Abstract:
An oxygen breathing apparatus with a spectacle kit comprising a plurality of frame members of eyeglasses, such as a tubular temple member an tubular endpiece member, and a hinged joint through which the tubular members are rotatably and hermetically connected with each other to establish a common joint portion of these tubular members By providing a thick-walled connection portion in each of the tubular members, the apparatus is free from any deformation of the common joint portion of the tubular members even when folding/unfolding operation of the temple member is repetitively performed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an oxygen breathing apparatus used to deliver oxygen to a person having lungs of limited capacity due to lung damage which require supplemental oxygen to assist in everyday life, wherein oxygen is supplied from an oxygen supply source such as an oxygen concentrator, a compressed oxygen supply tank and the like to nostrils of the person through a pair of cannulas (i.e., medical tubular members). More particularly, the present invention relates to such an oxygen breathing apparatus, which is integrally formed with a spectacle kit (i.e., eye-glasses) to assume a spectacle shape in appearance, and is substantially free from any deformation of a common joint portion (described later) of the spectacle kit.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Heretofore, it has been known to provide a spectacle-shaped oxygen breathing apparatus, which is excellent in appearance and capable of steadily supplying oxygen to a person wearing the breathing apparatus without any fear that a pair of cannulas having been inserted into nostrils of the person drop out of the nostrils in use.  
           [0005]    Such a conventional spectacle-shaped oxygen breathing apparatus is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As is clear from these drawings, the spectacle kit of the conventional breathing apparatus has ones or all of its frame members constructed of tubular members to permit its temple members  2  and its corresponding endpiece members  3  to air-communicate with each other. As shown in FIG. 8, as to the spectacle kit, an opening end portion  21  of the temple member  2  is hermetically connected with a small-diameter cannula  4  which extends from an oxygen supply source (not shown). On the other hand, the endpiece member  3  has its opening end portion  31  hermetically connected with a nostril cannula  5 . The breathing apparatus is easy in wearing, and excellent in appearance when worn by a person. Further, in the spectacle kit of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, the temple members  2  are connected with the endpiece members  2  through hinged joints  6 . This makes it possible for the person wearing the breathing apparatus to fold the apparatus during non-use thereof. The thus folded apparatus is capable of reducing its size to realize easy storage of the apparatus. This is very advantageous to the person using the breathing apparatus.  
           [0006]    In the hinged joints  6  of the spectacle kit, as is clear from FIG. 9, the tubular endpiece member  3  is rotatably connected with the corresponding tubular temple members  3 . During non-use of the breathing apparatus, when the temple members  2  of the spectacle kit are unfolded, a sleeve-like insertion convex portion  33  of each endpiece member  3  is hermetically inserted into an open end portion  22  of the corresponding temple member  2 , which enables oxygen to be transferred from the temple member  2  to the endpiece member  3  of the spectacle kit without any leakage of oxygen.  
           [0007]    However, the conventional breathing apparatus suffers from the following problems, which will be now described in detail.  
           [0008]    It is necessary for the breathing apparatus to supply oxygen, at a relatively small constant rate, from the oxygen supply source (not shown) to the nostril cannulas  5 . Due to this, each of the endpiece members  3  and the temple members  2  is constructed from a small-diameter tubular member, a diameter of which is substantially equal to that of the small-diameter cannula  4 . Further, in order to keep excellencies of the breathing apparatus in appearance, weight and fittingness, the small-diameter cannula  4  is constructed of a tubular member with the thinnest possible wall thickness.  
           [0009]    Due to this, the open end portion  22  of the temple member  2 , into which the sleeve-like convex portion  33  of the endpiece member  3  is hermetically inserted, is also thin in wall thickness. Consequently, in inserting the sleeve-like convex portion  33  of the endpiece member  3  into the open end portion  22  of the temple member  2 , the sleeve-like convex portion  33  of the endpiece member  3  is brought into frictional contact with the open end portion  22  of the temple member  2 . When such frictional contact is repeatedly performed in use, a stop screw  61  of the hinged joint  6 , through which the endpiece member  3  is rotatably connected with the temple member  2 , is often loosened. When the stop screw  61  is loosened, as is clear from FIG. 9, the open end portion  22  of the temple member  2  is flared outwardly to cause oxygen leakage. There is also a fear that the sleeve-like convex portion  33  of the endpiece member  3  is deformed or battered down to prevent passage of oxygen through the portion  33 . The above troubles in passage of oxygen make it impossible for the breathing apparatus to supply oxygen to the person at a necessary rate prescribed by a doctor in charge, which often leads to the person&#39;s anoxia such as cyanosis and like damages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Under such circumstances, the present invention was made to solve the problems inherent in the prior art. Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spectacle-shaped oxygen breathing apparatus, which is free from any deformation of the common joint portion of a spectacle kit used in the apparatus.  
