Atomizer

Abstract

An atomizer including a gas exit, an outlet adjacent the gas exit, and a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from the gas exit over the outlet for drawing a substance to be atomized out from one outlet and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from the gas exit characterised in that the deflector is movable between a first position in the path of the gas issuing from the gas exit for atomization and a second and non-atomizing position.

1. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;  
 a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and  
 said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in which said deflector is adjacent said gas exit and directly in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit so that atomization of the substance takes place, and a second position spaced from said gas exit so that no atomizing takes place.  
 
     
     
       2. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising condition responsive means for automatically moving said deflector between said first and second positions in response to a condition. 
     
     
       3. An atomizer as recited in  claim 2  wherein said condition responsive means comprises a vane connected to said deflector and effecting movement of said deflector in response to air pressure conditions acting on said vane. 
     
     
       4. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said deflector is mounted with respect to said jet head by a pivot, so that said deflector pivots between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       5. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a vane for moving said deflector between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       6. An atomizer as recited in  claim 5  wherein said deflector comprises a bar connected to said vane. 
     
     
       7. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an air inlet and an air outlet providing for the flow of air toward and past said head, said outlet permitting flow of atomized substance to a human. 
     
     
       8. An atomizer as recited in  claim 7  wherein said deflector moves into said first position when air flows from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       9. An atomizer as recited in  claim 7  wherein said deflector moves into said second position when air is not flowing from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       10. An atomizer as recited in claim  3    2 , wherein said condition responsive means comprises a vane connected to said deflector and effecting movement of said deflector in response to air pressure conditions acting on said vane; wherein the atomizer further comprising  comprises an air inlet and an air outlet for providing the flow of air to and past said head; and wherein said deflector is biased to said second position and wherein said vane is biased to a position closing said air inlet. 
     
     
       11. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is positioned to direct a flow of air toward said gas exit when air flows from said air inlet to said air outlet. 
     
     
       12. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is mounted to allow air flow from said air outlet directly through said air inlet, without passing past said head. 
     
     
       13. An atomizer as recited in  claim 10  wherein said vane is mounted so as to allow a proportion of the air flowing from said air inlet to said air outlet to by-pass said head when the air flow rate exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
       14. An atomizer as recited in  claim 4  wherein said deflector comprises a bar with an arcuate surface. 
     
     
       15. An atomizer as recited in  claim 2  wherein said condition is a human inhaling and exhaling during breathing. 
     
     
       16. An atomizer as recited in claim  15    1 , wherein said deflector is positioned so that during exhaling, exhaled air does not entrian the substance to be atomized. 
     
     
       17. An atomizer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       18. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;  
 a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit;  
 said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit for atomization, and a second, non-atomizing, position; and  
 a vane for moving said deflector between said first and second positions.  
 
     
     
       19. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said deflector is mounted with respect to said head by a pivot, so that said defector pivots between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       20. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said vane is integral with said deflector. 
     
     
       21. An atomizer as recited in  claim 18  wherein said deflector comprises a surface elongated in a first dimension and having a first width; and wherein said vane comprises a surface elongated in a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and has a second width much greater than said first width so that said vane moves, and effects movement of said deflector, in response to breathing action by a human. 
     
     
       22. An atomizer as recited in  claim 21  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       23. An atomizer comprising:
 a head having a gas exit and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;  
 a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and  
 said deflector pivotally mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is pivotally movable between a first position in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit for atomization, and a second, non-atomizing, position.  
 
     
     
       24. An atomizer as recited in  claim 23  further comprising a baffle extending outwardly and downwardly about said gas exit; and wherein said deflector is mounted within said baffle and movable with respect to said baffle. 
     
     
       25. Spray forming apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an outlet for a spray of atomized substance;  
 a head mounted within said housing and including a pressuzied gas exit, and at least one outlet adjacent said gas exit;  
 a deflector for deflecting gas issuing from said gas exit over at least one of said outlets, for drawing a substance to be atomized out from at least one of said outlets and atomizing the substance in the gas issuing from said gas exit; and  
 said deflector mounted with respect to said head so that said deflector is movable between a first position in which said deflector is adjacent said gas exit and directly in the path of gas issuing from said gas exit so that atomization of the substance takes place, and the atomized substance is sprayed out of said housing outlet, and a second position in which said deflector is spaced from said gas exit so that no atomized substance is sprayed out of said spray outlet.  
 
     
     
       26. The atomizer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
   an air inlet and an air outlet for providing the flow of air to and past said head, an air passage being defined between the air inlet and air outlet; and        a structure movable relative to the air passage between a first position that at least substantially prevents air flow through the air passage and a second position that permits air flow through the air passage, the structure being constructed and arranged to move between the first and second positions in response to inhalations by a patient,        wherein the deflector is constructed and arranged to move between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient, and        wherein the deflector is constructed and arranged such that when the patient inhales, the deflector moves into its first position before the structure moves into its second position.     
     
     
       27. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein said structure operatively connects to the deflector for effecting the automatic movement of said deflector between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient. 
     
     
       28. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein the structure closes the air inlet when in its first position, and opens the air inlet when in its second position. 
     
     
       29. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein the structure seals the air passage when in the first position. 
     
     
       30. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein said structure comprises a flap valve. 
     
     
       31. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein said structure comprises a vane. 
     
     
       32. The atomizer of  claim 31 , wherein said vane operatively connects to the deflector for effecting the automatic movement of said deflector between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient. 
     
     
       33. The atomizer of  claim 32 , wherein the vane is integral with the deflector. 
     
     
       34. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein the deflector is mounted with respect to said head by a pivot, so that the deflector is pivotally movable between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       35. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein the structure is movably mounted with respect to the air inlet by a pivot. 
     
     
       36. The atomizer of  claim 26 , wherein the structure is biased toward its first position. 
     
     
       37. An assembly comprising:
   an atomizer having an atomizing chamber, and an air inlet and an air outlet for enabling flow of air through the atomizing chamber, an air passage being defined between the air inlet and air outlet, the atomizer being constructed to atomize liquid in response to inhalations by a patient; and        a first structure movable relative to the air passage between a first position that at least substantially prevents air flow through the air passage and a second position that permits air flow through the air passage, the first structure being constructed and arranged to be movable between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient,        wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient inhales, the atomizer begins atomization before the first structure moves into its second position.     
     
     
       38. The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the atomizer further comprises:
   a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber; and        a deflector movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the movable deflector being constructed and arranged to move between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position in response to the inhalations by the patient.     
     
     
       39. The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the atomizer further comprises:
   a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber; and        a second structure that is movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the second structure being constructed and arranged to move between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position in response to the inhalations by the patient.     
     
     
       40. The assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the second structure is constructed and arranged such that when the patient completes an inhalation, the second structure moves into the non- atomizing position after the first structure moves into the first position.   
     
     
       41. The assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the second structure is constructed and arranged such that when the patient's inhalation pressure falls below a predetermined threshold, the second structure moves into the non- atomizing position after the first structure moves into the first position.   
     
     
       42. The assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the first structure is resiliently biased toward its first position, and the second structure is resiliently biased toward its non- atomizing position.   
     
     
       43. The atomizer of  claim 37 , wherein the first structure is resiliently biased toward its first position. 
     
     
       44. The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first structure seals the air passage when in the first position. 
     
     
       45. The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient completes an inhalation, the atomizer stops atomization after the first structure moves into the first position. 
     
     
       46. The assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient's inhalation pressure falls below a predetermined threshold, the atomizer stops atomization after the first structure moves into the first position. 
     
     
       47. An assembly comprising:
   an atomizer having an atomizing chamber, and an air inlet and an air outlet for enabling flow of air through the atomizing chamber, an air passage being defined between the air inlet and air outlet, the atomizer being constructed to atomize a liquid in response to inhalations by a patient; and        a first structure movable relative to the air passage between a sealed position that at least partially seals the air passage and an unsealed position that unseals the air passage, the first structure being constructed and arranged to move between the sealed position and the unsealed position in response to the inhalations by the patient,        wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient inhales, the atomizer begins atomizing before the first structure moves into its second position.     
     
     
       48. An assembly comprising:
   an atomizer having an atomizing chamber, the atomizer being constructed to atomize liquid in response to inhalations by a patient;        an air inlet fluidly connected to the chamber; and        a first structure movable relative to the air inlet between a first position that at least substantially prevents air flow through the air inlet and a second position that permits air flow through the air inlet, the first structure being constructed and arranged to move between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient,        wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient inhales, the atomizer begins atomization before the first structure moves into its second position.     
     
     
       49. An assembly comprising:
   an atomizer having an atomizing chamber, the atomizer being constructed to atomize liquid in response to inhalations by a patient;        an air inlet fluidly connected to the chamber; and        a first structure movable relative to the air inlet between a sealed position that at least partially seals the air inlet and an unsealed position that unseals the air inlet, the first structure being constructed and arranged to move between the sealed position and the unsealed position in response to the inhalations by the patient,        wherein the atomizer is constructed such that when the patient inhales, the atomizer begins atomization before the first structure moves into the unsealed position.     
     
     
       50. The assembly of  claim 49 , wherein the atomizer further comprises:
   a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber; and        a second structure that is movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the second structure being constructed and arranged to move between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position in response to the inhalations by the patient,        wherein the second structure is constructed and arranged such that when the patient inhales, the second structure moves into the atomizing position after the first structure moves into the unsealed position.     
     
     
       51. The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the second structure is constructed and arranged such that when the patient completes an inhalation, the second structure moves into the non- atomizing position after the first structure moves into the sealed position.   
     
     
       52. The assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the first structure is resiliently biased toward its sealed position, and the second structure is resiliently biased toward its non- atomizing position.   
     
     
       53. An atomizer comprising:
   an atomizing chamber;        a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber;        an air inlet for enabling flow of ambient air into the atomizing chamber;        an air outlet for enabling flow of air out of the atomizing chamber to a patient;        an air passage defined between the air inlet and air outlet;        a deflector movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the deflector being constructed and arranged to move between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position in response to inhalations by the patient; and        a variable size orifice in the air passage, wherein the orifice is constructed and positioned so as to change in size in response to the inhalations by the patient.     
     
     
       54. The atomizer of  claim 53 , further comprising a structure movable relative to the air passage between a first position that at least substantially prevents air flow through the air passage and a second position that permits air flow through the air passage, the structure being constructed and arranged to be movable between the first and second positions in response to the inhalations by the patient. 
     
     
       55. The atomizer of  claim 53 , wherein the orifice is constructed and positioned to increase in size during atomization. 
     
     
       56. A method of atomizing liquid with an atomizer comprising an atomizing chamber, a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber, an air inlet extending from an ambient environment to the atomizing chamber, a variable size orifice disposed in the air inlet, an air outlet fluidly connected to the atomizing chamber, and a deflector movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the method comprising:
   moving the deflector from a non - atomizing position to an atomizing position in response to an inhalation by a patient of air through the air outlet; and        varying the size of the orifice in response to the inhalation.     
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
   increasing the size of the orifice in response to the inhalation;        reducing the size of the orifice in response to completion of the inhalation; and        moving the deflector from the atomizing position to the non - atomizing position in response to the completion of the inhalation.     
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 56 , wherein the method further comprises, after moving the deflector to the atomizing position, increasing a size of the orifice in response to the inhalation by the patient. 
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
   reducing the size of the orifice in response to completion of the inhalation; and        after reducing the size of the orifice, moving the deflector from the atomizing position to the non - atomizing position in response to the completion of the inhalation.     
     
     
       60. A method of atomizing liquid with an atomizer comprising an atomizing chamber, and an air inlet and an air outlet for enabling flow of air through the atomizing chamber, an at least partially sealable air passage being defined between the air inlet and air outlet, the method comprising, sequentially:
 ( a )  starting atomization of the liquid by the atomizer in response to a patient inhaling through the air outlet;      ( b )  after starting atomization, unsealing the air passage; and      ( c )  passing air from the air inlet to the air outlet to carry atomized liquid through the air outlet.     
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60 , wherein unsealing the air passage comprises unsealing the air passage in response to the inhaling by the patient. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 61 , wherein:
   the atomizer further comprises a first structure movable relative to the air passage between a sealed position that at least partially seals the air passage and a first unsealed position that unseals the air passage; and        the step of unsealing the air passage comprises moving the first structure from the sealed position to the first unsealed position.     
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
   the atomizer further comprises a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber, and a deflector movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position; and        the step of starting atomization of the liquid comprises moving the deflector into the atomizing position to cause atomization of the liquid.     
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
   the atomizer further comprises      a pressurized gas outlet disposed in the atomizing chamber; and        a second structure that is movable relative to the pressurized gas outlet, the second structure being constructed and arranged to move between an atomizing position and a non - atomizing position in response to the inhalations by the patient, and          the step of starting atomization of the liquid comprises moving the second structure into the atomizing position.     
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 64 , further comprising, after ( c ) , sequentially:    ( d )  moving the first structure from the first unsealed position to the sealed position to at least partially seal the air passage in response to completion of an inhalation by the patient; and      ( e )  moving the second structure into the non - atomizing position in response to the completion of the inhalation by the patient.     
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 65 , further comprising, after ( e ):
 ( f )  moving the first structure from the sealed position to a second unsealed position that unseals the air passage in response to an exhalation by the patient.     
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 64 , further comprising, after ( c ) , sequentially:    ( d )  moving the first structure from the first unsealed position to the sealed position to at least partially seal the air passage in response to the patient's inhalation pressure falling below a first predetermined threshold; and      ( e )  moving the second structure into the non - atomizing position in response to the patient's inhalation pressure falling below a second predetermined threshold.     
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 61 , further comprising, after ( c ) , sequentially:    ( d )  at least partially sealing the air inlet in response to completion of an inhalation by the patient; and      ( e )  stopping atomization of the liquid into the atomizing chamber in response to the completion of the inhalation by the patient.     
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 68 , further comprising, after ( e ) , repeating  ( a )  through  ( e )  in response to another inhalation by the patient.   
     
     
       70. A method of atomizing liquid with an atomizer having an atomizing chamber, an air inlet and an air outlet for enabling flow of air through the atomizing chamber, an air passage defined between the air inlet and air outlet, and a structure disposed in the air passage in a first position that at least substantially prevents air flow through the air passage, the method comprising, sequentially:
 ( a )  starting atomization of the liquid by the atomizer in response to a patient inhaling through the air outlet;      ( b )  moving the structure into a second position in response to the inhaling by the patient, the second position permitting air flow through the passage; and      ( c )  passing air from the air inlet to the air outlet to carry atomized liquid through the air outlet.