Aspiration container structure including handle mount

Abstract

An aspiration bottle construction wherein the same is provided with a combination handle, or mount, and adaptor mount constructed for receiving the negative pressure regulator associated with the vacuum system with which the bottle is to be used. The container of the bottle structure may be molded in an injection molding process to provide all of the requisite parts or portions needed to complete the construction. By its structure the container of the aspiration bottle may be removably retained in a wall mount bracket, is constructed for one-hand support during pouring or transport, and also is provided with cooperating slot and adaptor means whereby necessary connections may be made.

Description

The present invention relates to aspiration bottles usable wih vacuum systems for receiving under negative pressure external fluids such as the body fluids of hospital patients and, more particularly, to a new and improved aspiration bottle construction wherein the same is designed for easy one-hand transport, pouring, and is suitably constructed for retaining a regulator structure and adaptor equipment proximate the bottle that is mounted for use.

Aspiration bottles presently on the market are generally designed for two-handed use, both as to transport and as to placement during related hospital aspiration procedures. Regulator equipment as is useful for regulating the negative pressure inside the aspirator is currently wall mounted and often quite remote from the actual use position of the bottle.

In the present invention the container of the over-all aspiration bottle construction is provided with a handle that is uniquely shaped to permit support of the container and hence of the bottle construction from a slide-type wall bracket. The handle thus is useful for pouring purposes and also as a retention or mounting means for the bottle relative to the wall bracket used.

Specifically, the upper portion of the handle structure of the container is configured to admit an adaptor unit that can be self-clamped in place and provide ready attachment thereto by any negative pressure regulator that may be used. The regulator itself may be any one of several conventional designs, will be coupled to a vacuum pump or vacuum system; the adaptor unit is provided with conduit connection leading to the vacuum port of the bottle.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved aspiration bottle construction.

A further object is to provide a container for aspiration work wherein such container incorporates a pour-and-mount handle.

An additional object is to provide a container which is provided with means accommodating the mounting of regulator structure thereto.

A further object is to provide handle means for an aspiration container, which handle means is constructed for receiving a regulator mount.

An additional object is to provide regulator mount structure in and for an aspiration container.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an aspiration bottle incorporating the handle and mount structure of the invention, a suitable regulator mount being exploded from the slot construction of the container.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the structure of FIG. 1 when the same is assembled.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the container when the same is assembled and conduit is provided between the vacuum port of the bottle structure and the adaptor unit mounted to the handle of such structure for receiving an external regulator.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 3 but is shown principally in section, being taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2, and illustrates the specific mounting of the regulator adaptor unit to the handle structure of the container.

In FIG. 1 the cover 10 is shown to include fluid port 11, vacuum port 12, the same upstanding from the web-like cover central portion 13 in the manner indicated. Where desired, the fluid port 11 may be shortened as to its downward penetration underneath the cover at end 15'. This will be for the purpose of facilitating pouring from the container through the fluid port 11 when desired. Fluid port 11 also comprises an inlet fluid orifice where an aspiration conduit leading from a hospital patient, for example, is connected thereto. Where desired, one or more caps 15, having a respective elongate retainer 16, may be mounted to either or both of the ports so as to be able to close the same, or simply the vacuum port during the pouring function. Of course, cap 15 may be provided for both ports 11 and 12.

Of essential importance is the provision of container 17 in the over-all aspiration bottle construction 18. Container 17 includes an upper cylinderical portion 19 and also, contiguous therewith, a lower frusto-conical portion 20. Upper cylinderical portion 19 includes the upper lip 21 contiguous with and outwardly extending annular bead 22. The bead 22 serves as a locking means whereby the cover 10, see FIG. 4, may be snapped over such bead so that the same penetrates groove 23. Depending handle or guide 24 in its developed form is slightly curved or convex outwardly at 25, see FIG. 4, and meets a lower flange 26. Upper mounting flange 27 and lower flange 26 are joined by common sides 28 and 29. Thus, there is provided a readily moldable, integral structure comprising sides 28 and 29, with mounting flanges 26 and 27 that can be integrally molded directly to upper cylinderical portion 19 at juntion 30.

A wall bracket in the form of a handle-guide receiver 31 is provided and may include the usual mounting apertures 32 and 33 to enable screw or other securement to a supporting wall. Handle guide 31 includes opposite doubled-back margins 34 and 35 that guide the edges 36 and 37 of the depending handle-guide 24 so that wings 38 and 39 tightly rest therein to provide a suitable stability relative to vertical axis alignment of the unit.

A flange foot 40 is provided of the handle-guide construction so as to provide support for the entire unit at tip 41 of the handle-guide 24.

Conventional regulators as at R in FIG. 4 include conventional depending threaded boss 42. This will be threadedly received by the mounting cap 43 of regulator mounting unit 44 in FIG. 1. Adaptor unit 44 includes a shank 45 that includes threaded portions 46 and 47. Upper regulator end 48 is provided with the conventional tip 49 and rubber seal 50 in the usual vacuum-connection construction. Lower hose end 51 is provided for receiving the hose or conduit 52 leading to vacuum port 12 in FIG. 3. Mounting nuts 53 and 54 are threadedly secured to the shank at threaded portions 47 and 46, respectively, and may be provided with raised elastomeric portions 55 and 56, respectively, for enabling the securement of unit 44 to mounting flange 27, tightened down as needed. Thus, the shank will proceed through the mounting slot 58 and also through slot 59 in lower flange 26. Access slot 60 is provided to accommodate the downward penetration of the lower portion of shank 45 through handle-guide 24 so that the hose end 51 appears forwardly of such handle-guide, as seen in FIG. 4.

The interior access passageway 56, indentical on both sides with the flanges and slots indicated, will be slightly tapered inwardly, both above and below at flange surfaces 57 and 57' so that the usual draft angle will be present such that the container can be molded as an integral unit with handle-guide 24.

In operation, the handle-guide 31 is attached to a wall by screw or bolt attachments passing through apertures 32 and 33. Prior to the engagement of container 17 with handle-guide 31 the regulator mounting unit or adaptor unit 44 will be mounted to the handle guide area of the container, by mounting nuts 53 and 54 being threaded in opposite directions so that space exists between the resilient, elastomeric portions 55 and 56. Then, unit 44 is thrust centrally in a direction such that the shank 45 passes through slots 57 and 59, thereby enabling a downward rotation of nut 53 so that mounting flange 27 is tightly engaged by nuts 53 and 54. It is noted that the positioning of the unit 44, as seen in FIG. 4, is accomplished by the shank 45 actually passing forwardly through access slot 60.

Once the adaptor unit 44 is disposed in position, as shown in FIG. 4, hose 52 is connected between hose end 51 and the vacuum port 12, see FIG. 3. Thereafter, the regulator is secured as at R in FIG. 4 by the tightening down of mounting cap 43 over the lower part of the regulator. A vacuum source will be attached to the regulator in a conventional manner. At this point, the aspiration conduit is connected to port 11 and fluid contents are aspirated into the container 17. When such use has been completed, then one or both of the ports may be capped as from the cap 15, shown respresentively in FIG. 1.

Should the attendant decide to simply pour the liquids from the container, then the cap may be removed from port 11 and the contents can easily be poured therefrom. The foreshortened end at 15' of port 11 facilitates this result.

Conduit 52, of a design which prevents kinking, is important for isolating regulator equipment, attached to cap 43, from any foam or condensations within the aspiration bottle proper. Also, handle 24 may be made separate and detachable, as desired.

Accordingly, what is provided is a new and improved aspiration bottle wherein the container thereof is supplied with structural means serving as a slide mount, as a handle, and also as an adaptor mount whereby a regulator, to be connected to a vacuum source, may be secured directly to such container.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. An aspiration bottle construction including, in combination, a container provided with a fluid containing portion, a cover sealingly secured to said container, and fluid admittance and vacuum ports communicating with the interior of said container, said container being provided with a handle having an essentially horizontal flange portion and an elongate handle-grip portion contiguous with and downwardly extending from said horizontal flange portion, said horizontal flange portion and handle-grip portion each being provided with mutually contiguous slots constructed to interiorly receive external auxiliary regulator structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottle construction includes a wall bracket receiver releasably receiving and retentively supporting said handle proximate said handle-tongue.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said wall bracket receiver includes doubled-back side margins overlapping said handle-tongue.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said wall bracket receiver includes a flange foot supportingly engaging said handle-tongue at the latter's lower extremity.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a web-like central portion, that one of said ports comprising a fluid outlet port being farthest removed of said two ports from said handle-grip portion, said one port having a lower extremity proximate said central portion.