Volume and flow-rate dependent inspirator

Claim 3

A pulmonary exercising device comprising: an axially-extending housing having a top integral with a side wall; a base supporting said housing, the side wall of said housing being sealed to said base; a hollow tubular member extending between said base and the top of said housing, said tubular member being coaxial with said housing; dividing means having a portion thereof positioned for translation on said tubular member for dividing the interior of said housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, at least a portion of the second chamber being positioned above the first chamber; first means for establishing fluid communication between the first chamber and the ambient environment; second means for establishing fluid communication between the second chamber and a user of the device so that inhalation by the user through the second means creates a negative pressure within the second chamber, said second means including an axially-extending opening formed in an upper portion of said tubular member for establishing fluid communication between the interior of said tubular member and said second chamber, and means for establishing fluid communication between the interior of said tubular member and a user of the device; said dividing means having a portion thereof translatable in an upward direction in response to the negative pressure created in said second chamber to simultaneously increase the size of said first chamber and decrease the size of said second chamber; and third means operative after the size of the second chamber has been reduced to a predetermined value for establishing fluid communication between the second chamber and the ambient environment, thereby eliminating the negative pressure within the second chamber.

Claim 4

A pulmonary exercising device comprising: an axially-extending housing having a top integral with a side wall; a base supporting said housing, the side wall of said housing being sealed to said base; a hollow tubular member extending between said base and the top of said housing, said tubular member being coaxial with said housing; dividing means having a portion thereof positioned for translation on said tubular member for dividing the interior of said housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, at least a portion of the second chamber being positioned above the first chamber; first means for establishing fluid communication between the first chamber and the ambient environment; second means for establishing fluid communication between the second chamber and a user of the device so that inhalation by the user through the second means creates a negative pressure within the second chamber, said second means including an axially-extending opening formed in an upper portion of said tubular member for establishing fluid communication between the interior of said tubular member and said second chamber, and means for establishing fluid communication between the interior of said tubular member and a user of the device; said dividing means having a portion thereof translatable in an upward direction in response to the negative pressure created in said second chamber to simultaneously increase the size of said first chamber and decrease the size of said second chamber; and third means operative after the size of the second chamber has been reduced to a predetermined value for establishing fluid communication between the second chamber and the ambient environment, thereby eliminating the negative pressure within the second chamber.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 2, wherein said dividing means includes a bushing positioned for translation on said tubular member and a plate member connected to said bushing for dividing said housing into said chambers, and wherein the length of said bushing is less than the length of the opening formed in the upper portion of said tubular member so that said third means is formed when the bottom of said bushing passes the bottom of the opening formed in the upper portion of said tubular member thereby providing fluid communication between said first and said second chambers.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 2, wherein said dividing means includes a bushing positioned for translation on said tubular member, means for reducing air flow between said bushing and said tubular member, and a bellows centered on said tubular member and having a closed top end thereof connected to said bushing, the bottom end of said bellows being sealed to one of said base and said side walls so that the interior of said bellows forms said first chamber.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 4, wherein said bellows has an outwardly flared lip portion surrounding its bottom end and said side wall terminates at its bottom in an outwardly flared lip portion, said lip portion of said bellows being positioned between said lip portion of said side wall and said base and said lip portions and said base being sealed to each other.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 4, wherein the length of said bushing is less than the length of the opening formed in the upper portion of said tubular member so that said third means is formed when the bottom of said bushing passes the bottom of the opening formed in the upper portion of said tubular member thereby providing fluid communication between said first and said second chambers.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 3 or claim 6, wherein said base includes a top surface and wall means for supporting the top surface spaced from a surface supporting the device, and wherein said first means comprises a first through opening formed in said wall means, and a second through opening formed in said top surface, said first and said second openings being formed in such manner that fluid communication is established between said first chamber and the ambient environment.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 7, wherein said second means comprises a third through opening formed in said top surface, and conduit means for establishing fluid communication between the bottom of said third opening and a user of said device, said third opening being formed in said top surface in such manner that the top of said third opening is surrounded by the bottom of said tubular member with the third opening in fluid communication with the interior of said tubular member.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 4, wherein means for urging the closed top end of said bellows towards said base are associated with an upper portion of said bellows.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9, wherein said means for urging comprises a plate member connected to said bushing.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 3 or claim 9, wherein the distance between peripheral edges of the plate member and said side wall has a predetermined constant value as the plate member translates within said housing, the distance being selected such that there is substantially no air flow between the peripheral edges and the side wall.

Claim 14

A pulmonary exercising device having a first mode of operation in which the device provides a visual indication of the volume of inspired air and a second, subsequent mode of operation in which the device provides a visual indication of the rate of inspiration of air, said device comprising: a housing; movable means positioned inside said housing for dividing said housing into first and second chambers; first means for connecting said first chamber to the ambient environment, said second chamber being separated from said first means by said movable means; second means for connecting said second chamber to a user of the device so that inspiration of air by the user reduces the pressure in said second chamber, said movable means being responsive to the reduced pressure to increase the size of said first chamber and reduce the size of said second chamber thereby providing a visual indication of the volume of inspired air; and third means for connecting said second chamber to the ambient environment when the size of said second chamber is reduced to a predetermined volume, said third means when connecting said second chamber to the ambient environment providing a visual indication of the rate of inspiration of air.

Claim 15

A pulmonary exercising device having a first mode of operation in which the device provides a visual indication of the volume of inspired air and a second, subsequent mode of operation in which the device provides a visual indication of the rate of inspiration of air, said device comprising: a housing; movable means positioned inside said housing for dividing said housing into first and second chambers; first means for connecting said first chamber to the ambient environment, said second chamber being separated from said first means by said movable means; second means for connecting said second chamber to a user of the device so that inspiration of air by the user reduces the pressure in said second chamber, said movable means being responsive to the reduced pressure to increase the size of said first chamber and reduce the size of said second chamber thereby providing a visual indication of the volume of inspired air; and third means for connecting said second chamber to the ambient environment when the size of said second chamber is reduced to a predetermined volume, said third means when connecting said second chamber to the ambient environment providing a visual indication of the rate of inspiration of air.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 12, wherein said third means connects said second chamber to the ambient environment through said first chamber.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 12, wherein said movable means is a bellows.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 14, wherein said first means comprises openings formed in said housing which communicate with the interior of said bellows.