IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,623,038
Granted Patent B2
US 12,623,038 · App. 17/811,614 · Granted May 12, 2026

CPAP device

Inventor: Atsushi Hattori (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
A61M16/0066A61M16/0816A61M16/109A61M16/16A61M2205/0216A61M2205/123
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,623,038
App. No.
17/811,614
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An insertion-ejection opening opens in a housing case body of a housing case. A tank is inserted into and ejected from a housing space of the housing case body through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case body. A portion of an upper-side internal surface of the housing case body forms a case slant surface slanted relative to a surface that is perpendicular to a height direction. In addition, the case slant surface faces toward a side of the insertion-ejection opening. A second discharge opening opens in the case slant surface. A portion of an external surface of the tank forms a tank slant surface slanted relative to the surface that is perpendicular to the height direction. A discharge tank aperture opens in the tank slant surface. In a state in which the tank is housed in the housing case body, the tank slant surface faces the case slant surface.

Claims (92)

1 . A CPAP device comprising:

a blowing unit including a built-in blower;

a housing case including the blowing unit;

a water storage tank to be housed in a housing space of the housing case; and

a heater to vaporize water stored in the tank, wherein

the housing case includes an insertion-ejection opening for insertion and ejection of the tank,

a portion of an internal surface of the housing case is a first surface slanted relative to a surface perpendicular to an insertion-ejection direction for the tank through the insertion-ejection opening and facing toward a side of the insertion-ejection opening,

a first portion of an external surface of the tank is a first facing surface to come into direct or indirect contact with the first surface when the tank is housed in the housing space and a second portion of the external surface of the tank is a second facing surface opposite the first surface of the tank,

the first surface or a surface among internal surfaces of the housing case surrounded by the first surface includes a first case aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the housing case,

the tank includes a first tank aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the tank, in a position facing the first case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space,

wherein the tank is housed in the housing space such that the first facing surface and the second facing surface are at least partially enclosed by the housing case,

wherein a first seal member being an elastic body to seal a space between the first case aperture and the first tank aperture is interposed between the first surface and the first facing surface, and

wherein the first surface and the first facing surface are in contact with each other with the first seal member interposed therebetween when the tank is housed in the housing space,

wherein at least a portion of the first seal member extends in a shape of bellows.

2 . The CPAP device according to claim 1 , wherein

the heater is mounted in the housing case and is placed on a side opposed to the first surface with the housing space in between.

3 . The CPAP device according to claim 2 , wherein

a second portion of the internal surface of the housing case is a second surface intersecting with both of the insertion-ejection direction and a plane defined by the first surface and facing toward the side of the insertion-ejection opening,

the second facing surface comes into contact with the second surface when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case,

the second surface includes a second case aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the housing case, and

the second facing surface includes a second tank aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the tank, in a position facing the second case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space.

4 . The CPAP device according to claim 2 , wherein

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

5 . The CPAP device according to claim 1 , wherein

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

6 . The CPAP device according to claim 1 , wherein

a second portion of the internal surface of the housing case is a second surface intersecting with both of the insertion-ejection direction and the first surface and facing toward the side of the insertion-ejection opening,

the second facing surface comes into contact with the second surface when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case,

the second surface includes a second case aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the housing case, and

the second facing surface includes a second tank aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the tank, in a position facing the second case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space.

7 . A CPAP device comprising:

a blowing unit including a built-in blower;

a housing case including the blowing unit;

a water storage tank to be housed in a housing space of the housing case; and

a heater to vaporize water stored in the tank, wherein

the housing case includes an insertion-ejection opening for insertion and ejection of the tank,

a portion of an internal surface of the housing case is a first surface slanted relative to a surface perpendicular to an insertion-ejection direction for the tank through the insertion-ejection opening and facing toward a side of the insertion-ejection opening,

a first portion of an external surface of the tank is a first facing surface to come into direct or indirect contact with the first surface when the tank is housed in the housing space and a second portion of the external surface of the tank is a second facing surface opposite the first surface of the tank,

the first surface or a surface among internal surfaces of the housing case surrounded by the first surface includes a first case aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the housing case,

the tank includes a first tank aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the tank, in a position facing the first case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space,

wherein the tank is housed in the housing space such that the first facing surface and the second facing surface are at least partially enclosed by the housing case,

wherein a first seal member being an elastic body to seal a space between the first case aperture and the first tank aperture is interposed between the first surface and the first facing surface, and

wherein the first surface and the first facing surface are in contact with each other with the first seal member interposed therebetween when the tank is housed in the housing space,

wherein

the first seal member is shaped like a circular loop and has a laminated structure comprised of a plurality of layers with respect to a center axis direction of the circular loop of the first seal member, and

one of the plurality of layers is comprised of a material differing in elastic modulus from a material of at least another one of the plurality of layers.

