Aspirator Assembly

Abstract

An aspirator assembly for use with a propellent gas source and small liquid containers is formed of such design that the same can be readily prepared by mass production, the same having a minimum of parts so that the cost can be kept low. The aspirator assembly is formed of two stainless steel tubes, one of which is adapted to conduct a propellent gas and the other of which is adapted to conduct the liquid to be sprayed. The gas-conducting tube, which has a gas-inlet end and a gas-outlet end, is a straight tube of somewhat larger diameter than the liquid-conducting tube. The liquid-conducting tube is more flexible than the gas-conducting tube and has two substantially right angle bends with one being near the liquid-entrance end and the other being near the liquid-exit end. The two tubes are positioned with respect to each other so that they lie in a single plane with their exit ends being in close relationship to each other and their entrance ends spaced apart the portion of the liquid-conducting tube which lies between the two bends being positioned at a slight angle with respect to the gas-conducting tube. The tubes are held in this position by molding a collar around the same, the collar completely covering the substantially right angle bend in the liquid-conducting tube which is located nearest its liquid-entrance end. By this construction the liquid-conducting tube is prevented from rotating with respect to the gas-conducting tube. Also, there is molded around the two tubes, in a position between the collar and the tube ends, a slide member which is adapted to slide along the tubes, such sliding moving the exit ends of the tubes relative to each other for regulating the spray pattern when in use. Both the positioning collar and the slide member can be molded simultaneously. They are preferably formed of polypropylene so that the aspirator assembly can be steam sterilized if desired. In use the entrance end of the propellent gas-conducting tube is fitted into the gas-outlet opening of a conventional aerosol propellent can or some other suitable supply of gas. The two are held together by friction. The entrance end of the liquid-conducting tube is inserted into the mouth of a vial containing liquid to be dispensed. Preferably, the entrance end of the liquid-conducting tube is sharpened so that the same can pierce the covering diaphram of a liquid-containing vial where such diaphram is used. In such case friction between the resilient diaphram and the liquid-containing tube holds the vial in place. Where the vial does not have a diaphram cover the vial is opened and placed in a small container adapted to screw into a flange which is molded as part of the restraining collar.

Description

The present invention relates to the spray dispensing of liquids and more particularly to an improved aspirator assembly for the controlled dispensing of liquids in small amounts where the liquid to be dispensed and the air source for dispensing are connected separately to the aspirator assembly. Spray-pack systems wherein a single propellent container is to be used with each of a number of different product containers have been suggested over a period of many years as represented by the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 77,286; 2,982,317; 2,895,651; 3,085,752; 3,107,058; 3,162,370; 3,454,228; and 3,508,710.

These prior art systems, however, generally fail to provide for any adjustment or regulation of the spray pattern obtained, or are relatively expensive to manufacture or require special brackets or the like for connecting to the propellent gas source and liquid-containing container.

In accordance with the present invention an aspirator assembly is provided which is relatively inexpensive to construct, is simple and attractive in design and which permits adjustment by the operator for controlling the spray obtained. Also, the aspirator assembly is readily connected with different small containers containing the liquid to be sprayed and with a propellent gas source, assembly with the liquid and propellent gas sources being rapid and easy. As the aspirator is relatively inexpensive, it can, if desired, be disposed of after a single use or separate aspirator assemblies can be used with small vials of liquid to be dispensed using a single source of propellent gas, the vial with its individual dispenser being stored in assembled position during periods of nonuse.

The aspirator assembly or atomizer comprises a tube for propellent gas having a gas-inlet end and a gas-outlet end, a tube for conducting liquid to be atomized having a liquid-inlet end and a liquid-outlet end, the two tubes being firmly held together in position one with respect to the other by securing means which prevent rotation of the liquid-conducting tube with respect to the gas-conducting tube, the liquid-conducting tube having a substantially right angle bend near its inlet end so that its inlet end extends at substantially right angles to the inlet end portion of the propellent gas-conducting tube and having a second bend near the exit end of the liquid-conducting tube to position the exit end of the liquid-conducting tube at substantially right angles to the exit end of the air-conducting tube, at least one of the tubes being flexible, the securing means positioning said tubes with respect to each other so that the portions of said tubes extending from said securing means to the exit ends of said tubes lies in a substantially single plane but taper with respect to each other through a portion thereof, and a yoke slidably positioned on said propellent gas-conducting tube and said liquid-conducting tube on said portion of said tubes where they taper with respect to each other so that on movement of said yoke lengthwise of said tubes the exit ends of said tubes are moved with respect to each other.

