US2612894A

US2612894A - Nasal cleansing device

Info

Publication number: US2612894A
Application number: US24759A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen A Akins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-05-03
Filing date: 1948-05-03
Publication date: 1952-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1969-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1952 s. A. AKINS NASAL CLEANSING DEVICE Filed May '5, 1948 m mi m m H m w r. S 6 2 M Patented Oct. ,7, 1952 UNITED STAT PATENT OFF- 1GB r I 2,612,894- 7 g Y VNASA'L' GLEANSING'DEVICE Stephen A.- Akins, Kansas Oity,.M ApplicationMay 3, 1948', SerialNo: 24,759 came (01. 128-250) 2 My invention relates to clevii-zesfor cleansin the nasal cavity and one objectof the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby water or other liquid may be injectedinto the nasal cavity for the purpose of softening the foreign matter therein and thereby facilitate the removal thereof.

Another object is to provide a device of this character ha'vinga flexible pilot atits-upper end for sealingthe upper portion of the nasal cavity and thereby preventing the liquid from' flowing through the duct leading from the nasal cavity to theoral cavity. i

A further-"object is to provide a device of this character with a cleansing member having one ormore discharge ports through which the liquid is forced into the nasal cavity.- said cleansing memberalsohaving peripheral elements whereby the softened foreign matter is dislodged and removed from the nasal cavity by manually rotating said cleansing member.

Another object is to provide a device of this character with a receptacle for catching thefluid and foreign matter as they flow from the nasal cavity. I I

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is suificientl'y flexible to prevent injury to the delicate membranes: whichcan be madein different sizes for" both. infant andiad'ult use; and which is'efilcient'i'n practice. I

In order that the inventionmaybe fullyiund'erstood, reference will now be had tov the accompanying drawing,inwhich:

Fig.1 is: an enlarged side elevation of thedevice.

Fig; 2 is: a vertical longitudinal section of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a modification of the upper portion of the device.

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates the pilot which tapers towards its upper end 4 and terminates at its lower end in a skirt 6. The pilot 2 may consist of rubber, plastic, or other suitable flexible material and is preferably of hollow formation as disclosed by Fig.2.

Arranged below the pilot 2 is a nasal cleansing member 8, preferably of circular form and tapering towards its upper and lower ends Ill and I2, respectively, to facilitate its entrance and removal from the nasal cavity. The upper end ID of the cleansing member extends into the skirt 6 and is provided with one or more outlet ports l4 through which the liquid is discharged into the nasal cavity. The cleansing member 8 is preferably of hollow'formationas shown by Fig. 2 to render it sufiiciently flexible to'conform tothe shape (if-the rias'al'cavity, and it consists preferably of the" same material as the pilot 2. Preferabl'y, one or more spiral elements l-6 are formed on the outer surface-of the cleansing member as shown by Fig. 1 and alternately -arranged with respective individual peripheralelements I8 'to facilitate removal or the foreign matter from the nasalcavity.

' Arranged below thenasal cleansing member 8 is a flexible bulb 20 adapted to hold a liquid which is sucked into the bulb through the inletports M from a'supply'when' the bulb is; allowed to ex'-' pand" after being manually compressed.

A receptacle 22 is interposed between the lower end ofithe nasal cleansing member 8*and the upper reduced endof thebulb 20. Saidreceptacle maybe emptied through a flexible drainage-tube 24, or spout 26; The rear end 28' of the receptacle is of concave formation as shown by Fig; 3, to conform to the sh'apefbf' the upper lip against which it is pressed when inuse;

