Water Therapy Safety Controls

Abstract

A first form of water therapy safety control to discontinue the flow of liquid to a therapy device responsive to increase in temperature of the liquid over a predetermined limit has a receptacle with a strut at a mid-depth location. A thermally actuated bellows operator is mounted on the strut and carries a rod with a closure which is placed in shut-off position by expansion of the bellows. The receptacle has a member adapted to open upon increase of pressure therewithin; In a second form of the invention, a receptacle has liquid inlet and outlet openings, the outlet being provided with a thermal operator which closes the outlet in response to increased temperature of the liquid past a predetermined limit. A normally closed discharge opening has a spring biased closure which opens responsive to pressurization of the receptacle upon closing of the outlet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to safety receptacles employed with liquid therapy devices such as syringes, sitz baths, douche containers, and the like.

2. Statement of the Prior Art

The present invention comprises improvements in applicant's previously patented units as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,954,046 and 3,229,693, and in his pending application titled "Thermostatically Controlled Bathroom Safety Appliance," filed Oct. 5, 1970. These properties comprise the most relevant prior art known to the applicants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides uniform liquid flow therethrough when in normal operation, and combines this with positive safety action in discontinuing the flow upon increase in liquid temperature. These units are extremely simple in structure, and are readily attached and detached from the therapy apparatus. Each form of the invention is easily reactivated following a shut-off operation occasioned by overheating of the liquid. In the aforesaid second form of the invention, such reactivation is accomplished by the device per se, without manual adjustment.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification, when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of safety control unit constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modification;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of a second form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view from the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a further transverse sectional view, on line 8--8 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in more detail, a first form of liquid therapy safety unit in accordance with this invention is therein identified generally by reference character 10. The unit 10 comprises a receptacle 12 of molded plastic or similar material having a top wall 14, a side wall 16, and an open base 18. The base is stepped to form a shoulder 19 on the interior thereof. The particular configuration of the receptacle may be variable, and intermediate its upper and lower portions a transverse strut 20 is fixed therein by a pair of screws 22 extended therethrough at each side.

At a central location on the top wall 14, the receptacle is provided with an outlet spout 24 about an opening 26. At a spaced location on the top wall it has a second, inlet opening 28. The opening 28 receives an appropriate connector from a supply source, while the spout is connected to a conduit leading to a syringe, or the like (see the prior properties referred to above).

Secured to the strut 20 by screw-type fastening means 29 or otherwise, is a thermally responsive bellows operator 30. The operator 30 carries an elongated, cylindrical rod 32, the distal end 34 of which projects into the spout opening 26. At a location adjacent the top wall, the closure 36 is adjustably secured on the rod. The closure is internally threaded on its base 38 to engage corresponding threads 40 on the rod.

The open bottom 18 of the receptacle is normally closed by a base member 42 comprising an imperforate plate 44 with a surrounding flange 46. The flange 46 carries a deformable peripheral bead 48, and is dimensioned to fit within the shoulder 19, with the bead effecting frictional engagement. FIG. 4 shows an alternative structure wherein the open base end 18a is formed without a shoulder and has an outward bead 48. The plate 44a has a flange 46a of a dimension to fit about the end 18a and thereby engage the same.

If desired, a flexible strap 50 may extend between the base member and the receptacle to prevent loss.

In operation, liquid to supply the therapy appliance is normally introduced through the opening 28 into the receptacle and, upon filling of the receptacle, is expelled outwardly through the spout opening 26. In the event that the liquid exceeds a predetermined temperature, the thermally responsive bellows operator 30 expands, forcing the closure 36 against the top wall 14 and thereby interrupting flow to the therapy apparatus. At such time as the switch closes, pressure buildup within the receptacle, illustratively to the range of 5 to 6 psi., ultimately results in expansion with consequent disengagement of the base member 42, thereby ceasing operation of the device.

The second form of the invention, designated by general reference character 100, is shown in FIGS. 5 through 8. The unit 100 comprises a receptacle 102 formed of structural plastic or other suitable material, and includes a tubular main body portion 104 of elongate form. The main body portion 104 has an internally threaded upper end 106, terminating in an end edge 108, and a similarly formed lower end portion 110, with an end edge 112.

The upper end is provided with a plug member or closure 114, having a reduced diameter section 116, provided with external threads to engage with the internal threads of the end portion 106. The closure has a shoulder 118 which abuts the end edge 108. A vertical inlet opening 120 is formed to extend through the closure 114 and is threaded at 122 to receive a fitting 124 for connection to a source of liquid supply. An outlet opening 126 of compound form is also formed in the closure at a location spaced from the inlet opening, and is threaded at 128 to permit detachable connection of an outlet fitting 130. The fitting 130 permits connection to a tube or the like leading to an appliance for body treatment (not shown).

