Inhaler apparatus

Abstract

An inhaler apparatus includes a housing which encloses a gas source, a gas applicator, a feed hose which connects the gas source and applicator and a valve for controlling the flow of gas from the source to the applicator. The housing includes a lid which provides access to the applicator when open and prevents access when closed. Locking means are provided to hold the lid in the closed position and means such as an insertable strip or key are provided to disengage the locking means and provide access to the applicator.

I claim: 
     
       1. An inhaler apparatus comprises a housing and a breathing system mounted within said housing; said breathing system includes a source of gas, an applicator for said gas, a feed hose connected between said source and said applicator, and valve means for controlling the flow of said gas to said applicator;   said housing includes a lid which is movable between an open position in which said applicator can be withdrawn from said housing and a closed position which prevents access to said applicator;   locking means to hold said lid in said closed position, and unlocking means to disengage said locking means;   timer means connected to said valve means for actuating said valve means for a predetermined period of time;   actuating means connected to said timer means for actuating said timer means; and   connecting means connecting said lid and said timer means, said connecting means including a shaft fixedly connected to said lid; a first member fixedly connected to said shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and first lever means connected between said first member and said actuating means whereby when said lid is moved into an open position said timer means actuates the valve means and thereby communicates the source with the applicator for said predetermined period time.   
     
     
       2. An inhaler as claimed in claim 1 including moistening means to moisten said gas said moistening means being arranged between said source and said applicator. 
     
     
       3. An inhaler apparatus according to claim 1 including mounting means connected to said housing said mounting means being adapted to support said applicator and at least a portion of said feed hose. 
     
     
       4. An inhaler according to claim 1 including a coupling member said coupling member being connected between said feed hose and said applicator and means to detachably connect said applicator to said coupling member. 
     
     
       5. An inhaler according to claim 4 in which said applicator includes a frustoconical outer wall having a larger and a smaller end, a wall member extending across said smaller end, said wall member having a substantially conical depression extending substantially along the axis of said frustoconical outer wall, said conical depression being configured to fit within said coupling member. 
     
     
       6. An inhaler according to claim 1 including a gas expansion chamber said gas expansion chamber being arranged between said gas source and said feed hose. 
     
     
       7. An inhaler according to claim 1 in which said applicator includes a frustoconical outer wall having a larger and a smaller end, said larger end having a first recess configured to fit over the chin of a person and a second recess substantially opposite said first recess which second recess is configured to fit over the bridge of the nose of a person, an annular member having at least one aperture attached to the inner surface of said wall at a point adjacent to and spaced from said smaller end and filter means extending across said at least one aperture in said annular member. 
     
     
       8. An inhaler as claimed in claim 7 in which said outer wall is made of a synthetic plastic material. 
     
     
       9. An inhaler as claimed in claim 7 in which said outer wall is made of a fibrous material. 
     
     
       10. An inhaler as claimed in claim 7 in which said filter means includes a layer of fiber fleece attached to said annular member and extending across said at least one aperture. 
     
     
       11. An inhaler as claimed in claim 7 in which said annular member includes a ring having a central aperture said ring extending inwardly from said outer wall and a cylindrical flange connected to said ring, said flange along the inner surface of said wall toward smaller end. 
     
     
       12. An inhaler as claimed in claim 7 in which said annular member includes a ring member attached to the inner surface of said wall and two substantially perpendicular strip members attached to said ring member and extending across said aperture in said ring member to divide said aperture into four smaller apertures, a disc-like member having a number of apertures said disc-like member being attached to the inner surface of said wall at a circle of points spaced from said annular member in a direction toward said large end of said wall to define a chamber between said disc-like member and said annular member. 
     
     
       13. An inhaler as claimed in claim 1 in which said applicator includes a substantially frustonconial wall member having a larger and a smaller end, said wall member including an annular recess at said small end and a substantially cylindrical wall portion extending outwardly from said recess to form a circular end, a first perforated disc-like member attached to the inner surface of said cylindrical wall portion, said first disc-like member being spaced from said circular end and a cover member configured to fit over the outer surface of said circular end of said cylindrical portion of said wall. 
     
     
       14. An inhaler as claimed in claim 13 in which said cover member includes a second disc-like member having a plurality of apertures and a diameter which is larger than the diameter of said cylindrical wall portion and a cylindrical flange extending outward from said second disc-like member said cylindrical flange being configured to slidably fit over the outer surface of said cylindrical wall portion said second disc-like member being spaced from said first disc-like member to define a chamber within said cylindrical wall portion which is suitable for the storage of medicines or aromatic substances. 
     
     
       15. An inhaler according to claim 1 in which said first member includes a disc connected to said shaft, and a pin mounted eccentrically on said disc, said first lever means being connected to said pin. 
     
     
       16. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said lid includes a recess, and said locking means includes a bolt movable into and out of engagement with said recess and in which said unlocking means includes a first rocker arm pivotably mounted on said housing and second lever means connecting said first rocker arm to said bolt to cause said bolt to move out of engagement with said recess in response to the pivoting of said first rocker arm and key means insertable into said housing to contact said first rocker arm causing said first rocker arm to pivot and said bolt to move out of engagement with said recess thereby permitting said lid to move from said closed to said open position. 
     
     
       17. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including means to render said key means unusable after a predetermined number of uses. 
     
     
       18. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said key means includes a relatively thin elongated member and in which such apparatus further includes cutting means which are activated in response to the motion of said lid from said closed to said open position to cut-off a portion of said thin elongated member. 
     
     
       19. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which said second lever means includes a second member mounted adjacent to and movable by said first rocker arm and a second rocker arm having a first end adjacent to and movable by said second member and a second end, mounting means to pivotably mount said second rocker arm at a point between said first and second ends of said second rocker arm, said second end of said second rocker arm being connected to said bolt. 
     
     
       20. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including first biasing means to bias said bolt into said recess in said lid. 
     
     
       21. An inhaler apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first lever means includes a counter-poise having a first and second ends and a pivot point between said first and second ends, said first member of said connecting means being connected to said counter-poise at said pivot point and said counter-poise having a first recess adjacent to said first end which first recess cooperates with said actuating means, second biasing means to bias said counter-poise for motion in a predetermined direction about said pivot point, movable support means in contact with said counter-poise at a point between said pivot point and said second end to hold said counter-poise at a first predetermined orientation and thereby prevent motion in said predetermined direction, means responsive to said unlocking means to move said support means out of contact with said counter-poise and to permit said counter-poise to move in said predetermined direction about said pivot point to a second orientation in which said first recess has moved into engagement with said actuating means, and means including said connecting means and said first member to cause said counter-poise to move from said second orientation to a third orientation in response to the motion of said lid from said closed to said open position activating said timer for a predetermined period. 
     
     
       22. An inhaler apparatus as claimed in claim 21 in which said activating means includes a winding bolt and in which said first recess is formed in a first surface of said counter-poise and is configured to engage said winding bolt and said first recess includes at least a first sloping surface and in which said counter-poise has a second recess formed in a second surface which second recess includes at least a second sloping surface, said winding bolt being in contact with said first sloping surface and said support member being in contact with said second sloping surface while said counter-poise is moving from said third orientation to said first orientation under the influence of said second biasing means.