Improvements in Inhalers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inhalers.
We, JUNIUS GARNETT SMITH, of No. 1, West 83rd Street, Manager, and
ELMER ELSWORTHI GARDNER, of No. 41, West 117th Street, Cashier, both in the
City, County, and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in inhalers used for medicating atmos-
pheric air and inhaling the same as a remedy for throat, lung, and catarrhal
effections; the object of our invention being to provide a simple, inexpensive,
and effective device of this character that will be automatically operated by the
respiration of the patient to permit the free inhalation and exhalation of the
medicated air, and so permitting the same to be used by the patient with equal
effect and comfort when either asleep or awake. This object we secure by means
of our novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth
in detail and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings-
Fig. 1 represents a view of our improved inhaler as in use, and
Figs. 2 and 3 represent enlarged detail views of portions of the same in
section.
To explain in detail,-1 represents the receptacle for containing the sponge,
cotton, or other absorbent adapted to be saturated with the medicine used, the
same as shown being filled with an absorbent cotton indicated at 2. This recep-
tacle 1, which for convenience of reference we will term the medicine receptacle,
is fitted with a removable cap or cover 3 for the purpose of permitting ready
access into the same, the said cap, as shown, being provided with an opening 4
through which the external or atmospheric air is drawn at the inhalation of the
patient into the receptacle 1 and through the saturated absorbent contained
therein. A flap valve 5, having its seat against the inner end wall of the cover 3
and being secured at one side thereof, is adapted to be automatically operated
to open at the inhalation of the patient and permit the external air to enter and
pass through the medicine receptacle, and be closed at the exhalation of the patient
to cause the exhaled air to pass out through certain outlet openings to be herein-
after described.
The receptacle 1 is provided with two tubular arms or extensions 6 G at
opposite sides thereof having openings communicating with its medicine con-
taining chamber. Over these arms are fitted the ends of two flexible tubes 7 7,
the opposite ends of which latter connect with two short tubular valve containing
sections 8 8. These sections 8 8 are preferably formed, as is also the receptacle 1,
of hard rubber, each of the same at that end opposite its connection with the
flexible tubes 7 having attached thereto a nipple 9, the latter being adapted to be
placed adjacent to or in the patient's nostrils when the inhaler is being used.
The sections 88 are cach provided at a point between their ends with a lateral
opening 10 through which the air exhaled by the patient is adapted to pass.
This opening 10, like the opening 4 in the medicine receptacle, is closed by a

page_text: The
flap valve 11, the latter in this instance however having its seat at the exterior
end of the opening so as to swing outward instead of inward like the valve 5.
The action of our improved inhaler when in use, in brief, is as follows:
nipples 9 being placed close to or in the patient's nostrils, the inspiration of the
patient simultaneously causes the valve 5 to open and the valves 11 to close, as
indicated by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the air will be drawn through
the opening 4 into the medicine receptacle and through the saturated absorbent
contained therein, and from thence through the tubes 7 into the nostrils of the
patient. On the patient exhaling, the valve 5 is closed and the valve 11 opened,
as indicated by dotted lines in said Figs. 2 and 3, to permit the exhaled air to
pass out through the openings 10. Such action and arrangement of the valves
insures the free passage of the air through the inhaler, and the discharge of the
exhaled air at a point between the nipples and the medicine chamber and distant
from the latter, whereby other than the passage of pure air through the saturated
absorbent is avoided.
In lieu of an absorbent being used as a means for holding the medicine
employed, it will be obvious that medicine in any suitable form may be placed
directly in the receptacle 1, an absorbent being shown as the most usual and
convenient way of holding the medicine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: :-
An inhaler, comprising a medicine receptacle having an air inlet opening,
an inhaling tube connecting with said receptacle and provided with a lateral
air discharge opening, and valves for opening and closing said inlet and dis-
charge openings at points with the medicine receptacle between the same,
operated by the respiration of the patient to simultaneously close one of the
openings as the other is opened, for the purpose set forth.
An inhaler, comprising a medicine receptacle provided with a removable
cover having an air inlet opening, a valve secured within the cover for opening
and closing said opening, two flexible tubes connecting at one end with said
medicine receptacle and at their opposite end with two non-flexible tubular
sections, said sections being provided with lateral air discharge openings, valves
for opening and closing the latter, and nipples connected with said tubular
sections substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of July 1800
JUNIUS GARNETT SMITH,
ELMER ELSWORTH GARDNER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.