%" long and of minimum wall thickness consistent with rigidity of construction as determined by the nature of the material of fabrication. Thus, when plastic materials are employed the thickness will be greater than when metallic materials are employed. In the center of the septum I3 a hole I4 is made of diameter of about l/m", which serves as the orifice through which the liquid is atomized. It is important to stress that while the main portion of the septum I3 may be of any thickness, as shown in Figures IVa, b, and c, it is essential that the thickness at the hole I4 be about 0.025 inch or less in order that in air-tight, Huid-tight connection. The manner in which the connection between the body member I 0 and the compression member 20 is made is optional as indicated in Figures III, IV and V. In Figure III there is shown about 1%6" from the open end of the body member I0 an annular enlargement I5 against which is pressed in friction fit over the free end of the body member the portion of the compression member 20 which has an inwardly directed iiange 2l and a terminal annular enlargement 22 so that the sealing mem ber may be pushed over the junction and if necessary over the annular enlargement I5 of the body member I0 and the compression bulb 20 in air-tight and fluid-tight connection. An alternative manner of providing an air-tight, fluid-tight t of the compression member 20 over the body member I0 is, as shown'in Figure V, to have the compression member 20 provided with a terminal 2Il-consists of a cylindrical pieceof rubber orv other resilient material open at one end. When the liquid to be atomized is an oil, it is preferable to'have this compression member made of neoprene or other synthetic rubber which is not affected by contact with oils. Sometimes in the compression member there is an air hole 24 of about 1% in diameter in the side of the bulb over which the thumb, in the-use of the atomizing device, is expected to be placed during the compression stroke.

The absorbent packing member 30 consists of any suitable absorbent, porous material such as felt, cotton, chalk, or even wood. The absorbent packing material 30 usually, though not necessarily, completely fills the inside of the body member and in the assembled unit it is fitted into the body member so as to be under slight pressure against the septum I3 and the nozzle opening I4. This absorbent material is saturated with the liquid to be atomized. It is usual to have this packing material made of one piece which completely lfills the body member IIJ with a slight amount of compression against the opening I4. In some cases, it is advantageous to have the absorbent material merely as a core in the body member. Themost practical shape for the packingmember 30 is in the form of a rectangular prism prepared from sheets of absorbent material. "In Figure III the packing is of rectangular, prism shape; in Figure V, of rectangular shape, and in Figure VI, of rectangular prism shape with a forwardly projecting portion of smaller cross section than the main portion.

The sealing member 4D consists of a band 0r ferrule made of metal or other suitable material which .is crimped or vcemented over the joint between thebody member I0 and the compression f member 2Il. The preferred form of this sealing member is a thin metal ferrule or band which is slipped over the compression member or pres.

sure element after assembling and then the open end of the ferrule is crimped, or rolled, over the annular` enlargement I5 of the body member. However, any other suitable lmeans of holding the compression member to the body member may be employed, as for example, a cellulose band, which shrinks. y v

In the assembled atomizer device, as illustrated in Figure I, the body member I0 is usually closely packed withabsorbent material of the nature of i'elt and impregnated with medicinal liquid, so as to be under slight pressure against the septum I3 and the opening I4 therein. The packing material .30 may consist of one portion, or a seriesof discs suitably impregnated with the liquid. When the compression member 20 is compressed. air is forced through the packing material, which, emerging from the small hole I4, develops a finely diifused dense spray of the liquid. When the hole 24 is pierced or is made in the compression member,l the release of the bulb to its ncrafter ,application and drying,l

When the absorbent material 30 completely Y illls the body` member it is particularly advantageous in the functioning of the atomizer to have the hole 24v in the compression member. When the absorbent material 30 is completely saturated, no liquid is drawnv into the bulb on the release stroke-if the hole is uncovered, thus preventing any deposition of the valuable medicament in the bulb or air through the opening I4.

The assembled device functions as a small, highly effective atomizer by forcing air from the compression member 20 through liquid saturated material when the absorbent material 30 com-V pletely ll's Athe body member I0 or over the exposed surface of the liquid saturated material when the absorbent material is merely a core in the body member I0 and thence through the small hole I4 near the end ofthe nozzle II of the body member. Sometimes the compression member is connected to a tube extending some distance into the packing, but this is not usual. The presence of the hole 24 in the compression member 20 is advantageous in the functioning of the atomizer device on the release stroke, thus eliminating one of the main causes of clogging of the opening due to mucous being drawn in and extremely diicult to remove, because of the smallness of the hole and the nature of mucous material. Furthermore, Without the hole 24 it is impossible to utilize a large portion of the liquid contained in the absorbent packing. Apparently this is because the liquid is pushed back from the nozzle opening by air upon the release stroke. With the hole 24 all the air which goes through the packing is outward and tends to force the liquid towards the'nozzle. This makes for more complete utilization ofthe medicament contained in the absorbent packing 30. The construction of the nozzle II so that the hole I4 is some distance from vthe end is highly advantageous when th'e device is employed as an atomizer for the. nasal passages in preventing mucous from being drawn` into the atomizer when the` pressure on the bulb is released.

Embodiments 1. The general Anature of this embodiment is glven in Figure I. Thecap member I and the body member I0 are made of molded plastic ma# v4I). The packingmaterial is of a rectangular prism shape having sizes of and 11/2" long. The hole I4 is approximately 1,@0 in diameter. When suitablyimpreg'nated With'medicinal liquid, the device provides a simple and effective means of forming a finely dense spray of the medicinal liquid.

2. This form of an atomizing device is shown in Figure V. The cap and body members are` formed of molded plastic material of about 0.025 inch thickness. The body member is externally of circular cross-section of in diameter and internally of square cross-section of side The body member is 1%" long with internal space for holding the absorbent impregnated felt material 30 of 11/2" long. The hole I 4 in the septum I3 is 1,4;0" in diameter. The compression bulb 20 has an air vent 24 therein. The connection between the compression member 20 and the body member I0 is made by the tting of the inwardly directed flange 23 of the compression member in the groove I6 on the body member. The seal is made by the crimping of the member 40 over the forwardly projecting edge of the annular enlargement of the body member I3.

3. Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 2 only in having 1an absorbent packing material 30 of smaller forwardly projecting cross-section than the main body of the absorbent material, and in having a gasket I3 in the cap member.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reierence to speciiic embodiments thereof.

it is not intended that any limitation shall be implied thereby, the novelty and scope of the invention is yduly set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

An atomizer device for injecting medicinal liquids into the nasal and oral passages of the body, which' comprises a tubular body member open at its inlet end and provided with a nozzle at itsdischarge end adapted for insertion into said passages, a septum across the body member at the base of the nozzle and provided with a small atomizing hole of about 1,440 inch in d1- ameter, a compression bulb engaging the inlet end of the tubular body member in` airtight, fiuid-tigh't relation, the bulb having an air hole to permit direct inflation with air. a body of absorbent material containing the medicinal liquid'disposed within the body member compressed between the septum and the bulb and substantially covering the hole in the septum, and a cap removably affixed to the nozzle carrying a gasket adapted to provide a uid seal against the discharge end of th'e nozzle.

' EDWARD '.B. HUNN.