Mounted over the outlet opening 126 at the inner wall 132 of the closure is a housing 134 for an operating assembly hereof. The housing includes a base 136, and a side wall 138 having side portions 140, 142. Openings 143 are provided in the base and side walls to permit water to flow therethrough. Changeable fasteners, such as screws 144, extend through the side portions to connect the housing in place. Disposed within the housing is a bellows-type, thermally responsive operator 146 including an element 148 which expands upon heating to a predetermined temperature. The member is seated at one end against the base 136 of the housing, and is secured about a shaft 150 for movement of a valve body 152 having a tapered section 154. As best shown in FIG. 5, the tapered section is adapted to bear against a tapered seat 156 to close the outlet opening 126 when the thermally responsive member 148 is expanded. The base 158 of the shaft extends through an opening 160 in the base 136 of the housing.

Upon the closing of the outlet opening 126 responsive to overheating of liquid passing through the unit, it is necessary that suitable relief means be provided. To this end, the receptacle has a second end closure 162 with a reduced portion 164 threadedly engaged in the end 110. The closure has a shoulder 166 which seats against the end edge 112 of the main body portion when connected, and includes an interior wall 168. The closure has a compound opening 170 therein which includes an enlarged outer section 172, a stepped intermediate section 174, and a reduced bore 176. Surrounding the bore 176 is a series of relief openings 178. An elongated plunger 180 shaped for engagement in the bore 176 is slidably mounted therein, and includes a pointed inner end 182, and an outer end 184. Fixed on the end of 184, the plunger has a plug 186 with a tapered inner wall 188. The plunger also includes an exterior handle 190 for manual actuation when desired. A cross pin 192 retains a coil spring 194 about the plunger, the spring being of a force sufficient to normally maintain the plug in sealing engagement in the compound bore. Upon closing of the outlet opening, however, the pressure buildup in the receptacle through the continued introduction of liquid through the inlet opening and thence through the relief openings 178 against the plug overcomes the spring force to a degree sufficient to unseat the plug and to permit the liquid to be dispelled from the receptacle through the openings 174.

The thermal controls for the outlet opening as herein disclosed may, in some instances, be replaced by solenoid operated electric heat sensitive units, and electrical temperature indicators can also be employed. Such alternatives are considered just as reliable and equally as safe in operation, as compared to the units shown. Also, the receptacle walls can be supplied with chemical temperature indicating means, for example, housed in slots formed in the receptacle walls.

Claims

We claim:

1. A safety device for liquid therapy appliances employing liquid from a supply source, comprising:

a receptacle having liquid supply means extending thereinto from said source;

said receptacle having an outlet;

a thermally responsive closure for said outlet;

liquid relief means operated by pressure buildup within the receptacle responsive to closing of the outlet;

said receptacle having a pair of closure members releasably secured thereto;

one of said closure members having an outlet opening and an inlet opening therein;

a housing about the outlet opening within the receptacle; and

a rod within the housing having a valve body thereon and having an expandable member to seat the valve body against the outlet.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the other closure member has a compound opening including a bore and an enlarged outer section;

said closure having a series of relief openings therein about the bore communicating with the enlarged outer section;

a rod slidably engaged in said bore;

a plug carried by said rod; and

the plug being spring biased to a position wherein the plug is sealingly seated in the enlarged outer section of the compound opening and being unseated therefrom by pressure buildup within the receptacle through said relief opening.

3. A safety device for liquid therapy appliances employing liquid from a supply source, comprising:

a hollow receptacle including a top wall, a side wall and an open bottom;

liquid supply means connected with said source and extending through one of said walls;

one of the walls having an outlet spout thereon;

conduit means extending from the spout to said appliance;

a strut mounted in fixed position within the receptacle at a location spaced from the spout;

a thermally responsive power member mounted on the strut;

a rod extending from the power member into said spout;

a closure carried on the rod and normally spaced from the wall having the spout when liquid passing through the device is in a permissible heat range, the rod being extended into the spout and carrying the closure to sealing engagement on the wall about the spout; and

a base member frictionally engaged about the open bottom.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein:

the outlet spout and the supply means extend through the top wall.

5. The invention of claim 3, wherein:

the closure is adjustably mounted on the rod.

6. The invention of claim 3, wherein:

the base member is fitted within the open bottom and includes a connection bead.

7. The invention of claim 3, wherein:

the base member has a flange surrounding the open bottom of the receptacle; and

the receptacle has a connection bead engaging the flange.