In use, the inlet end of the tube for propellent gas is adapted to slip into the gas exit opening of a conventional aerosol propellent air-valve assembly. The gas-conducting tube is held in place by friction. The container for the liquid to be sprayed is then attached to the aspirator assembly by passing the inlet end of the liquid-conducting tube down through the resilient diaphragm cover of the liquid container if the liquid container is of a type having such a cover assembly, or the liquid container is opened and placed in a separate small container which is then attached to the aspirator assembly with the inlet end of the liquid-conducting tube passing down into the container for withdrawing liquid from the same.

The aspirator assembly is particularly useful in applications where the liquids to be sprayed are used in small volumes, and special handling conditions are required to assure their safety in use and efficacy. Thus, for example, the aspirator assembly system is particularly suitable for the spraying of cyanoacrylate adhesives in the performance of oral surgery where tissues are to be adhered together after a periodontal operation such as would be performed by a dental surgeon. The cyanoacrylate-containing vial can be quickly and securely attached to the aspirator assembly and the same then attached to the source of propellent gas. The spray obtained can be readily adjusted by simply sliding the adjusting yoke along the propellent gas and liquid-conducting tubes. When the surgeon is through using the cyanoacrylate, the aspirator assembly together with the attached vial containing the cyanoacrylate can be readily stored while still assembled under conditions most suitable for preventing contamination and possible pre-polymerization of the cyanoacrylate adhesive monomer. As the aspirator assembly is relatively inexpensive, the same can be disposed of after use with a patient, so as to avoid any contamination from one patient to another. Also, should any clogging of the tubes occur after repeated use due to polymerization of the cyanoacrylate in or near the exit end of the tube, the aspirator assembly can be disposed of and another readily inserted in its place. Where small vials of different materials are to be dispensed, a single source of propellent gas can be used and a different aspirator assembly can be attached to each vial with its different contents to avoid cross-contamination of one with respect to the other. Not only is this desirable in the dispensing of medications and tissue adhesives, but it is also desirable in the spraying of small quantities of special pigments where it is desired that the same not be mixed. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the aspirator assembly of the present invention showing it attached to an aerosol-propellent gas source and to a container with liquid to be sprayed;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the aspirator assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the aspirator of FIG. 4 with liquid container of FIG. 7 attached taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a top plane view of the aspirator assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the aspirator assembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustment slide;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sealed vial containing liquid to be dispensed the vial being sealed with a resilient diaphragm

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c show respectively a vial with the top adapted to be broken away and placed in a container for attachment to the aspirator assembly; and

FIG. 9 illustrates the container of FIG. 8c attached to the aspirator assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is illustrated a typical manner of using the aspirator assembly of the present invention together with a propellent gas source and a container of liquid to be dispensed. In use, the aspirator assembly 10 is attached to the propellent gas exit channel 11 of a conventional propellent-containing dispenser 12, through connection with the inlet end 13, air-inlet tube 14 of the aspirator assembly while a small vial 15 containing the liquid to be dispensed is attached through connection with the inlet end of the liquid-conducting tube 16 of the aspirator assembly.

The propellent-gas container 12 is of the conventional type having a pressure operated valve 18 and a cap 19 which when depressed opens the valve 18 to permit propellent gases to exit through the exit passageway 11.

The aspirator assembly 10 best illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 where it is shown prior to connecting to a propellent gas source or a container for liquid, has an air-conducting tube 14 with an air-inlet end 13 which is adapted to slide into the exit chamber 11 of a propellent gas source as illustrated in FIG. 1. The aspirator assembly 10 is also provided with a liquid-conducting tube 16 for conducting liquid to be atomized. The liquid-conducting tube has a substantially right angular bend 20 near its inlet end 17 which positions its inlet end at substantially right angles to the inlet end 13 of the propellent gas-conducting tube 14. The tubes 14 and 16 are rigidly secured to each other by securing means such as a molded collar or brace 21 which also includes a cover in the form of a circular downwardly extending flange 22 for receiving the upper portion of a liquid-containing vial 15 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that the collar or brace 21 secures the propellent gas-conducting tube 14 and the liquid-containing tube 16 firmly with respect to each other in such a way that one cannot rotate with respect to the other. In the embodiment illustrated this is done by molding the collar 21 around the portion of liquid-conducting tube containing the right-angular bend 20.

