US3429310A - Aerosol inhalating device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1969 M. A. .JAI-'FE ET AL AEROSOL INHALATING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1966 United States Patent O 3,429,310 AEROSOL INHALATING DEVICE Martin A. Jaffe, Yonkers, N.Y., and Donald E. Llpfert, Woolwich, Maine, assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,839 U.S. Cl. 12S-173 Int. Cl. A61m 11/00; B67d 5/64; G01f 11/06 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an aerosol inhaling device, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a self-contained device holding an aerosol container wholly therewithin and provided in very simple form in two easily molded plastic parts, one of which, called the base, includes an open-ended tubular inhalant member and means for receiving and holding the stem of the valve of the aerosol so that when the aerosol is moved relatively to the base it will operate to provide a mist in the inhalant tube; the other member being generally cylindrical and providing a cap for the base and a cap enclosing the aerosol container. The cap is both swivelly and longitudinally movable with relation to the base without becoming detached therefrom, said cap being provided with an oifset closure which snaps over the entrance or opening of the inhalant tube to close it and keep it closed, and also acting as a stop to prevent any accidental motion of the cap relative to the base, thus obviating accidental operation of the aerosol as for instance while it is being carried in pocket or purse. At the same time however the cap is very easily released as to its closure at the opening of the inhaling tube and is easily swiveled to expose the opening and at that time only the cap can -be pressed to move the aerosol relative to the base to operate the aerosol container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation, part being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device.

This invention is illustrated as being adapted to provide an operating enclosure and package means for an aerosol generally indicated at 10. These aerosols are well known in the art and need not be further described but each has an operating stem 12 for the usual value thereof so that when the stern 12 is moved in a direction toward the container 10, the valve operates to emit the aerosol propelled material axially therethrough. In this case the mist enters into a chamber 14 in a stem-receiving member 16 which has a shoulder at 18 against which the edge of the stern is stopped, and there is an opening 20 adjacent thereto for the emission of the aerosol propelled material therethrough. When the aerosol material 3,429,319 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 ICC is expressed through the opening 20, it discharges into a chamber 22.

The chamber 22 is formed in a single one-piece molded plastic member which is designated as the 4base of the device and is indicated generally at 24. This base is open at its top at 26 and it is provided with a generally radially extending inhalation tube 28 which is open at its end. This base is also provided with a stop ridge or projecting shoulder at 30 which is of annular form for a purpose -to be described.

On the base there is provided a cap generally indicated at 32, this cap having a closed bottom 34 which may be indented. It houses the aerosol 10, the neck of which at 34 extends into the base. The cap is provided with an inwardly directed annular slot 36 terminating in an annular abutment 38 which is of a size to snap over the ridge or shoulder 30 on the base because of the slight elastic nature of the plastic which is used to make these members. It will be seen therefore that the cap may be depressed relative to the base for a short distance depending upon the position of the terminal shoulder 40 of the slot 36 but at the same time since the ridges or shoulders are annular, the cap 32 may swivel as about the axis of the stem holder 16 and of the aerosol.

The cap is provided with an outstanding shelf-like member 42 which overlies the top surface of the inhalator tube 28 in close proximity with respect thereto. This shelf terminates in a closure 44 which is indented as at 46, 46 so that it has a projection extending slightly within the opening of the tube 28. This again is a snap action but it is easy to manually move the closure member 44 out of engagement with the edge or rim of the inhalator tube 28 so that the gap 32 can be swiveled as described above; ybut with the parts in position as shown in FIG. 2, such an action cannot accidently take place, as the parts are latched together. If desired, a slight slot 48 may be utilized to view the contents of the aerosol, if the same is transparent.

It will be seen that two relatively simple inexpensive molded plastic members, i.e., the cap and base, fully enclose the aerosol which cannot be operated accidentally when the same is carried in pocket or purse, etc., due to the interengaging latch mechanism or means at 44 with respect to the rim of the inhalation tube opening, but at the same time the latch is very easily disengaged and the cap swiveled, and then it can be depressed to operate the aerosol as will be clear. The device therefore comprises an enclosing and protective package for the aerosol as well as an actuator therefor, but on the other hand if desired the cap can be manually snapped off from the base so that the aerosol can be renewed if this should -be found to be desirable.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. The combination of an aerosol having a stem valve, and an operating package therefor comprising a base and a cap for the base, said base including a generally annular chamber receiving a part of the aerosol, an aerosol stem-receiving member in the base having an opening receiving the stem of the aerosol, said base having a generally radially extending inhalation tube which is open-ended, and an open end on the base receiving the cap, the cap receiving and contacting another part of the aerosol opposite the stem,

means slidably guiding the cap for motion on the base in a direction axially with respect to the aerosol, a generally radial projection on said cap which is substantially flush with a portion of the radially extending inhalation tube on the base, said cap being swivelly mounted on the base to selectively position said projection aligned with the inhalation tube or in non-alignment therewith,

said projection providing a stop preventing axial movement of the cap on the `base when it is aligned with said inhalation tube but allowing axial movement when non-aligned with relation thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a closure member on said projection, said closure member being adapted to close the opening of the inhalating tube when the projection is positioned on the inhalating tube, and to open the same in non-alignment with said inhalating tube.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a closure member on said projection, said closure member being adapted to close the opening of the inhalating tube when the projection is positioned on the inhalating tube, and to open the same in non-alignment with said inhalating tube, and interengaging means between said closure member and the edge of the opening in said inhalating tube forming a latch preventing accidental swivel action References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,940,641 6/ 1960 Norrish et al. 239-573 X 3,107,670 10/1963 Silson et al. 12S-173 3,258,172 6/1966 Litman 239-579 X 3,272,394 9/1966 Sagarin 222-182 WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X,R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION February 25, 1969 Patent NQ. 3,429,310

Martin A. Jaffe et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 33 "gap 32" should read cap 32 line 36, "slight" should read sight Signed and sealed this 7th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. SCHUYLER, Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Images