Air flow measuring instrument for speech therapy

Claim 2

An instrument to measure air flow from speech channels comprising, in combination: an elongate air passageway having a rigid portion configured as an elbow and defining a medial air channel, the said rigid elbow portion having a longer arm and a shorter arm substantially perpendicularly related, with the longer arm having an end portion bent slightly toward the shorter arm and releasably carrying a nasal receptor at its end portion and the shorter arm having an end portion, a vertically oriented transparent measuring cylinder having a bottom portion, the cylinder defining an elongate medial channel extending therethrough and carrying a measuring sphere for vertical motion therein, said cylinder having means of preventing exit of the measuring sphere therefrom without substantially interfering with passage of air therethrough, said sphere being movable upwardly against gravity bias responsive to air flow through the measuring cylinder, the end portion of the shorter arm sealably communicating with the bottom portion of the measuring cylinder.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 having an opaque, resiliently deformable shield, configured as part of a cylinder and defining a medial channel of shape similar to that of the exterior of the measuring cylinder, to fit about more than half but less than all of the vertical periphery of the measuring cylinder, said shield being releasably maintained thereon.

Claim 4

An air flow measuring instrument for use in diagnostic and remedial speech therapy comprising, in combination: a substantially vertically oriented elongate measuring cylinder having a bottom portion and further defining a medial channel carrying a measuring sphere movable upwardly therein responsive to air flow therethrough, said medial channel having means of preventing exit of the measuring sphere therefrom but yet allowing substantially free flow of air therethrough, an elongate passageway, having a rigid tubular portion configured as an elbow with a shorter arm interconnected with the bottom portion of the measuring cylinder and a longer arm extending substantially perpendicularly from the shorter arm, the longer arm having an end portion bent somewhat toward the shorter arm, a receptor comprising a bulbous nasal receptor having an orifice and being releasably carried by the end portion of the longer arm of the elbow, said receptor adapted to be releasably positionable in a human speech channel immediately inwardly of its orifice, said elongate passageway providing communication between said measuring cylinder and said receptor.

Claim 5

An air flow measuring instrument for use in diagnostic and remedial speech therapy comprising, in combination: a substantially vertically oriented elongate measuring cylinder having a bottom portion and further defining a medial channel carrying a measuring sphere movable upwardly therein responsive to air flow therethrough, said medial channel having means of preventing exit of the measuring sphere therefrom but yet allowing substantially free flow of air therethrough, an elongate passageway, having a rigid tubular portion configured as an elbow with a shorter arm interconnected with the bottom portion of the measuring cylinder and a longer arm extending substantially perpendicularly from the shorter arm, the longer arm having an end portion bent somewhat toward the shorter arm, a receptor comprising a bulbous nasal receptor having an orifice and being releasably carried by the end portion of the longer arm of the elbow, said receptor adapted to be releasably positionable in a human speech channel immediately inwardly of its orifice, said elongate passageway providing communication between said measuring cylinder and said receptor.

Claim 6

An air flow measuring instrument for use in diagnostic and remedial speech therapy comprising, in combination: a substantially vertically oriented, rigid, elongate measuring cylinder having a bottom and defining a medial channel carrying a measuring sphere movable upwardly therein responsive to air flow therethrough, said medial channel having means of preventing exit of the measuring sphere from the top thereof but yet allowing substantially free flow of air therethrough; an elongate air passageway, communicating with said channel, defined by a rigid tubular elbow having a shorter arm interconnected with the bottom of the measuring cylinder and a longer arm, extending substantially perpendicularly from the shorter arm, interconnected with an elongate flexible tube having a free end and carrying a receptor at said free end, and a receptor having an orifice, said receptor adapted to be releasably positionable in a human speech channel, immediately inwardly of its orifice, the receptor comprising a funnel, of smaller cross-section than an oral speech cavity in which it is to be used, interconnected by a transition portion with the free end of the flexible tube.

Claim 7

An air flow measuring instrument for use in diagnostic and remedial speech therapy comprising, in combination: a substantially vertically oriented, rigid, elongate measuring cylinder having a bottom and defining a medial channel carrying a measuring sphere movable upwardly therein responsive to air flow therethrough, said medial channel having means of preventing exit of the measuring sphere from the top thereof but yet allowing substantially free flow of air therethrough; an elongate air passageway, communicating with said channel, defined by a rigid tubular elbow having a shorter arm interconnected with the bottom of the measuring cylinder and a longer arm, extending substantially perpendicularly from the shorter arm, interconnected with an elongate flexible tube having a free end and carrying a receptor at said free end, and a receptor having an orifice, said receptor adapted to be releasably positionable in a human speech channel, immediately inwardly of its orifice, the receptor comprising a funnel, of smaller cross-section than an oral speech cavity in which it is to be used, interconnected by a transition portion with the free end of the flexible tube.