Portable oxygen inhaler device

An inhaler device having an air canister with a nozzle aperture and a nozzle shaft, the nozzle shaft has a first and second end, the first end is external to the canister and the second end protrudes into the canister, wherein a lip is at the second end, a gasket sandwiched between the nozzle aperture and shaft, a gasket extension extending downwardly, a spray orifice in the shaft at the first end, an external ventilation hole in the shaft external to the canister, an internal ventilation hole in the shaft, and an air channel in the nozzle shaft fluidly connected to each spray orifice, external and internal ventilation hole, wherein the nozzle shaft can move between an open and closed position, the nozzle shaft is biased in the closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an oxygen canister for oxygen or mixtures thereof, more particularly to an oxygen canister with additional holes to allow ambient air to mix with the oxygen prior to delivery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medical professionals are typically the ones responsible for treating problems with shortness of breath and/or asthma, particularly in severe cases. The present invention features a novel portable oxygen inhaler device for delivering small amounts of oxygen. The device of the present invention can help individuals overcome bouts of shortness of breath (e.g., with or without the assistance of a medical professional). In some embodiments, the device of the present invention can also be used to help treat hangovers.

SUMMARY

The present invention features an inhaler device. In some embodiments, the device comprises an air canister having a nozzle aperture; a nozzle shaft disposed in the nozzle aperture, the nozzle shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end is external to the canister and the second end protrudes into the canister, wherein a lip is disposed at or near the second end of the nozzle shaft; a gasket sandwiched between the nozzle aperture and the nozzle shaft; a gasket extension extending downwardly from the gasket in the direction of the second end of the nozzle shaft, the gasket extension snugly surrounds a portion of the nozzle shaft; a spray orifice disposed in the nozzle shaft at or near the first end of the nozzle shaft; an external ventilation hole disposed in the nozzle shaft external to the canister and positioned below the spray orifice; an internal ventilation hole disposed in the nozzle shaft inside the canister and positioned above the lip; and an air channel disposed in the nozzle shaft fluidly connected to each the spray orifice, the external ventilation hole, and the internal ventilation hole; wherein the nozzle shaft can move between at least an open position and a closed position, the nozzle shaft is biased in the closed position caused by a spring disposed in between the gasket and the lip, wherein in the closed position the tension of the spring draws the lip and gasket toward each other causing the gasket extension to cover the internal ventilation hole, wherein in the open position the nozzle shaft is moved farther into the canister so as to slide the internal ventilation hole away from the gasket extension allowing air from the canister to enter the air channel via the internal ventilation hole.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a mouthpiece component, the external ventilation hole being disposed in the mouthpiece component. In some embodiments, the spray orifice is between about ⅛ to 1/16 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the spray orifice is between about 1/16 to 1/32 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the spray orifice is between about 1/32 to 1/64 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the ventilation holes are between about ⅛ to 1/16 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the ventilation holes are between about 1/16 to 1/32 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the ventilation holes are between about 1/32 to 1/64 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the air channel extends from at or near the first end of the nozzle shaft to at or near the second end of the nozzle shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1-6, the present invention features a novel portable oxygen inhaler device100for delivering small amounts of oxygen. The device100of the present invention comprises an air canister110for holding oxygen or a mixture thereof. Air canisters are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Disposed in the top of the air canister110(e.g., is a nozzle aperture128) is a nozzle shaft120having a first end121and a second end122. In some embodiments, a gasket126is sandwiched between the nozzle aperture128and the nozzle shaft120. The gasket126may help to prevent air from leaking out of the canister110(e.g., via the nozzle aperture128). The second end122of the nozzle shaft120protrudes into the canister110(e.g., seeFIG. 4,FIG. 5). A lip220is disposed at or near the second end122of the nozzle shaft120. A gasket extension320extends downwardly from the gasket122(e.g., in the direction of the inside of the canister110). The gasket extension320surrounds (e.g., snugly surrounds) a portion of the nozzle shaft120(e.g., seeFIG. 4,FIG. 5).

A spray orifice132is disposed in the nozzle shaft120, for example at or near the first end121of the nozzle shaft120. One or more external ventilation holes142(e.g., a first external ventilation hole142a, a second external ventilation hole142b) are disposed in the nozzle shaft120, e.g., above the canister110, external to the canister110, above the gasket126, etc. The external ventilation holes142may be positioned below the spray orifice132(e.g., the spray orifice132is closer to the first end121of the nozzle shaft120than the ventilation holes142). One or more internal ventilation holes242(e.g., a first internal ventilation hole242a, a second internal ventilation hole242b) are disposed in the nozzle shaft120, e.g., inside the canister110, below the gasket126, etc. The internal ventilation holes242are positioned above the lip220(e.g., seeFIG. 4).

An air channel150is disposed in the nozzle shaft120. The air channel150extends from at or near the first end121of the nozzle shaft120to at or near the second end122of the nozzle shaft120. The air channel150is fluidly connected to the spray orifice132, the external ventilation holes142, and the internal ventilation holes242.

The nozzle shaft120can move between multiple positions including but not limited to an open position (seeFIG. 4) and a closed position (seeFIG. 5). The nozzle shaft120is biased in the closed position caused by a spring250(e.g., tension spring) disposed in between the gasket126and the lip220(e.g., attached to the gasket126and the lip220). The tension of the spring250draws the lip220upwardly (e.g., toward the gasket126), causing the internal ventilation holes242to be covered by the gasket extension320. The gasket extension320prevents air from the canister110from entering the internal ventilation holes242. In some embodiments, in the closed position, the gasket extension320contacts the lip220. To move the nozzle shaft120to the open position, the nozzle shaft120is pressed into the canister110(e.g., pressed a certain distance into the canister110). Moving the nozzle shaft120in this manner slides the internal ventilation holes242away from the gasket extension320, allowing air from the canister110to enter the air channel150via the internal ventilation holes242. Ambient air can enter the air channel150via the external ventilation holes142(the ambient air can mix with the canister air in the air channel150). The mixture of air can exit the air channel150via the spray orifice312. A user can inhale the air from the spray orifice312. When the nozzle shaft120is released, the spring250causes the nozzle shaft120to return to the closed position.

The device100of the present invention may be constructed in an inhaler form. Inhalers are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the device100may comprise a generally L-shaped mouthpiece component510that stores the canister110and provides an end for inserting into a user's mouth (seeFIG. 6). The external ventilation holes142are disposed in the mouthpiece component510.

The device100of the present invention may be constructed in a variety of sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the spray orifice132and/or the ventilation holes142,242are between about ⅛ to 1/16 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the spray orifice132and/or the ventilation holes142,242are between about 1/16 to 1/32 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the spray orifice132and/or the ventilation holes142,242are between about 1/32 to 1/64 inches in diameter. The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned dimensions.

As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the ventilation holes142,242are about ⅛ inch (0.125 inches) include ventilation holes142,242that are between 0.1125 and 0.1375 inches in diameter.