           [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, the above object is accomplished by providing:  
           [0012]    In an oxygen breathing apparatus provided with a spectacle kid, wherein: the spectacle kid is constructed of a plurality of frame members of eyeglasses, ones or all of which members are constructed of hollow tubular members; the frame members comprises an endpiece member ( 3 ) and a temple member ( 2 ); the endpiece member ( 3 ) is air-communicated with the temple member ( 2 ); the temple member ( 2 ) has one ( 21 ) of a pair of its opposite open end portions ( 21 ,  22 ) air-communicated with a cannula ( 4 ) connected with an oxygen supply source; the endpiece member ( 3 ) has one ( 31 ) of a pair of its opposite open end portions ( 31 ,  32 ) air-communicated with a nostril cannula ( 5 ); and, the temple member ( 2 ) is rotatably connected with the endpiece member ( 3 ) through a hinged joint ( 6 ), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT:  
           [0013]    each of the temple member ( 2 ) and the endpiece member ( 3 )  
           [0014]    has the other ( 22 ,  32 ) of their opposite open end portions, which is adjacent to the hinged joint ( 6 ), constructed of a thick-walled connection portion ( 24 ,  34 ) provided with a contact end surface ( 25 ,  35 );  
           [0015]    the thick-walled connection portion ( 24 ) of the temple member ( 2 ) is provided with a concave portion ( 27 );  
           [0016]    the thick-walled connection portion ( 34 ) of the endpiece member ( 3 ) is provided with a convex portion ( 37 ) which is hermetically received in the concave portion ( 27 ) of the temple member ( 2 ) in an insertion manner to establish air-communication between the temple member ( 2 ) and the endpiece member ( 3 ) when the contact end surfaces ( 25 ,  35 ) of both the temple member ( 2 ) and the endpiece member ( 3 ) are brought into press-contact with each other to form a common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 ) of the tubular members ( 2 ,  3 );  
           [0017]    whereby the common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 ) of the tubular members ( 2 ,  3 ) is prevented from being damaged in use.  
           [0018]    In the oxygen breathing apparatus having the above construction, preferably the hinged joint ( 6 ) is of a spring-biased type.  
           [0019]    The hinged joint of such a spring-biased type makes it possible for the person to perform folding/unfolding operation of the temple member ( 2 ) of the spectacle kid in an easy and steady manner, without damaging the common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 ) of these tubular members ( 2 ,  3 ). Particularly, in unfolding the temple member ( 2 ), a biasing force exerted by the hinged joint ( 6 ) of the spring-biased type may forcibly keep the common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 ) of these tubular members ( 2 ,  3 ) in an air-tightly sealed state, which ensures a steady and constant supply of oxygen at a prescribed rate to the person wearing the oxygen breathing apparatus of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the oxygen breathing apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a partially broken essential part of the oxygen breathing apparatus, illustrating a folded state of the spectacle kit of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a partially broken essential part of the oxygen breathing apparatus, illustrating an unfolded state of the spectacle kit of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the essential part of the breathing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a further partially broken essential part of the oxygen breathing apparatus, illustrating the folded state of the spectacle kit of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a further partially broken essential part of the oxygen breathing apparatus, illustrating the unfolded state of the spectacle kit of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a further partially broken essential part of the oxygen breathing apparatus, illustrating the fully unfolded state of the spectacle kit of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the conventional oxygen breathing apparatus; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinged joint of the spectacle kit of the conventional oxygen breathing apparatus shown in FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The best modes for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail using embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  1  to  3  show a first embodiment of an oxygen breathing apparatus of the present invention, which is substantially similar in construction to a conventional one with the exception of an essential part of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]    As is clear from FIG. 1, ones or all of a plurality of frame members of a spectacle kit (i.e., eyeglasses) of the oxygen breathing apparatus of the present invention are constructed of hollow tubular members, including a pair of temple members  2  and a pair of endpiece members  3 . Each temple member  2  is air-communicated with each endpiece member  2 .  
         [0033]    The temple member  2  has one  21  of a pair of its opposite open end portions  21 ,  22  air-communicated with a cannula  4  connected with an oxygen supply source (not shown). On the other hand, the endpiece member  3  has one  31  of a pair of its opposite open end portions  31 ,  32  air-communicated with a nostril cannula  5 .  
         [0034]    The temple member  2  is rotatably connected with the endpiece member  3  through a hinged joint  6 . More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the temple member  2  is provided with a thick-walled connection portion  24 . This connection portion  24  is provided with a contact end surface  25  and a hollow section  26  which is air-communicated with the opposite end portion  21  of the temple member  2 .  
         [0035]    On the other hand, the endpiece member  3  is provided with a contact end surface  35  and a thick-walled connection portion  34 . The connection portion  34  is provided with a hollow section  36 . This hollow section  36  is air-communicated with both the opposite end portion  31  of the endpiece member  3  and the corresponding hollow section  26  of the eyepiece member  2 .  
         [0036]    The thick-walled connection portion  34  of the endpiece member  3  is disposed adjacent to the hinged joint  6  and provided with a convex portion  37  extending axially outward. On the other hand, the thick-walled connection portion  24  of the temple member  2  is provided with a concave portion  27  which is capable of hermetically receiving therein the insertion convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  in an insertion manner to establish air-communication between the temple member  2  and the endpiece member  3  when the contact end surfaces  25 ,  35  of both the temple member  2  and the endpiece member  3  are brought into press-contact with each other to form a “common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 )” of these members  2 ,  3 .  
         [0037]    In use, there is substantially no difference between the apparatus of the present invention and the conventional one in construction with the exception of the “common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 )” of the present invention. Due to the presence of the concept of the “common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 )” of the present invention, the apparatus of the present invention is improved in reliability relative to the conventional apparatus, because it is possible for the apparatus of the present invention to supply oxygen to a person wearing the apparatus in a steady manner without fail due to the provision of the “common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 )”, which is constructed of both the convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  and the corresponding concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  capable of hermetically receiving therein the insertion convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  in an insertion manner in a condition in which the contact end surfaces  25 ,  35  are brought into direct press-contact with each other.  
         [0038]    More specifically, in the apparatus of the present invention, when the convex portion  37  of the thick-walled connection portion  34  of the endpiece member  3  is inserted into the corresponding concave portion  27  of the temple member  2 , the contact end surfaces  25  of the temple member  2  is brought into direct press-contact with the corresponding contact end surface  37  of the endpiece member  3 , without having the convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  brought into direct-contact with the corresponding concave portion  27  of the temple member  2 . Due to this, in the apparatus of the present invention, there is no fear that the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  is deformed or outwardly flared by repeated insertion of the corresponding convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  into the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  in use. This contributes remarkably to prevention of loosening of the stop screw  61  of the hinged joint  6  and therefore to improvement of the apparatus of the present invention in reliability.  
         [0039]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the hollow sections  26 ,  36  of the thick-walled connection portions  24 ,  34  of the frame members  2 ,  3  of the spectacle kit is equal in inner diameter to each of the temple member  2  and the endpiece member  3 . Consequently, there is no fear that these hollow sections  26 ,  36  prevent oxygen from steadily flowing through the apparatus.  
         [0040]    FIGS.  4  to  7  show a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, which is substantially similar in construction to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , with the exception of an essential part of the second embodiment. The essential part of the second embodiment resides in the hinged joint  6 , which is of a spring-biased type of this second embodiment.  
         [0041]    More specifically, as is in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , the temple member  2  and the endpiece member  3  are rotatably connected with each other through the hinged joint  6 , wherein the stop screw  61  of the hinged joint  6  passes through the thick-walled connection portions  24 ,  34  of the temple member  2  and the endpiece member  3  to rotatably connect these portions  24 ,  34  with each other through the stop screw  61 . The contact end surface  35  of the endpiece member  3  extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the endpiece member  3 . Extended outward in the longitudinal direction of the endpiece member  3  from the contact end surface  35  is the convex portion  37  a hollow section of which communicates with the hollow section  36  of the thick-walled portion of the endpiece member  3 . The convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  is hermetically fitted in the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  in an insertion manner when the temple member  2  is unfolded. In the thick-walled portion  24  of the temple member  2 , the concave portion  27  communicates with the hollow section  26  of the temple member  2 . Consequently, as is clear from FIG. 3, when the convex portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  is hermetically fitted in the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  in an insertion manner, the hollow section  36  of the endpiece member  3  is communicated with that  26  of the temple member  2 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIGS.  4  to  7 , the thick-walled connection portion  24  of the temple member  2  assumes a substantially rectangular-solid shape, and is provided with a spring storage portion  7  constructed of a longitudinal bore  71 . As is clear from in FIG. 7, this longitudinal bore  71  of the thick-walled connection portion  24  extends in parallel with the temple member  2 , and is opened at the front to the hinged joint  6  and closed at the rear to a distal end portion of the temple member  2 . Loosely received in the longitudinal bore  71  of the thick-walled connection portion  24  of the temple member  2  is a spring unit  8 .  
         [0043]    As is clear from FIG. 4, the spring unit  8  is constructed of: a tension coil spring  81 ; a spring support member  82  provided with an elongated shank portion and a disc-like spring stop portion  84  fixedly mounted on the distal end portion of the elongated shank portion, on which shank portion the tension coil spring  81  is coaxially and axially slidably mounted; a fitting member  83  through which the elongated shank portion of the spring support member  82  is axially slidably received in the opening of the longitudinal bore  71  of the thick-walled connection portion  24  of the temple member  2 ; and, a hinge connection member  62 , which is one of components of the hinged joint  6 , as is clear from FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, the disc-like stop portion  84  of the spring support member  82  is larger in outer diameter than the elongated shank portion of the same support member  82  and extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shank portion. The tension coil spring  81  is axiall movably mounted on the elongated shank portion of the spring support member  82  between the spring stop portion  84  of the spring support member  82  and the fitting member  83 . As is clear from FIG. 7, this fitting member  83  assumes a wedge-like shape in cross section to steadily hold the spring support member  82  inside the spring storage portion  7  constructed of the longitudinal bore  71 . In operation, under the influence of a resilient force exerted by the tension coil spring  81  of the hinged joint  6 , the hinge connection member  62  fixedly mounted on a front end portion of the spring support member  82  is pulled back toward the bottom of the spring storage portion  7 .  
         [0044]    The hinge connection member  62  is rotatably connected with another hinge connection member  63  through the stop screw  61  of the hinged joint  6 . Such another hinge connection member  63  is integrally formed with the thick-walled connection portion  34  of the endpiece member  3  to extend inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0045]    In the second embodiment of the present invention having the above construction, as is in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , there is no fear that the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  is deformed or outwardly flared by repeated insertion of the corresponding concave portion  37  of the endpiece member  3  into the concave portion  27  of the temple member  2  in use. As shown in FIG. 7, in unfolding the temple member  2 , the endpiece member  3  is pulled back through the hinge members  62 ,  63  under the influence of a resilient force exerted by the tension coil spring  81 , as described above, so that the convex portion  37  of the thick-walled connection portion of the endpiece member  3  is brought into contact with the corresponding concave portion  27  of the thick-walled connection portion  27  of the temple member  2 . Due to this, there is no fear that the endpiece member  3  is disengaged from the temple member  2  in use. This ensures a steady supply of oxygen at a prescribed rate to the person wearing the oxygen breathing apparatus of the present invention, without fail.  
         [0046]    Further, as is clear from the above description, the resilient force exerted by the tension coil spring  81  of the spring unit  8  may steadily hold the temple member  2  at either its folded state or its unfolded state. Due to this, the person may perform the folding and unfolding operation of the temple member  2  with less effort. The apparatus of the present invention is improved in repetitive accuracies in positioning when the temple member  2  is connected with the endpiece member  3 , which may effectively reduce the possibility of loosening of the stop screw  61 . Further, it is also possible for the apparatus of the present invention to have the temple member  2  unfolded further outwardly relative to the endpiece member  3  beyond its normal unfolded position. Also, in fittingness too, the apparatus of the present invention is improved. Since the resilient force exerted by the tension coil spring  81  of the spring unit  8  may steadily hold the temple member  2  at its folded state, there is no fear that the temple member  2  is accidentally unfolded during non-use of the apparatus. This facilitates storage of the apparatus during non-use of the apparatus.  
         [0047]    The effects of the oxygen breathing apparatus will be now described.  
         [0048]    As described above, in the apparatus of the present invention, there is no feat that the common joint portion ( 27 ,  37 ) formed between the endpiece member  3  and the temple member  2  are damaged or disconnected to cause leakage of oxygen in use. This ensures a steady supply of oxygen at a prescribed rate to the person wearing the apparatus of the present invention, without fail. Further, the apparatus of the present invention is also improved in reliability and in both the manufacturing cost and the maintenance cost.  
         [0049]    The hinge joint  6  of the spring-biased type may effectively improve the apparatus of the present invention in reliability, fittingness and easiness in use.  
         [0050]    Finally, the present application claims the Convention Priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-268027 filed on Sep. 13, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference.