Year: 1886

page_text: be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide an inhaler for containing menthol
crystals, or the like substance to be used as a medicament, and my improvements
in such an inhaler relate to means for confining the menthol within the inhaling
tube so that air may always pass freely through the body of menthol and then be
inhaled.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my improvements
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing a modification in which perforated stoppers
are dispensed with.
Figure 4 is a section of Figure 3, showing the body of menthol provided with
several air holes artificially made and
Figure 5 is another section shewing but a single air opening in the body of
menthol within the tube.
Referring to the letters upon figures 1 and 2 of these drawings, A indicates a
tube which may be of any desired size or length but preferably for convenience
about 4 or 5 inches long, and about half an inch in diameter.
This tube may be
formed of glass, hard rubber, celluloid, or of any suitable material.
B indicates a hollow or open stopper which may be of cork, wood, sponge, fibre,
or any suitable material provided with one or more air passages.
Such a stopper
is inserted in each end of the tube a little distance beyond the extreme ends as
illustrated, and is covered when necessary with a perforated covering or
reticulated fabric C, adapted to permit the passage of air such for instance
as fine wire cloth.
a
D indicates a spiral wire which may be placed within the central part of the
tube where the menthol crystals E are contained, for the purpose of keeping them
from packing and in a loose condition. Instead of this wire being spiral it may be
angular, or of any suitable form calculated to break up the mass of menthol and
keep the particles sufficiently separated to always allow the passage of air through
them; and my improved inhaler may be used without any such central wire
separator.

page_text: F. G. indicate corks, or other stoppers, for stopping the extreme outer ends of
the tube when it is not being used for inhaling purposes.
H indicates a silk cord or the like which is connected to each outer stopper and
may be tied around the tube for convenience of holding the stoppers F G, and to
prevent their loss when they are removed for the purpose of using the inhaler.
To use the inhaler it is only necessary to remove the outer corks F G, and
inhale the air from one end of it, the open stoppers B, and their open or reticulated
end coverings and the loose condition of the menthol or like loose medicinal
substance in the body of the tube, always permitting the air to pass freely through
the tube into the nostrils.
Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5 which show modifications of my improved
inhaler in which I dispense with the perforated or open stoppers B, and provido
for holding the body of menthol in place within the tube without the use of such
open stoppers. A indicates a tube, and F G indicato ordinary corks for stopping
the tube when the inhaler is not in use as already described, which are attached to
the tube by means of a cord H. In this instance the body of menthol E is not in
loose crystals and porous so that air will readily pass through its mass, but the
crystalline body of menthol, or like medicament, is solid and adheres to the interior
of the walls of the tube, and is provided artificially with one or more air holes
extending through it in the direction of the menthol of the tube, as shewn in
Figures 4 and 5. In order to form these air openings, whether one or more I insert
within the tube small rods or wires, one or more, as the case may be, and melt the
menthol and pour it into the tube around these small cores or matrixes and then
withdraw them, which leaves the air holes through the body of menthol within
the tube. The body of menthol in this instance adheres to the inner surface of
the tube, and forms a solid mass, except the said artificial openings, or air passages
formed through it; hence no end stoppers, for the purpose of holding the menthol
in place, are necessary. But the stoppers used are merely the ordinary stoppers to
close the tube when not in use. These stoppers are not necessary to the use of the
inhaler, but are preferable to prevent evaporation when not in use.
Instead of pouring the melted menthol into the tube and forming one or moro
artificial air passages in the manner just described, I may form the solid body of
menthol with its air opening or openings in a mould or otherwise, and then insert
it in the tube and secure it there in various ways, as by an open spring ring at one
or both ends which will bear outward against the inner surfaces of the tube and
hold the solid perforate mass in place, as shown in Fig. 4 or an open stopper or
stoppers, such as described above might be employed or two pieces of wire bent and
crossed as shewn in Fig. 5, and operating very much like a spring ring might be
used as well as numerous other holding devices to keep the solid perforate mass of
medicable substance in place. If desired the perforate body could be placed in the
tube, and then melted menthol or the like dropped in to cool and act like solder to
hold the mass in place or the outside of the perforate body, or the inside of the
tube could have some adhesive substance applied to it to hold the body in place.
A space groove or grooves around the outside of the solid body of medicament
might be left or formed for air passages.
One or both ends of the tube may be drawn in or reduced in diameter and in
cases where one end is thus made smaller, and the perforate body is formed outside
the tube and then inserted into it, and not made to adhere of itself only one
holding device would be necessary, the reduced end serving as an abutting support
.or stay for one end of the body of medicament The details of means for securing
the perforate body in place in the tube however are not of the material substance
of my invention and are only mentioned to afford manufacturers a choice of means
to be employed for keeping the solid perforate body in place. I, prefer the means
first described.
I do not confine my improvements to the exact details shown for these may be
varied without departing from the substance of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it
understood that I am aware that inhaling tubes have been known before, and I do
not claim to be the first inventor broadly of an inhaling tube: but what I clam as
new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is
1. The combination with an inhaling tube A of the hollow or open stoppers B
covered with perforated or reticulated fabric substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with an inhaling tube A of the hollow or open stoppers, B
covered with reticulated fabric, and the spiral, or the like, menthol separator in
the body of the tube, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of an inhaling tube open at both ends for use (preferably)
having stoppers for closing it when not in use) and having a body of loose
crystalline substance or medicament in its middle through which air will pass, held
in place by open stoppers B which will also permit the passage of air substantially
as set forth.
4. An improved inhaler, consisting of a tube open at both ends for use
(preferably having stoppers for closing it when not in use) and having a body
of solid medicament held within it and provided with one or more artificial air
passages, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.