Robertshaw Controls Company

Respironics, Inc.

William J Kaigler

Thomas M Buckshaw

David T Llewellyn

Eric William Starr

Richard Joseph Lordo

John Raymond Pujol

Andrew Serowski

John R Starr

Patrick Devinney

Pat Devinney

A self-regulating valve device adapted for use with respiratory equipment of a type which produces a pressurized flow of breathing gas. The valve device affords automatic access to the ambient atmosphere in the event of respiratory equipment malfunction and includes a primary inlet, a secondary inlet and an outlet. The primary inlet is adapted for connection to a ported exhalation valve which, in turn, is connected to one end of an elongated flexible tube, the opposite end of which is connected to a gas flow generator. The outlet, in turn, is connected to the inlet of an oral, nasal or oral/nasal respiratory mask respectively adapted to cover the patient's mouth, nose or mouth and nose. The valve device further comprises a pressure-responsive valve element for regulating gas flow into the inlet of the respiratory mask. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the valve device may be used in conjunction with a tracheotomy tube or an endotracheal tube or similar patient interface means.

Automatic safety valve for respiratory equipment which is

A resuscitator apparatus including a resilient, self-inflating squeeze bag having a single combined inlet/outlet which is preferably removably connected to a first manifold in operative communication with a substantially unbiased valve device. The first manifold includes an inlet coupling adapted for connection to a source of pressurized respiratory gas such as oxygen and an outlet coupling adapted for connection to a first end of a tubular connector. The tubular connector is desirably formed as a short, kink-resistant, flexible hinge member. The second end of the tubular connector is adapted for swiveled connection to an inlet coupling of a second manifold in operative communication with a non-rebreathing valve contained within a tubular, preferably L-shaped housing. The tubular housing includes a first leg connected to the second manifold and a second leg extending substantially perpendicular to the first leg, the second leg being adapted for connection to a subject interface member such as a breathing mask. An oxygen reservoir bag preferably formed of thin, pliable plastic surrounds the tubular connector and is sealingly attached without supplemental fasteners to the first and second manifolds. In the event the oxygen to the first supply manifold should falter, substantially unbiased valve device permits the subject immediate and unrestricted access to atmospheric air.

Resuscitator

A self-regulating valve device adapted for use with respiratory equipment of a type which produces a pressurized flow of breathing gas. The valve device affords automatic access to the ambient atmosphere in the event of respiratory equipment malfunction and includes a primary inlet, a secondary inlet and an outlet. The primary inlet is adapted for connection to a ported exhalation valve which, in turn, is connected to one end of an elongated flexible tube, the opposite end of which is connected to a gas flow generator. The outlet, in turn, is connected to the inlet of an oral, nasal or oral/nasal respiratory mask respectively adapted to cover the patient's mouth, nose or mouth and nose. The valve device further comprises a pressure-responsive valve element for regulating gas flow into the inlet of the respiratory mask. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is additionally provided a diffuser element positioned generally at the valve outlet/mask inlet junction. The diffuser element diffuses or disperses the flow of incoming gas (pressurized or ambient) to the mask, whereby the patient's comfort is enhanced while undergoing treatment for sleep apnea, or other respiratory treatment.

Automatic safety valve and diffuser for nasal and/or oral gas delivery

A pressure operated switch construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being interconnected to the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compressive setting of the spring unit, the housing having a bracket member extending outwardly from the external surface thereof in a flange-like manner and having first structure for mounting a first movable actuator unit to the housing that is to be interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting thereof, the switch construction comprising a bracket interconnected to a second structure of the bracket member, and a second movable actuator carried by the bracket and being interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting thereof whereby the bracket is only used when the housing is to carry the second movable actuator unit and the bracket member is not to mount the first movable actuator unit to the housing.

Pressure operated switch construction, parts therefor and methods of

A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, the housing having an opening passing through the external surface thereof, the switch unit having opposed sides and an opening passing therethrough in alignment with the opening of the housing, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compression setting of the spring unit, the spring unit comprising a spring retainer operatively interconnected to the switch unit, an actuator carried by the housing and a compression spring having opposed ends respectively bearing against the actuator and the retainer, the retainer having an intermediate part disposed in the opening of the housing and having a surface and a projection extending from the surface and passing through the opening of the switch unit in one direction so that the surface thereof faces one of the sides thereof whereby the retainer is removable from the switch unit by merely moving the retainer in the direction opposite to the one direction.

Pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same

A pressure operated switch construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being interconnected to the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compressive setting of the spring unit, the housing having a bracket member extending outwardly from the external surface thereof in a flangelike manner and having first structure for mounting a first movable actuator unit to the housing that is to be interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting thereof, the switch construction comprising a bracket interconnected to a second structure of the bracket member, and a second movable actuator carried by the bracket and being interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting thereof whereby the bracket is only used when the housing is to carry the second movable actuator unit and the bracket member is not to mount the first movable actuator unit to the housing.

Pressure operated switch housing member with external bracket structure

A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a self-contained subassembly comprising a switchblade structure having a generally coplanar flat body and having a terminal secured thereto and a projection secured thereto in spaced relation to the terminal with the terminal and the projection respectively having parts that are respectively disposed substantially transverse to the body and at opposite ends thereof, the housing having two slots therein respectively receiving the parts of the terminal and the projection therein to self-pilot the subassembly into its proper position in the housing, the terminal and the projection being secured to the housing to hold the subassembly in its proper position.

Fluid pressure operated switch and contact assembly

A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, the housing having an opening passing through the external surface thereof, the electrical switch unit having opposed sides and an opening passing therethrough in alignment with the opening of the housing, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the electrical switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compression setting of the compression spring unit, the compression spring unit comprising a retainer operatively interconnected to the electrical switch unit, an actuator carried by the housing and a first compression spring having opposed ends respectively bearing against the actuator and the retainer, the retainer having an intermediate part disposed in the opening of the housing and having a surface and a projection extending from the surface and passing through the opening of the electrical switch unit in one direction so that the surface thereof faces one of the sides thereof whereby the retainer is removable from the electrical switch unit by merely moving the retainer in the direction opposite to the one direction, the compression spring unit comprising a second compression spring between the surface of the retainer and the electrical switch unit.

Method of making a pressure operated switch

A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, the housing having an opening passing through the external surface thereof, the electrical switch unit having opposed sides and an opening passing therethrough in alignment with the opening of the housing, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the electrical switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compression setting of the compression spring unit, the compression spring unit comprising a retainer operatively interconnected to the electrical switch unit, an actuator carried by the housing and a compression spring having opposed ends respectively bearing against the actuator and the retainer, the retainer having an intermediate part disposed in the opening of the housing and having a surface and a projection extending from the surface and passing through the opening of the electrical switch unit in one direction so that the surface thereof faces one of the sides thereof whereby the retainer is removable from the electrical switch unit by merely moving the retainer in the direction opposite to the one direction.

Growing community of inventors

North Huntingdon, PA, United States of America

William J Kaigler