US2345044A

US2345044A - Hydractor cap

Info

Publication number: US2345044A
Application number: US413863A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles W Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-10-06
Filing date: 1941-10-06
Publication date: 1944-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1961-03-28

Description

March 28, 1944., c, w, HALL 2,345,044-

HYDRATOR CAP Filed Oct. 6, 1941 VENTOR.

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Patented Mar. 28, 1944 Charles W; Hall, Los Angel'es Calif;

Application October 6, 1941, Serial No. 4135863 1 Claim.

My invention relates'to improvements in hydrator caps and more particuarly to a cap which is used as a bottle or-flask connector of atype which is used for administering oxygen gas in medical practice and requiring an exceptionally tight fit. The primary object of my invention is to provide adevice of its kind which has exceptional structural provisions for producing a tight connection with the humidi-fying chamber of the bottle or other type of flask and at the same time flexibly supporting the flask to provide freedom which reduces the hazard of breaking theiiask by accidental blows or of interrupting the connection b'etwen the source of supply of oxygen gas and, the patient to whom the oxygen gas is administered. Otherobjects and advantages will be apparent from the following description including the accompanying drawing in which, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of my improved hydrator cap which is shown applied in use to a liquid container or flask, a portion of the latter being broken away to expose the oxygen gas feed tube therein and the resilient protector on the bottom of the flask being also shown in central vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved hydrator cap removed from the liquid container.

Broadly my invention provides a resilient connector made out of rubber, neoprene or other resilient material, resembling a cap or socket through which an oxygen gas feed tube projects downwardly into the body of hydrating liquid contained in the flask and having an upwardly extending nipple secured over said tube to provide a dangling support for the cap on said tube, an egress flexible duct from the side of the cap for conveying hydrated or humidified oxygen gas to a patient and gripping means on the lower end of the cap for tightly engaging the neck of the flask to provide a leakproof joint and support the flask without loss or unintentional interruption of the flow of gas through the liquid bath contained in the flask and outwardly through said egress duct.

In the drawing, A indicates a flask having a body I and a neck I l forming a mouth, said body containing suflicient liquid such as water to provide a bath through which the oxygen gas is forced for humidifying the gas for use in the treatment of pneumonia or other diseases. The upper end of the neck H has an outer thread l2 terminating in an annular groove [3 below which is an annular outer shoulder or bead M. B indicates my improved cap which functions as a connector through which oxygen gas is conducted from a source of supply such as the container G into and through the body of water or other liquid bath in the flask to moisten the gas, and out-.

wardly to a distant point such as a nasal inhaler E, or other mask or oxygen tent (not shown). The cap resembles a. socket and is made out of rubber, neoprene orother suitable freely flexible resilient material and has a thin walled cylindrical body It tapering upwardly and terminating in a thin walled cylindrical elastic stem or nipple ii. A substantiallyrigid oxygen gas supply tube- D of comparatively small diameter extends downwardly through the cap and into the flask, its lower end terminating in the bath of liquid contained intheflask and its upper end being engaged under embracing elasticity and being also secured to said stem by cementing or other suitable means.

The lower end portion of the cap is formed with an internal annulus Hi, the lower portion of which has an inner annular gripping groove l9 which engages the bead H on the neck of the flask. The portion of the annulus adjacent to the groove I 9 has an inner protruding annular shoulder 20 which ngages the neck of the flask in its groove 13. Spaced upwardly above the shoulder 20 in position to inwardly engage over the upper extremity of the neck of the flask is an internal annular abutment shoulder 2|. The groove l9 and shoulders 20 and 2| cooperating together and with the neck of the flask produce a gas tight connection between the flask and cap, of sufficient resistance so that the flask is embraced tightly by the cap without danger of unintentional disconnection when the flask is suspended from a support.

The passage 22 through the abutment shoulder 2| around the rigid oxygen gas supply tube D is sufflcient to permit the free passage of oxygen gas from the flask outwardly through egress duct 23. The screw thread I2 is adapted to assist by revolving motion of either the flask or cap or bothin joining the cap Over the neck and into tight engagement. The annular channel 24 within the cap between the annular shoulders 21) and 2| accommodates the thread I2 freely when the cap is fully connected on the flask. By stretching the lower end of the cap by hand the cap can be forced oil of the neck to disconnect the flask from the cap. The duct 23 leading from the body of the cap is coupled with a flexible duct 25 leading to the nasal inhaler E or other suitable applicator, by a suitable tubular connector 26.

The upper end of the rigid oxygen gas supply tube D has a coupling 30 which is supported by the supply duct 3i leading to the oxygen gas supply container C. This coupling provides a detachable connection for the supply of oxygen gas to the rigid supply tube D. Also the coupling provides a connection with a gauge 21 for indicaing the pressure of oxygen gas being administered.

In use the rigid oxygen gas supply tube D is coupled to a support such as 3| with said tube depending and the supply of o gen gas from the tank C connected to the coupling, the cap B having previously been fastened over the tube with the tube depending therefrom. The flask is next secured by its neck to the lower end of the cap. In this manner a dangling Support is provided by the cap and its flexible stem from the upper end of the oxygen supply tube, where by the flask and the cap are not liable, to be injured by a patient or attendant during operation. The dangling feature is augmented by the stem I? which is of reduced diameter upwardly from the body of the cap, whereby it is of weakened resistance approaching upwardly to its point of attachment to the rigid oxygen supply tube D. Also the coupling between the cap and neck of the flask is secure against disconnection leakage or interruption of the flow of oxygen gas through the hydrating bath in the flask. The cap B has a relief valve F in its side which permits the escape of excessive pressure of gas from within.

The lower end of the rigid oxygen supply tube D is provided with a resilient buffer 35 which reduces the hazard of breaking the flask when the latter is subjected to accidental knocks or jars.

Also a resilient bufler cup 36 closely embraces the lower end of the flask to additionally protect the flask against breaking. The cap B and

buffers

35 and 35 being made out of comparatively soft resilient material, in addition to protecting the parts of the apparatus from breaking also reduces the conduction of sound and rattle of the parts to a minimum which has usually heretofore been found objectionable in a sick room.

In addition to my improved hydrator cap providing a tight connection over the neck of the flask and a freely flexible dangling support for the flask, it is thoroughly sanitary and can be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between operations.

Modifications within th scope of the following claim and within the spirit of the invention are contemplated.

Iclaim:

A hydrator cap for engaging the neck of a flask to sustain the latter, comprising, a resilient neck engaging socket having a thin walled hollow body fully open at its lower end and pro vided with an integral long freely flexible stem extending upwardly from said body, said body having an inner annular gripping groove in its lower end, an annular abutment shoulder above said groove and an inhaling fluid conducting duct connected with and leading outwardly from the side of said body, and said stem having an embracing resilient tip and tapering upwardly toward its tip to weaken its swinging resistance and provide swinging space within and a free dangling support for the flask by said stem.

CHARLES W. HALL.