Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an inhaler assist device shaped and dimensioned for supporting a metered dose inhaler and an associated anti-static chamber in a manner allowing for assisted compression of the metered dose inhaler to dispense a dosage therefrom. The inhaler assist device includes an L-shaped housing assembly pivotally connected to a lever actuator. The housing assembly includes a planar base wall and lateral side walls extending from base wall, wherein the base wall and the lateral side walls create a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receipt of the metered dose inhaler and an anti-static chamber.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an inhaler assist device which supports different types of anti-static chambers. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Because metered dose inhalers are often difficult to operate various devices for employing leverage to enhance the actuation of the metered dose inhalers have been developed. Often anti-static chambers must be used with metered dose inhalers making it cumbersome and even more difficult for operators to handle. The prior art devices have shortcomings which the present invention attempts to address through the development of the inhaler assist device useable with an anti-static chamber. In particular, the present invention addresses holding the anti-static chamber while aiding in actuation of a metered dose inhaler. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device shaped and dimensioned for supporting a metered dose inhaler and an associated anti-static chamber in a manner allowing for assisted compression of the metered dose inhaler to dispense a dosage therefrom. The inhaler assist device includes an L-shaped housing assembly pivotally connected to a lever actuator. The housing assembly includes a first housing leg and a second housing leg. The first housing leg includes a first end and a second end and the second housing leg includes a first end and a second end. The respective second ends of the first housing leg and the second housing leg are fixedly connected, and a first end of the lever actuator is pivotally secured to the first end of the first housing leg defining a hinge therebetween. The housing assembly includes a planar base wall and lateral side walls extending from base wall, wherein the base wall and the lateral side walls create a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receipt of the metered dose inhaler and an anti-static chamber clip. The lever actuator includes a planar base wall and lateral side walls extending from the base wall. 
         [0006]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the lever actuator also includes a plurality of support cross members extending downwardly from the base wall and between the lateral side walls. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the lever actuator includes first, second, and third support cross members extending downwardly from the base wall and between the lateral side walls. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the first cross member is formed at the first end of the lever actuator, the second cross member is formed for engagement with the metered dose inhaler, and the third cross member is formed on a side of the second cross member opposite the first cross member. 
         [0009]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the third cross member extends inwardly further than the first cross member or the second cross member. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device including a concave recess shaped and dimensioned for positioning of the metered dose inhaler, the concave recess being defined by the first cross member and the third cross member of the lever actuator, the base wall of the lever actuator between the first cross member and the third cross member, and the lateral side walls of the lever actuator between the first cross member and the third cross member. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the concave recess is further defined by the base wall and lateral side walls of the first housing leg adjacent the first end of the first housing leg. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the anti-static chamber clip is composed of first, second, third and fourth connection points shaped and dimensioned for frictionally engaging the anti-static chamber. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the first and second connection points are upper edges of the lateral side walls as they extend along the second housing leg. 
         [0014]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the third and fourth connection points are formed along the lateral side walls extending along the first housing leg and are inwardly extending members defining substantially linear contact surfaces substantially parallel to and facing the first and second connection points. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inhaler assist device wherein the spacing between the first, second, third and fourth connection points is such that a first end of the anti-static chamber may be positioned therein with the first, second, third and fourth connection points are shaped and dimensioned for frictionally engaging the anti-static chamber. 
         [0016]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention with an anti-static chamber attached. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention with an anti-static chamber attached. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
         [0021]    In accordance with the present invention, and with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , 
         [0000]    an inhaler assist device  10  is disclosed. The inhaler assist device  10  includes a housing assembly  16  pivotally connected to a lever actuator  18 . The housing assembly  16  provides support for a metered dose inhaler  12  and anti-static chamber  14  as will be discussed below in greater detail. The lever actuator  18  includes a pivot first end  20  and a free second end  22 . 
         [0022]    The housing assembly  16  is substantially L-shaped and includes a first housing leg  24  and a second housing leg  26 . The first housing leg  24  includes a first end  30  and a second end  32 . The second housing leg  26  includes a first end  34  and a second end  36  which is common with second end  32  of first housing leg  24 . The respective second ends  32 ,  36  of the first housing leg  24  and the second housing leg  26  are fixedly connected, and the pivot first end  20  of the lever actuator  18  is pivotally secured to the first end  30  of the first housing leg  24  by a pivot pin  21  to form a hinge  23 . 
         [0023]    The hinge  23  pivotally connects the first housing leg  24  with the lever actuator  18 . A concave recess  38  is formed at the meeting point of the first housing leg  24  and the lever actuator  18 . As will be discussed below in greater detail, the concave recess  38  is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the base or second end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  in a friction fit relationship. The concave recess  38  may be thought of as the combination and mating of the first end  30  of the first housing leg  24  and the first end  20  of the lever actuator  18 . 
         [0024]    More particularly, the housing assembly  16 , in particular, the first housing leg  24  and the second housing leg  26 , includes a base wall  54  with an inwardly facing surface  56  and an externally facing surface  58 . The housing assembly  16  also includes lateral side walls  70  extending inwardly from base wall  54 . As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, the combination of the base wall  54  and the lateral side walls  70  creates a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receipt of the metered dose inhaler  12  in the first housing leg  24 . The lateral side walls  70  include a slot  120  which functions to allow the lateral side walls  70  to flex outward when an anti-static chamber  14  is press fit into the inhaler assist device  10 . 
         [0025]    Similarly, the lever actuator  18  includes a base wall  44  with an inwardly facing surface  46  and an externally facing top surface  48 . The lever actuator  18  also includes lateral side walls  72  extending from base wall  44 . As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, the combination of the base wall  44  and the lateral side walls  72  defines a generally U-shaped cavity. The lever actuator  18  also includes support cross members  74 ,  76 ,  78  extending downwardly from the base wall  44  and between the lateral side walls  72 . The first cross member  74  is formed at the tip of the first end  20  of the lever actuator  18 . A second cross member  76  is formed for engagement with the second end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  and a third cross member  78  is formed on the side of the second cross member  76  opposite the first cross member  74 . The third cross member  78  extends inwardly further than the first or second cross members  74 ,  76  and functions to retain the second end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  in position within the lever actuator  18  by preventing lateral movement of the second end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  toward the free second end  22  of the lever actuator  18 . 
         [0026]    With the foregoing in mind, the concave recess  38  in which the second end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  is positioned is defined by the first and third cross members  74 ,  78  of the lever actuator  18 , the base wall  44  of the lever actuator  18  between the first and third cross members  74 ,  78 , and the lateral side walls  72  of the lever actuator  18  between the first and third cross members  74 ,  78 . In addition, the concave recess  38  is further defined by the base wall  54  and lateral side walls  70  of the first housing leg  24  adjacent the first end  30  thereof. 
         [0027]    The metered dose inhaler  12  is positioned, and frictionally fit, within the cavity defined by the base wall  54  and the lateral side walls  70  of the housing assembly  16  along the first housing leg  24 , and extends between the concave recess  38  and the second housing leg  26  such that the application of pressure forcing the lever actuator  18  toward the second housing leg  26  will cause compression of the metered dose inhaler  12  to thereby dispense a dosage therefrom. Proper positioning of the metered dose inhaler  12  between the concave recess  38  and the housing assembly  16  is achieved by the provision of a shelf  80  at the junction of the first housing leg  24  and the second housing leg  26 . The shelf  80  includes an upper support surface  82  shaped and dimensioned for engaging the dispensing, or first, end  62  of the metered dose inhaler  12 . 
         [0028]    In addition to housing the metered dose inhaler  12 , the housing assembly  16  is particularly shaped and dimensioned to engage and retain an anti-static chamber  14  required to be used with a metered dose inhaler  12  by many users, with the metered dose inhaler  12  secured thereto. Anti-static chambers come in different shapes and sizes as such the inhaler assist device  10  is design to hold at least two different brands of anti-static chambers. As shown in the figures, and as those skilled in the art will certainly appreciate, the anti-static chamber  14  is frictionally secured to the dispensing end  62  of the metered dose inhaler  12 . The anti-static chamber  14  is secured thereto at a transverse orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the metered dose inhaler  12 . 
         [0029]    Attachment of the anti-static chamber  14 , and ultimately the metered dose inhaler  12 , to the housing assembly  16  is achieved by providing the housing assembly  16  with an anti-static chamber clip  50 . The anti-static chamber clip  50  includes a clip recess  100 . The anti-static chamber clip  50  is generally composed of four connection points comprised of  51   a,    53   a,  and  51   b,    53   b  (opposite  51   a  and  53   a,  respectively) shaped and dimensioned for frictionally engaging the coupled end  15  of the anti-static chamber  14 . The four connection points  51   a,    51   b,    53   a,    53   b  include first and second connection points  51   a,    51   b  formed in lateral side walls  70  in the second housing leg  26  below the slot  120 . In particular, the lateral side walls  70  include upper edges  90  which are parallel to each other and extend along a path substantially parallel to the a longitudinal axis of the second housing leg  26 . Consequently, the upper edges  90  define support surfaces, that is, connection points  51   a,    51   b,  upon which the outer wall of the anti-static chamber  14  may rest. 