8 . The CPAP device according to claim 7 , wherein

a second portion of the internal surface of the housing case is a second surface intersecting with both of the insertion-ejection direction and the first surface and facing toward the side of the insertion-ejection opening,

the second facing surface comes into contact with the second surface when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case,

the second surface includes a second case aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the housing case, and

the second facing surface includes a second tank aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the tank, in a position facing the second case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space.

9 . The CPAP device according to claim 7 , wherein

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

10 . A CPAP device comprising:

a blowing unit including a built-in blower;

a housing case including the blowing unit;

a water storage tank to be housed in a housing space of the housing case; and

a heater to vaporize water stored in the tank, wherein

the housing case includes an insertion-ejection opening for insertion and ejection of the tank,

a portion of an internal surface of the housing case is a first surface slanted relative to a surface perpendicular to an insertion-ejection direction for the tank through the insertion-ejection opening and facing toward a side of the insertion-ejection opening,

a first portion of an external surface of the tank is a first facing surface to come into direct or indirect contact with the first surface when the tank is housed in the housing space and a second portion of the external surface of the tank is a second facing surface opposite the first surface of the tank,

the first surface or a surface among internal surfaces of the housing case surrounded by the first surface includes a first case aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the housing case,

the tank includes a first tank aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the tank, in a position facing the first case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space,

wherein the tank is housed in the housing space such that the first facing surface and the second facing surface are at least partially enclosed by the housing case,

a second portion of the internal surface of the housing case is a second surface intersecting with both of the insertion-ejection direction and the first surface and facing toward the side of the insertion-ejection opening,

the second surface includes a second case aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the housing case, and

the second facing surface includes a second tank aperture to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the tank, in a position facing the second case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space.

11 . The CPAP device according to claim 10 , wherein

the second surface is a surface perpendicular to the insertion-ejection direction for the tank.

12 . The CPAP device according to claim 11 , wherein

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

13 . The CPAP device according to claim 10 , wherein

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

14 . A CPAP device comprising:

a blowing unit including a built-in blower;

a housing case including the blowing unit;

a water storage tank to be housed in a housing space of the housing case; and

a heater to vaporize water stored in the tank, wherein

the housing case includes an insertion-ejection opening for insertion and ejection of the tank,

a portion of an internal surface of the housing case is a first surface slanted relative to a surface perpendicular to an insertion-ejection direction for the tank through the insertion-ejection opening and facing toward a side of the insertion-ejection opening,

a portion of an external surface of the tank is a first facing surface to come into direct or indirect contact with the first surface when the tank is housed in the housing space,

the first surface or a surface among internal surfaces of the housing case surrounded by the first surface includes a first case aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the housing case,

the tank includes a first tank aperture to provide communication between inside and outside of the tank, in a position facing the first case aperture when the tank is housed in the housing space,

a first seal member being an elastic body to seal a space between the first case aperture and the first tank aperture is interposed between the first surface and the first facing surface,

the first surface and the first facing surface are in contact with each other with the first seal member interposed therebetween when the tank is housed in the housing space,

a stopper portion to prevent the tank from being removed through the insertion-ejection opening of the housing case to the outside of the housing case is mounted in the housing case, and

the stopper portion is in contact with a contact portion of the tank from the side of the insertion-ejection opening in the insertion-ejection direction when the tank is housed in the housing space of the housing case.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2022
From: HATTORI, ATSUSHI
To: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060472/0001 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-010019 · Jan 24, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2020043921 · Nov 26, 2020
Related Publication 20220339395A1 · Oct 27, 2022
References Cited (6)
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JP 2009508647A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/JP2020/043921 dated Jan. 19, 2021. [cited by applicant]