Patent · US Expired

Vaporizing device

US4903850A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
5References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 1989
Grant dateFeb 27, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M16/16
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A vaporizing device, preferably in the form of an inhaler, for directing steam in a downstream direction to the region of a user's face. A steam generating and control section includes a cup member for receiving a liquid to be vaporized, and a heater means is provided in a recess of the cup member for heating the liquid to generate steam. The generated steam is directed through a hood section attached to the steam generating and control section for directing the steam in a downstream direction to a user's face. The steam generating and control section includes at least one air-inlet slot for permitting ambient air to enter the device, an exit slot for permitting steam to exit the device, and an adjustable valve assembly downstream of the cup, air-inlet slot and exit slot to adjust the volume and velocity of steam flowing into the hood section. In a preferred form of the invention the heating of the liquid is controlled to cause vaporization only in a region adjacent raised walls defining a recess in the bottom wall of the cup member, and not in the region adjacent an outer peripheral wall of the cup member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.