Near the exit end 23 of liquid-conducting tube 16 is a second substantially right-angular bend 24 which positions the exit end 23 of the liquid-conducting tube 16 at substantially right angles to the exit end 25 of the air-conducting tube 14. The portions of the propellent gas-conducting tube 14 and the liquid-conducting tube 16 extending from the securing collar 21 to the ends 23 and 25 thereof, lie in a single plane best illustrated in FIG. 4. The tubes, however, are not parallel but extend at an angle to each other as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Liquid-conducting tube 16 in the embodiment illustrated is of smaller diameter than air-conducting tube 14 and is appreciably more flexible than the air-conducting tube 14. A slide member 26 is secured to tubes 14 and 16 in the portion thereof extending between the collar 21 and the bend 24 in liquid-conducting tube 16. This slide member which is in the form of a yoke is best illustrated in FIG. 6, contains holes 27 and 28 passing therethrough through which the respective tubes 14 and 16 pass. The holes 27 and 28 should be of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the tube passing through the same so as to provide a close frictional fit. In the preferred manufacture of the aspirator assembly the respective tubes 14 and 16 are formed of stainless steel and the collar 21 and slide member 26 are molded into position around the tubes after the tubes have been placed in the proper position relative to each other. As the aspirator assembly is constructed of stainless steel and polypropylene the same can be readily sterilized when this is desirable.

By molding the slide member 26 around the stainless steel tubes 14 and 16 a close engagement of the surface areas of the inner surfaces of the openings 27 and 28 of the slide member 26 with the respective outer surfaces of the tubes 14 and 16 is obtained. After molding, the slide member 26 can be moved along the tubes 14 and 16 but with good frictional holding in any position to which it is moved. The flexibility of tube 16 and its taper with respect to tube 14 in the area of the slide member results in the exit end 23 of liquid-conducting tube 16 being moved relative to and positioned relative to the exit end 25 of propellent-conducting tube 14. By adjusting the relative position of the ends 23 and 25 with respect to each other, the type and pattern of the spray obtained can be varied.

In the preferred packaging of liquids so as to avoid contamination, such as alkyl .alpha. -cyanoacrylate monomers to be used as tissue adhesives and the packaging of medicaments for application to open wounds the same are provided in sealed vials such, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the sealed vial of FIG. 7 the vial 15 formed for example of an amber tinted glass, is sealed with a resilient cover or membrane 29 which extends across the top thereof. This cover 29 may be made of a laminate of rubber and Teflon, for example, where the content of the vial is a tissue adhesive such as isobutyl .alpha.-cyanoacrylate monomer the Teflon being on the inner side of the container 15 so as to protect the rubber from being attacked by the cyanoacrylate monomer contained therein. This diaphragm 29 is then sealed to the top of the vial 15 by a metal collar 30 clamped in place. Where the liquid to be dispensed is so packaged access to the contents of the vial 15 is by a hollow needle such, for example, as a hypodermic needle which is pushed through the resilient cover 29. After the needle is withdrawn the resilient cover 29 seals the opening reducing the possibility of contamination. The liquid-inlet end 17 of the liquid-conducting tube 16 of the aspirator assembly is formed with a sharp point 31 as illustrated in in FIG. 2 in essentially the same manner as is formed the sharp end of a conventional hypodermic needle. In use the tip 17 is inserted through the diaphragm 29 so that the same enters the contents of the vial 15. The collar 30 fits up into the flange or cover 22 of the securing means 21. In order to aid in the removal of the cyanoacrylate a vent tube 32 is provided in the collar 21 with a vent end 33 terminating in an opening 34 provided in the collar 21 and the other end 35 ending in a sharp point so that the same can also readily pierce the resilient cover 29 of the liquid-containing vial 15. As the vial 15 is relatively small, the friction between the tubes and the resilient cover 29 is sufficient to hold the vial 15 in place during use. However, if desired the flange or cover may be so designed with respect to size, or contour with raised portions or the like so as to provide a frictional or firm engagement with the outer rim or metal collar 30 of vial 15 to firmly hold it in assembled relation with the aspirator assembly.

Another form of sealed vial that may be used for containing the liquid to be dispensed is illustrated in FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c. Referring to FIG. 8a the vial 36 after having been filled has its neck drawn in and sealed by heat sealing the glass as illustrated at 37. In order to open the vial the top portion of the vial containing the seal is broken off along a weakened portion 38 giving an open vial such as that illustrated in FIG. 8b. Where vials or liquid containers of this type are used as a separate container 39 is used and the flange 22 is provided with screw threads or the like for engaging matching threads 40 on the upper portion of the molded container 39. In use the capsule or container 36 would be dropped into the plastic container 39 after the top portion 37 is broken off. The container 39 is then screwed into place into the flange 22 with the liquid-inlet end 17 of the liquid-conducting tube 16 extending down into the contents of the capsule 36 as best illustrated in FIG. 9. When containers of this type are used or any open container, it is not necessary to have a sharp end on the inlet end 17 of the liquid-conducting tube 16 nor is it necessary to have a vent tube such as 32. However, there should be provided a vent hole 41 through the top so air can enter to replace the liquid withdrawn so as to make its withdrawal easier.

FIG. 9 best illustrates the appearance of that portion of the aspirator assembly containing the liquid to be dispensed when containers such as that illustrated in FIGS. 8a through 8c are employed.

Particular embodiments of the invention have been used to illustrate the same. The invention, however, is not limited to these specific embodiments. In view of the foregoing disclosure variations and modifications thereof will be apparent, and it is intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications except as do not come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable aspirator assembly for atomizing liquids comprising a gas conducting tube, having an air-inlet end and an air-outlet end, a liquid-conducting tube having a liquid-inlet end and a liquid-outlet end, a first bend in said liquid-conducting tube directing said liquid-inlet end away from said air-inlet end, a second bend in said liquid-conducting tube directing said liquid-outlet end towards said air-outlet end, securing means for fixing said tubes in fixed relationship with respect to each other so as to prevent rotation of said liquid-conducting tube with respect to said gas-conducting tube with at least a portion of said tubes extending between said securing means and their exit ends being straight and non-parallel with respect to each other and being contained within a single plane, and a slide member positioned on said tubes and in frictional engagement therewith holding said tubes in the area of said slide member a fixed distance apart so that on movement of said yoke lengthwise of said tubes the exit ends of said tubes are moved with respect to each other.

2. An aspirator assembly of claim 1 in which said first bend and said second bend in said liquid-conducting tube are substantially right-angular bends and in which said securing means secures said tubes with respect to each other in the area of said first bend.

3. An aspirator assembly of claim 2 in which said securing means is in the form of a collar molded around said tubes so as to completely cover said first bend with the inlet end of said gas-conducting tube and the inlet end of said liquid-conducting tube extending from said molded collar at substantially right angles to each other.

4. An aspirator assembly of claim 3 in which said molded collar contains a vent opening for venting air into a liquid container attached thereto.

5. An aspirator assembly of claim 4 in which said molded collar contains a vent tube with one end extending into said collar and terminating in an opening passing through the same and the other end exits from said collar said vent tube being substantially parallel with the portion of said liquid tube containing the liquid inlet end.

6. An aspirator assembly of claim 5 in which the end of said vent tube which exits from said collar and the inlet end of said liquid-conducting tube are sharpened.

7. An aspirator assembly of claim 3 in which said gas-conducting tube and liquid-conducting tube are made of stainless steel and said collar is made of polypropylene.

8. An aspirator assembly of claim 4 in which said molded collar contains a flange surrounding the liquid-conducting tube in the area where it exits from the collar towards its liquid-inlet end said flange adapted to enclose the upper portion of a liquid container when attached to said aspirator assembly.

9. An aspirator assembly of claim 8 wherein said flange contains means for securing a container to said aspirator assembly.