Patent ID: 11931486
Assignee: DEMPSEY HOLDINGS, LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 4:
5. A diffuser, comprising:
a chassis assembly, comprising:
first and second receptacles, the first and second receptacles being spaced apart from one another; and
a cover defining an outside surface of the diffuser, the cover including first and second openings formed through the outside surface and aligned with the first and second receptacles, respectively;

first and second cartridge assemblies removably received within the first and second receptacles, respectively, of the chassis assembly, the first and second cartridge assemblies being spaced apart from one another,
wherein the first and second cartridge assemblies contain first and second liquids, respectively;
wherein the first cartridge assembly is removably received, via the first opening, within the first receptacle of the chassis assembly so that the first cartridge assembly extends within both the first receptacle and the first opening, the first cartridge assembly comprising:
a first container in which the first liquid is contained; and
a first diffuser cap connected to the first container, the first diffuser cap defining a first internal pressure chamber;

wherein a first air pump is adapted to supply the first pressurized air at the first pressure to the first cartridge assembly by supplying the first pressurized air to the first internal pressure chamber of the first diffuser cap;
wherein the second cartridge assembly is removably received, via the second opening, within the second receptacle of the chassis assembly so that the second cartridge assembly extends within both the second receptacle and the second opening, the second cartridge assembly comprising:
a second container in which the second liquid is contained; and
a second diffuser cap connected to the second container, the second diffuser cap defining a second internal pressure chamber:

and
wherein a second air pump is adapted to supply the second pressurized air at the second pressure to the second cartridge assembly by supplying the second pressurized air to the second internal pressure chamber of the second diffuser cap;

the first air pump, which is adapted to supply first pressurized air at a first pressure to the first cartridge assembly,
wherein the first pressurized air supplied by the first air pump diffuses the first liquid contained in the first cartridge assembly;
wherein the first diffuser cap further defines a first internal diffuser chamber;
wherein the first internal pressure chamber is horizontally spaced apart from, and at least partially horizontally in line with, the first internal diffuser chamber;
wherein the first internal pressure chamber is vertically spaced apart from, and horizontally spaced apart from, the first container in which the first liquid is contained; and
wherein, to diffuse the first liquid contained in the first cartridge assembly with the first pressurized air supplied by the first air pump:
the first internal pressure chamber is adapted to supply the first pressurized air to the first internal diffuser chamber via a first horizontally-extending internal passageway; and
the first container is adapted to supply the first liquid to the first internal diffuser chamber;

and
the second air pump, which is adapted to supply second pressurized air at a second pressure to the second cartridge assembly,
wherein the second pressurized air supplied by the second air pump diffuses the second liquid contained in the second cartridge assembly;
wherein the second diffuser cap further defines a second internal diffuser chamber;
wherein the second internal pressure chamber is horizontally spaced apart from, and at least partially horizontally in line with, the second internal diffuser chamber;
wherein the second internal pressure chamber is vertically spaced apart from, and horizontally spaced apart from, the second container in which the second liquid is contained; and
wherein, to diffuse the second liquid contained in the second cartridge assembly with the second pressurized air supplied by the second air pump:
the second internal pressure chamber is adapted to supply the second pressurized air to the second internal diffuser chamber via a second horizontally-extending internal passageway; and
the second container is adapted to supply the second liquid to the second internal diffuser chamber;

wherein:
a first seal is at least partially vertically in line with, and is sealingly engaged vertically between, a first fitting and at least a portion of the first internal pressure chamber, thereby fluidically coupling a first conduit with the at least a portion of the first internal pressure chamber, said first conduit being fluidically coupled, in turn, with the first air pump;
the first diffuser cap is engaged with the first receptacle and extends within the first opening; and
the first container is suspended from the first diffuser cap within the chassis assembly and extends within the first receptacle;

wherein:
a second seal is at least partially vertically in line with, and is sealingly engaged vertically between, a second fitting and at least a portion of the second internal pressure chamber, thereby fluidically coupling a second conduit with the at least a portion of the second internal pressure chamber, said second conduit being fluidically coupled, in turn, with the second air pump;
the second diffuser cap is engaged with the second receptacle and extends within the second opening; and
the second container is suspended from the second diffuser cap within the chassis assembly and extends within the second receptacle;

wherein the first cartridge assembly further includes a first handle pivotably connected to the first diffuser cap and adapted to facilitate the removable receipt of the first cartridge assembly within the first opening and within the first receptacle of the chassis assembly of the diffuser;
wherein the second cartridge assembly further includes a second handle pivotably connected to the second diffuser cap and adapted to facilitate the removable receipt of the second cartridge assembly within the second opening and within the second receptacle of the chassis assembly of the diffuser;
wherein the diffuser is cylindrical;
wherein the first and second cartridge assemblies are:
spaced apart a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the diffuser; and
equally distributed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis at the first radial distance;

and
wherein the first and second air pumps are:
spaced apart a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis, the second radial distance being different from the first radial distance; and
circumferentially offset from the first and second cartridge assemblies, respectively, at the second radial distance.