The pilot 2 the nasal cleansing member 8, the receptacle 22 andfthe bulb 20' are held} in assembly by means-of an axially disposedtubeilil extendi'ng' upwardly from the lower portion of thebulb into-the pilot 2. Thetube" 30 is provided at its upper portionjflwith one or more outlet ports: 32 adjacent tothe ports M. Cleansingniember 8at1'd bulb 20" are' fixed non-rotatively" on the tube, and receptacle 22 is swivelled thereon. At its upper end tube 30 is provided with an enlarged head 34 which-extends into a recess 36 formed in pilot 2. whereby saidpilot may rotate relative" to said which, if desired, may be medicated for treatment of nasal diseases. The pilot 2 and the nasal cleansing member 8 are inserted in a nostril, and the concaved rear end 28 of the receptacle 22 is pressed against the upper lip with one hand while the other hand operates the bulb to force the liquid upward through the tube 30. from which it is discharged through the ports 32. and M, respectively, a ainst the inner surface of the skirt from which it flows into the nostril and softens the foreign matter, which is then removed bythe spiral elements l6 and individual elements [8 as the cleansing member 8 is rotated manually by turning bulb 2|]. The cleansing member 8 and bulb 20 are fixed to tube 30, whereby the cleansing member is caused to turn with the bulb. The liquid and foreign matter flow downward from the nostril into the receptacle In practice,the'bulb'20'is supplied with a'liouid 22 and escape through the drainage tube 24, the 1 lower end of which may be placed in a basin or other receptacle. If the receptacle 22 is provided with the discharge spout 26 instead of the tube 24, the liquid may be discharged from the spout into the basin by inclining the head over the latter to prevent Wetting the garments of the user. After one nostril has thus been cleansed the other nostril is cleansed in a similar manner.

The pilot 2 may be fixed upon the tube 30 to rotate therewith during the operation of the device, or it may be swiveled, as shown, upon the tube so that it maybe held stationary by frictional contact with the inner surface of the nasal cavity, as the cleansing member 8 and the bulb 20 are rotated. The receptacle 22 is swiveled.

upon the tube 30 so that it may be held stationary with one hand, while the bulb 20 is being rotated as above stated.

As disclosed by Fig. 4 the pilot 2a having point I la andskirt 6a, the cleaning member 8a, and the b lb 20 (not shown) may be molded in one piece and the tube 30 may be dispensed with if desired. The receptacle 22 would then be applied by connecting it rotatively tothe reduced juncture of the cleaning member and the bulb.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided an efilcient nasal cleansing device, and while, I have shown two forms of the device it is apparent that other forms, falling withinthe scope of the invention as claimed, may be provided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A nasal cleaning device comprising an imperforate pilot providedat its lower portion with a flexible skirt, a cleaning member tapered toward each end and arranged below said pilot provided with a plurality of discharge ports withinsaidskirt, and means communicating with said cleaning member and adapted to force a liquid'through said discharge ports and against the inner surface of the skirt.

2. A nasal cleaning devicecomprising a pilot, a cleaning member arranged below said pilot and provided with discharge ports, a plurality of spiral elements extending around the outer surface of said cleaning member, a plurality of spaced individual elements on the cleaning member alternately arranged with respect to the spiral members, and means connected to the cleaning member and adapted to force a liquid through said discharge ports.

"3. A nasal cleaning device comprising an upwardly tapered flexible pilot, a cleaning member arranged below said pilot and provided with discharge ports, means communicating with said through said tube and having discharge openings adjacent said pilot, a receptacle carried rotatively on said tube at the opposite end of said cleaning member and opening toward said pilot, means for rotating said tube and cleaning member independently of said pilot and receptacle, and means for forcing liquid through said tube and through the discharge openings of said cleaning member.

5. A nasal cleaning device comprising a tube having apertures formed through the walls thereof adjacent the upper end thereof, an imperforate, substantially conical pilot of flexible ma.- terial carried rotatably on the upper end of said tube, said pilot having a depending circular skirt at its lower end, a hollow cleaning member carried non-rotatively on said tube beneath said pilot, said cleaning member having discharge outlets formed therein within said skirt and in registering relationship with the holes in said tube, a receptacle carried rotatably on said tube beneath said cleaning member and opening upwardly and a compressible bulbrfixed non-rota; tively on and encompassing the lower end portion of said tube said bulb being adapted to, force liquid contained thereinthrough said tube and outwardly through said discharge outlets.

STEPHEN A. AKINS. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inlthe, file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS