IMPROVEMENTS IN RESPIRATORS OR INHALERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, OLIVER IMRAY, of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RESPIRATORS OR
INHALERS" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
a
This Invention relates to the apparatus employed for inhaling medicated vapors
or purified air, commonly termed inhalers or respirators. These, as heretofore
constructed, are objectionable in several particulars, they do not ensure
comfortable and close fit on the face of the wearer; nor do they prevent
accumulation of the condensed breath or vapors, nor give free and unobstructed
inspiration and expiration through independent or different apertures.
This Invention, designed to overcome the defects of ordinary inhalers or
respirators, consists essentially in the combination of two perforated plates or
sections forming between them a chamber that may be filled with an absorbent
packing, charged or not with a medicated fluid. The inner plate is made of soft
or flexible india rubber or of a plate having a flexible rim or flange that fits
closely to the face; and the outer plate is made of a hard material fitting closely
and air tight to the rim of the inner section. The air openings are so arranged or
shaped as to retard passage of air through then. The apparatus may have two
independent chambers, fitting respectively over the mouth and nostrils of the
wearer, with openings controlled by valves arranged in the upper chamber near
the nostrils, so that expiration must take place through these openings, thus
guarding against accumulation of condensed vapors, and preventing contamination
of the packing.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the construction and arrangement of
respirators or inhalers according to this Invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the apparatus. Fig. 2 shews the
inner plate. Fig. is a vertical section shewing the two plates put together
forming chambers which may contain absorbent packing. Fig. 4 is a front view
and Fig. 5 a perspective view of a construction having an attachable nose piece.
Drine for 1

page_text: Fig. 6 is a perspective of the outer plate adapted to be joined to the plate shewn
in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of an inhaler or respirator having an inner
elastic plate with independent mouth and nose chambers, the latter provided with
expiration openings controlled by valves. Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, inner
and outer front views of the apparatus shewn in Fig. 7-Fig. 11 is a detail view of
the valves in Fig. 7.
The inner plate 1 and the outer plate 2 are fitted together. The inner plate 1
is a curved plate of flexible india rubber having a flexible projecting border or
rim 3, which fits around the mouth of the wearer as in Figs. 5 and 10 or around
the mouth and nose as in Figs. 1, 3. and 7. The plate itself may be made of hard
vulcanized rubber, metal, celluloid or other rigid material but it must have an
elastic flange or rim 3, to insure a close and comfortable fit on the face of the
wearer, and to prevent passage of air except through the proper channels. The
outer. plate 2 is made with a rim 4 on its inner face so that, when it is fitted
against the inner plate, two chambers 5 and 6 are formed between the two plates,
or a single chamber only as in Fig. 10. The chambers between the two plates may
contain a packing 8 of absorbent material which may be charged with medicated
liquid.
Openings 9 are formed through the inner plate 1, small enough to exclude dust
or foreign substances, and similar openings 10, are made in the outer plate 2.
These perforations are made oblique, those through the one plate slanting in
directions opposite to those through the other, so that the air cannot pass directly
to the mouth and nostrils, but is somewhat obstructed in its passage and has time
to become impregnated with the medicinal substance held in the packing 8, before
it passes to the mouth and nostrils. Through holes in the plate are passed
strings or elastic cords 13, which hold the two plates together and fasten the
apparatus to the head of the wearer. This fastening may be as shewn in Fig. 9 a
band 14 having a hook to connect with the band or the looped cord 13 after being
passed round the back part of the head. Instead of making the nose portion in
one piece with the mouth portion it may be separate '16 as shewn in Fig. 4, having
dowel pins 17, that fit into holes in the rim 3. In the construction shewn in
Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, the upper or nose chamber is quite separated from the mouth
chamber and is provided with valve openings 19 through which expiration takes
place. In these openings 19 are fitted with scrow caps short sockets 20 containing
valves 21 that open outwards to permit passage of the exhaled breath. The air
for inspiration, being admitted through the perforations 10 in the plates, may
become charged, with medicated vapors or merely purified by its passage through
the packing 8. The openings 10 instead of being inclined as in Fig.
are made
straight but arranged in groups that do not face each other, as is shewn in Fig. 7.
When the expiration openings are controlled by valves as described, there is no
deposition of condensed vapors, and the exhaled air escapes without passing
through and contaminating the absorbent packing.
The parts of an inhaler or respirator constructed as above described can be.
readily separated and put together, and thus they can be easily cleaned and fresh
absorbent or medicated packing can be placed in the chambers. The inhaler should
be made of vulcanized india rubber or materials not liable to absorb or to be:
affected by the medicinal substances that may be employed. While the chief use
of the apparatus described is for treatment of lung and throat diseases by
administering medicated vapors, it is to be understood that it may be employed.
for the ordinary purposes of a respirator, without medicating the absorbent
material which will serve for filtering or warming the inspired air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
☐
1. The construction of an inhaler or respirator of an inner perforated plate
having a flexible rim. and an outer perforated and rimmed plate fitted against the

page_text: inner plate to form a space or chamber between the two plates for the reception of
absorbent packing, substantially as described.
2. The modified construction wherein the part fitting over the nose of the
wearer has outwardly opening expiration valves, substantially and for the purpose
Bet forth.