Respironics, Inc.

Ivac Corporation

Fittraxx, Inc.

Lifecare International, Inc.

Eugene P Smith, Iii

Douglas R Ogden

Darwin B Dobson

Gregg D Keefe

Mark S Feuer

Robert R Boyd

A sealing and retaining arrangement for a humidifier with separable top and bottom members and an attaching arrangement for rigidly connecting a ventilator or other respiratory device to the top of the humidifier in a predetermined, fixed position. The sealing and retaining arrangement is designed for use between separable top and bottom members of a humidifier. The top and bottom are made of relatively rigid material and have overlapping or telescoping portions with a flexible, resilient seal extending therebetween. The seal also serves to positively retain the top and bottom together while in use. The attaching arrangement is designed to rigidly connect the ventilator or other respiratory device to the top of the humidifier in a predetermined, fixed position. This is accomplished by rigidly coupling the air outlet of the ventilator directly to the air inlet of the humidifier without any intervening, flexible hose.

Humidifier for a ventilator and an associated attachment

Humidifier for a ventilator

A half-nut block containing a threaded bore and a larger, overlapping, unthreaded bore is engaged with a lead screw. The larger bore overlaps the threaded bore so that effectively a half-nut results. The half-nut comprises a face having an acute angle in relation to the lead screw and this angled face contacts the inside of a bearing block within which the half-nut is mounted. The bearing block is slidably mounted on a C-tube which is mounted around and extends along a predetermined length of the lead screw. Also mounted on the C-tube is an arm for transmitting the linear motion of the bearing block to a remote point such as the plunger of a syringe. The arm is coupled to the bearing block at points selected so that transmission to the arm of any wobbling of the bearing block is reduced. The arm includes a lever which engages a cam formed on the half-nut to force the half nut to disengage from the lead screw when the arm is to be moved to a new location on the lead screw. A spring bias is coupled to the half-nut block opposite the cam for urging the half-nut block back into contact with the lead screw after disengagement. A stop mechanism prevents undesired disengagement of the half-nut block from the lead screw when force is applied other than by the cam block.

Screw drive engagement/disengagement and decoupling mechanism

An apparatus for closely simulating cross country skiing includes a platform on which right and left foot engaging supports are disposed for reciprocatory sliding movement with right and left hand engaging members being operatively connected to the foot engaging supports to reciprocate in a pattern simulating cross country skiing. A control system is employed for controlling the relative movement of the foot engaging supports and hand engaging members so that a slight amount of play exists between the foot engaging supports permitting a smooth gliding motion. Means are also provided in the control system for allowing the hand engaging members to move twice as fast as the foot engaging supports so that the relative movement between the hand engaging members and foot engaging supports more closely resembles actual cross country skiing.

Cross country ski exercise apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Westminster, CO, United States of America

Eugene P Smith, Iii