IP Library Granted Patent US 11,253,658
Granted Patent B2
US 11,253,658 · App. 15/984,351 · Granted Feb 22, 2022

Personal inhaling device

Inventors: James G Montagnino (Saint Charles, IL); Dirk Niedermann (Chicago, IL); Li Kin Wan (Fanling, HK); Chan Ming Hon (Tseung Kwan O, HK)
A61M11/005A61F7/0085A61M11/042A61F2007/0062A61F2007/0064A61F2007/0086A61F2007/0087A61M2205/3334A61M2205/3368A61M2205/3379A61M2205/584A61M2205/587A61M2205/8206A61M2205/8262
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,253,658
App. No.
15/984,351
Granted
Feb 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A personal inhaling apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic personal inhaler with ultra-fine mist transducer that delivers both cool and warm mist using a heater, a face mask, a fluid supply means, and a power source including batteries and/or corded power supply. The apparatus may include a receptacle for a scented pad placed in contact with the heater. Indicators functioning in a pre-determined manner provide indication on if the device is delivering a cool mist, a warm mist, is switched-OFF, a level of charge of a power source, and a level of the fluid in the fluid supply means.

Claims (51)

1. A personal inhaling device comprising:

a face mask, wherein the face mask comprises a vented face mask;

an ultrafine sonic transducer;

a heater;

a reservoir; wherein a liquid for forming a warm mist and a cool mist is stored in the reservoir;

a rechargeable power source;

a switch, wherein the switch is used to turn the device to a switch ON position or a switch OFF position;

wherein the face mask is attached to the heater for pulling in a cold air stream from the surrounding environment to surround the warm mist thus maintaining temperature level and moisture level of the exiting mist;

wherein in the switch ON position the device is activated to function in a plurality of modes,

wherein the plurality of modes comprise a cool mode and a hot mode;

wherein in the switch ON position the cool mode is activated by pressing a first portion of the switch; and wherein in the switch ON position the hot mode is activated by pressing a second portion of the switch;

wherein the switch ON position in the cool mode, switch ON position in the hot mode, the switch OFF position, a level of charge of the power source, a level of the liquid in the reservoir, are indicated in a pre-determined manner using a first indicator, a second indicator, and a third indicator in the device;

wherein the first indicator is configured to indicate the switch ON position in the cool mode, the switch ON position in the hot mode, and the switch OFF position; wherein the switch is configured to adjust the flow rates and temperatures in the hot mode by pressing the second portion of the switch twice to provide a higher temperature and a high output warm mist;

wherein the first indicator is a light emitting diode that is illuminated in a pre-determined manner to indicate the cool mode in the switch ON position, hot mode in the switch ON position, and in the switch OFF position of the device;

wherein the second indicator is configured to indicate the level of charge of the power source;

wherein the second indicator comprises a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode, wherein the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode indicate the level of charging of the power source in a pre-determined manner;

wherein the third indicator is configured to indicate a level of the liquid in the reservoir; wherein the reservoir comprises the third indicator, wherein the third indicator comprises a light emitting diode, wherein the third indicator indicates a liquid level in the reservoir in a pre-determined manner;

a means for providing the cool mist in the cool mode of the device, the means comprising the ultrafine sonic transducer forming the cool mist from fluid provided by the reservoir;

a means for providing the warm mist in the hot mode of the device, the means comprising the heater attached to the ultrafine sonic transducer, the ultrafine sonic transducer in combination with the heater warming an exiting mist from fluid provided by the reservoir to form the warm mist in the hot mode of the device;

wherein the warm mist has an operational time in a range of from about 20 minutes to about 25 minutes;

wherein the warm mist at a low output has a temperature in a range of about 95 degree Fahrenheit to about 97 degree Fahrenheit at about an output of about 15 milliliters;

wherein the warm mist at a high output has a temperature in a range of about 105 degree Fahrenheit to about 107 degree Fahrenheit at about an output of about 15 milliliters; and

a means for providing a scented exiting warm mist; the means comprising a receptacle for a scented pad in contact with the heater configured to generate the scented exiting warm mist upon mixing with the exiting mist from fluid provided by the reservoir.

2. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the switch is surrounded by a first indicator.

3. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the switch is an upper portion of the switch.

4. The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the switch is a lower portion of the switch.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein the third indicator changes to purple color when the liquid level is low in the reservoir.

6. A method of using a personal inhaler device, comprising:

providing a power source which is able to power the personal inhaler device using a low voltage AC to DC corded adapter, or a plurality of rechargeable batteries;

providing a reservoir for storing liquid;

providing an ultra-fine mist transducer, operationally connected to the reservoir, configured to convert the stored liquid into a cool mist or into a warm mist;

providing the ultra-fine mist transducer configured to direct a flow of the cool mist or the warm mist into a vented face mask;

providing the vented face mask configured to fit on a human face and to enable inhaling by said human of the cool mist or the warm mist;

providing a heating system, sandwiched between the reservoir and the vented face mask, operationally connected to the mist transducer, and configured to providing the warm mist in a hot mode;

providing a switch which is able to turn the personal inhaler device to a switch ON position, or to a switch OFF position;

providing a printed circuit board assembly to control the personal inhaling device, which will be configured for:

A. causing the personal inhaling device in the switch ON position to function in a plurality of modes;

B. enabling the plurality of modes to comprise a cool mode and the hot mode;

C. adjusting the flow rates and temperatures in the hot mode by pressing a second portion of the switch once to provide a low temperature and a low output warm mist;

D. adjusting the flow rates and temperatures in the hot mode by pressing the second portion of the switch twice to provide a higher temperature and a high output warm mist;

E. directing the personal inhaling device to the switch OFF position by pressing the second portion of the switch thrice;

F. adjusting the flow rates in the cool mode by pressing a first portion of the switch once to provide a low output cool mist;

G. adjusting the flow rates in the cool mode by pressing the first portion of the switch twice to provide a high output cool mist; and

H. adjusting the flow rates in the cool mode by pressing the first portion of the switch thrice to the personal inhaling device to the switch OFF position.

7. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein:

said storing liquid in the reservoir is water.

8. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein the vented face mask is configured for pulling in a cold air stream from surrounding environment to surround the warm mist and thereby maintaining temperature of the warm mist.

9. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein the warm mist has an operational time in a range of from about 20 minutes to about 25 minutes.

10. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein the warm mist at the low output has a temperature in a range of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit to about 97 degrees Fahrenheit at about an output of about 15 milliliters.

11. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein the warm mist at the high output has a temperature in a range of about 105 degrees Fahrenheit to about 107 degrees Fahrenheit at about an output of about 15 milliliters.

12. The method of using a personal inhaler device of claim 6 , wherein the cool mist has an operational time in a range of from about 30 minutes to about 35 minutes for about 100 milliliters of liquid from a reservoir in the device.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2020
From: CRANE USA INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 054579/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2018
From: MONTAGNINO, JAMES G
To: CRANE USA INC.
Reel/Frame 045940/0707 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2018
From: NIEDERMANN, DIRK
To: CRANE USA INC.
Reel/Frame 045940/0771 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2018
From: MING HON, CHAN
To: CRANE USA INC.
Reel/Frame 045940/0865 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2018
From: KIN WAN, LI
To: CRANE USA INC.
Reel/Frame 045941/0020 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190351155A1 · Nov 21, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 1,146,010 US 12,678,367