Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
An improved nebulizer, said nebulizer comprising in combination: A. A hollow generally elongated housing defining a central chamber containing a body of nebulizable liquid, said housing including a gas entry port adjacent the lower end thereof and a nebulized liquid exit port adjacent the upper end thereof; B. a gas conduit having a central passageway connected to said gas entry port and extending below paid chamber, said gas conduit including a branch extending generally laterally of said conduit and defining a gas relief port; C. seal means releasably sealing said gas relief port; D. an elongated nozzle assembly connected to said gas entry port and extending up into said chamber, said assembly including an inner gas-containing tube coaxial with said gas conduit, an outer annular liquid-containing tube disposed around and over said gas-containing tube and defining a lateral passageway extending to said liquid body, the upper ends of said two tubes being flat and containing coaxial exit orifices of reduced size, the liquid of said outer tube contacting the gas of said inner tube below the upper end of said outer tube and a removable perforated cap adjustably slideably received over said outer tube and bearing a target spaced above and in line with said orifices, whereby a gas and liquid mixture exiting said orifices and impinging on said target is broken up into small adjustably sized droplets; and, E. a diffuser disposed within said chamber adjacent said exit port to prevent direct flow of nebulized liquid out of said port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
An improved nebulizer, said nebulizer comprising in combination: A. A hollow generally elongated housing defining a central chamber containing a body of nebulizable liquid, said housing including a gas entry port adjacent the lower end thereof and a nebulized liquid exit port adjacent the upper end thereof; B. a gas conduit having a central passageway connected to said gas entry port and extending below paid chamber, said gas conduit including a branch extending generally laterally of said conduit and defining a gas relief port; C. seal means releasably sealing said gas relief port; D. an elongated nozzle assembly connected to said gas entry port and extending up into said chamber, said assembly including an inner gas-containing tube coaxial with said gas conduit, an outer annular liquid-containing tube disposed around and over said gas-containing tube and defining a lateral passageway extending to said liquid body, the upper ends of said two tubes being flat and containing coaxial exit orifices of reduced size, the liquid of said outer tube contacting the gas of said inner tube below the upper end of said outer tube and a removable perforated cap adjustably slideably received over said outer tube and bearing a target spaced above and in line with said orifices, whereby a gas and liquid mixture exiting said orifices and impinging on said target is broken up into small adjustably sized droplets; and, E. a diffuser disposed within said chamber adjacent said exit port to prevent direct flow of nebulized liquid out of said port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improved nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises upper and lower sections releasably secured together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved nebulizer of claim 2 wherein said sections interconnect in a generally horizontal plane at about the level of said cap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said diffuser, conduit and nozzle assembly are integral with said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said cap comprises a depending annular peripheral rim and a horizontal portion secured to the upper end of said rim and including said target disposed in a central depending position, and spokes secured to and radiating from said target to said rim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The improved nebulizer of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said target is curved to deflect said liquid and gas mixture and is closely spaced from the flat top surface of the upper end of said outer tube, wherein the upper end of said outer tube has a flat bottom surface and wherein said inner and outer tubes are dimensioned to provide a flat disc shaped contact space for said gas and liquid between the flat top surface of the upper end of such inner tube and the flat bottom surface of the upper end of said outer tube.