         [0030]    The anti-static chamber clip  50  is further provided with third and fourth connection points  53   a,    53   b  defined by protrusions  57   a  and  57   b  on an upper portion of lateral side walls  70  formed extending along the first housing leg  24  above the slot  120 . The third and fourth connection points  53   a,    53   b  formed by protrusions  57   a,    57   b  define substantially linear contact surfaces  95  substantially parallel to and facing the first and second connection points  51   a,    51   b.  As such, the upper edges  90  and contact surfaces  95  of protrusions  57   a,    57   b  define the clip recess  100  in which the anti-static chamber  14  is positioned for coupling with the inhaler assist device  10 . The spacing between the first, second, third and fourth connection points  51   a,    51   b,    53   a,    53   b  is such that the first end of the anti-static chamber  14  may be positioned therein with the connection points frictionally engaging the outer wall of the coupled end  15  of the anti-static chamber  14 . 
         [0031]    As briefly mentioned above, the lateral side walls  70  include a slot  120  which permits the anti-static chamber clip  50  to flex outward such that the four connection points  51   a,    51   b,    53   a  and  53   b  can grip a larger diameter anti-static chamber  14 . As shown, the lateral side walls  70  are not flexed, but due to the slots  120  the lateral side walls  70  can flex outward, that is, with the second housing leg  26  moving away from the lever actuator  18 , to accommodate a larger diameter anti-static chamber  14  which are still retained by the four connection points  51   a,    51   b,    53   a  and  53   b.    
         [0032]    Turning now to the lever actuator  18 , the first end  20  of the lever actuator  18  is pivotally connected to the first end  30  of the first housing leg  24 . As mentioned above, the junction of the first end  20  of the lever actuator  18  with the first end  30  of the first housing leg  24  defines the concave recess  38  shaped and dimensioned for placement of the base, or second, end  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  while the dispensing, or first, end  62  of the metered dose inhaler  12  extends downward substantially in parallel alignment with the first housing leg  24  which ultimately joins the second end  36  of the second housing leg  26 . While the concave recess  38  supports the base  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12 , the lever actuator  18  is provided with an inwardly extending second cross member  76  for engaging the base  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12 . 
         [0033]    In practice, the first end of the anti-static chamber  14  (with the metered dose inhaler  12  secured thereto) is secured to the anti-static chamber clip  50  such that the longitudinal axis of the anti-static chamber  14  is in substantially parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the second housing leg  26  as it extends from its first end  34  to its second end  36 . The metered dose inhaler  12  is thereby positioned within the recess defined by the base wall  54  and lateral side walls  70  along the second housing leg  26 . 
         [0034]    With the anti-static chamber  14  securely coupled to the housing assembly  16 , the lever actuator  18  is rotated toward the second housing leg  26  until such a time that the base  60  of the metered dose inhaler  12  seats within the concave recess  38 . The distance from the upper support surface  82  of the shelf  80  formed at the second end  36  of the second housing leg  26  to the base wall  44  of the lever actuator  18  adjacent the concave recess  38  is substantially the same as the length of the metered dose inhaler  12 . As such the metered dose inhaler  12  fits snuggly between the second end  36  of the second housing leg  26  and the concave recess  38 , in particular, the second cross member  76  of the lever actuator  18 , when the lever actuator  18  is in its starting position (that is, the positioned of the lever actuator  18  when the metered dose inhaler  12  is loaded but the metered dose inhaler  12  has not been actuated for dispensing of a dose). 
         [0035]    With the lever actuator  18  in its start position and the metered dose inhaler  12  positioned between the second end  36  of the second housing leg  26  and the concave recess  38  adjacent the first end  20  of the lever actuator  18 , the user places his or her mouth over the discharge opening  68  of the anti-static chamber  14  and squeezes the second end  22  of lever actuator  18  toward the second housing leg  26 . This will cause the application of pressure to along the length of the metered dose inhaler  12  causing the discharge of medicine therefrom. 
         [0036]    While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.