Medical gas bottle with peripheral protective shell

• US 20060065672A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Air Liquide Sante International (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: Air Liquide Sante International (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Lecourt, Laurent, Virey, Franck, Mazoyer, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/241,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/3
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/04 Protecting sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/002 for vessels under pressure F17C13/008 and F17C13/02 - F17C13/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/06 Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member for autoclaves B01J3/03; closures for large containers in general B65D B65D90/54; for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/084 for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0648 Alloys or compositions of metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0115 Dismountable protective hulls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0165 with handgrip
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0196 with shock absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0308 Protective caps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/054 by bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/057 by chips
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2109 : Moulding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/03 : Mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/031 : Air
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/012 : Reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/018 : Adapting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0189 : Planes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 : Breathing

Abstract

Portable gas delivery equipment comprising a gas bottle (1) having a height of less than 50 cm, a gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) mounted on the bottle (1), mechanical protection means (3) placed around the bottle (1) and around the said gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2), characterized in that the said protection means (3) comprise at least one external rigid shell (3) formed from at least two sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) that include catching means (10, 11) for firmly fastening the said sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) together. One or more additional protective elements (14a, 14b) are provided between the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) in order to improve the protection of the tap (2). Furthermore, the external rigid shell (3) has an external profile with a neck (12) designed in such a way that it allows the equipment to be manually gripped by a user via this neck (12).

Claims

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A portable gas delivery equipment comprising:

a) a gas bottle (1) having a height of less than 50 cm;

b) a gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) mounted on the bottle (1); and

c) mechanical protection means (3) placed around the bottle (1) and around the said gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2), the said protection means (3) comprising at least one external rigid shell (3) formed from at least two sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) that include catching means (10, 11) for firmly fastening the said sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) together,

wherein;

a) the sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) comprise two half-shells (3a, 3b) fastened together, forming a protective shell that covers the entire body of the bottle (1) and at least a portion of the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2); and

b) one or more additional protective elements (14a, 14b) are provided between the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

43. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the protective elements (14a, 14b) are shaped so as to follow the contours of all or part of the external surface of the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

44. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the half-shells (3a, 3b) are fastened to the internal protective elements (14a, 14b) by fastening means (100, 111) which are on the half-shells (3a, 3b) and on the protective elements (14a, 14b) and which cooperate with one another, and preferably the fastening elements (100, 111) fit into each other so that the said protective elements (14a, 14b) are fastened to the half-shells (3a, 3b).

45. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the fastening elements (100, 111) are on and/or placed in the internal wall of the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the external wall of the protective elements (14a, 14b).

46. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the external profile obtained after the two half-shells (3a, 3b) have been fastened together has a neck (12) formed in the half-shells (3a, 3b), the neck (12) being preferably located approximately in the upper third of the said half-shells (3a, 3b) and designed in such a way that it allows the equipment to be manually gripped via this neck (12).

47. The equipment of claim 43, wherein the weight of the assembly is less than 5 kg.

48. The equipment of claim 42, wherein a gas delivery valve (4), a system for connection to a ventilator or any other gas delivery system is mounted on the said fitting (7) via the port (6), and preferably the delivery valve (4) is a demand valve.

49. The equipment of claim 48, wherein a push-button (8) cooperating with the gas delivery valve (4) allows the patient to increase the gas flow by acting on the said push-button (8) and in that an orifice for access to the said push-button (8) is provided on one and/or the other of the half-shells (3a, 3b).

50. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the body of the bottle (1) is formed from aluminum, an aluminum alloy or a composite.

51. The equipment of claim 42, wherein it includes a traceability means, in particular a traceability chip based in a housing provided in one of the half-shells (3a, 3b), in the closure cap (5) or in one of the additional protective elements (14a, 14b), or a bar code placed on the shell or the closure cap.

52. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) are made of plastic, preferably a fire-retarded polymer.

53. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the weight of the assembly is less than 3 kg, preferably less than 2 kg.

54. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the two half-shells (3a, 3b) fit together via catching means carried by or placed on the internal wall and/or the bottom (3c) of the said half-shells (3a, 3b) and/or by the protective elements (14a, 14b).

55. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the catching means comprise catching hooks (10) carried by one of the half-shells (3a, 3b), which cooperate with complementary means placed on the other half-shell.

56. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the internal reinforcements (11) are provided on the internal peripheral wall and/or on the bottom (3c) of the half-shells (3a, 3b).

57. The equipment of claim 42, wherein the reinforcements (11) and the half-shells (3a, 3b) are molded as a single piece.

58. The equipment of claim 42, wherein a disposable thermoformed film is placed around the periphery of the external half-shells (3a, 3b).

59. The equipment of claim 42, wherein:

a) a closure cap (5) is fitted onto the two half-shells (3a, 3b) facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2); and

b) at least one of the said protective half-shells and/or the closure cap (5) includes a port (6) located facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) so as to allow access to at least one fitting (7) on the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

60. A portable gas delivery equipment comprising:

a) a gas bottle (1) having a height of less than 50 cm;

b) a gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) mounted on the bottle (1); and

c) mechanical protection means (3) placed around the bottle (1) and around the said gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2), the said protection means (3) comprising at least one external rigid shell (3) formed from at least two sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) that include catching means (10, 11) for firmly fastening the said sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) together,

wherein;

a) the sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) comprise two half-shells (3a, 3b) fastened together, forming a protective shell that covers the entire body of the bottle (1) and at least a portion of the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2);

b) a closure cap (5) is fitted onto the two half-shells (3a, 3b) facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2),

c) at least one of the said protective half-shells and/or the closure cap (5) includes a port (6) located facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) so as to allow access to at least one fitting (7) on the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator regulator (2); and

d) the weight of assembly is less than 5 kg.

61. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the external profile obtained after the two half-shells (3a, 3b) have been fastened together has a neck (12) formed in the half-shells (3a, 3b).

62. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the neck (12) is located approximately in the upper third of the said half-shells (3a, 3b).

63. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the neck (12) is designed in such a way that it allows the equipment to be manually gripped via this neck (12), and preferably the neck (12) is designed to allow the equipment to be held by a patient using one hand.

64. The equipment of claim 60, wherein one or more additional protective elements (14a, 14b) are provided between the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

65. The equipment of claim 64, wherein the protective elements (14a, 14b) are shaped so as to follow the contours of all or part of the external surface of the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

66. The equipment of claim 60, wherein a gas delivery valve (4), a system for connection to a ventilator or any other gas delivery system is mounted on the said fitting (7) via the port (6), and preferably the delivery valve (4) is a demand valve.

67. The equipment of claim 66, wherein a push-button (8) cooperating with the gas delivery valve (4) allows the patient to increase the gas flow by acting on the said push-button (8) and in that an orifice for access to the said push-button (8) is provided on one and/or the other of the half-shells (3a, 3b).

68. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the body of the bottle (1) is formed from aluminum, an aluminum alloy or a composite.

69. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) are made of a polymer, preferably a fire-retarded polymer.

70. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the weight of the assembly is less than 3 kg, preferably less than 2 kg.

71. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the two half-shells (3a, 3b) fit together via catching means carried by or placed on the internal wall and/or the bottom (3c) of the said half-shells (3a, 3b).

72. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the catching means comprise catching hooks (10) carried by one of the half-shells (3a, 3b), which cooperate with complementary means placed on the other half-shell.

73. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the internal reinforcements (11) are provided on the internal peripheral wall and/or on the bottom (3c) of the half-shells (3a, 3b).

74. The equipment of claim 60, wherein the reinforcements (11) and the half-shells (3a, 3b) are molded as a single piece.

75. A portable gas delivery equipment comprising:

a) a gas bottle (1) having a height of less than 50 cm;

b) a gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) mounted on the bottle (1); and

c) mechanical protection means (3) placed around the bottle (1) and around the said gas tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2), the said protection means (3) comprising at least one external rigid shell (3) formed from at least two sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) that include catching means (10, 11) for firmly fastening the said sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) together,

wherein the external rigid shell (3) has an external profile with a neck (12) designed in such a way that it allows the equipment to be manually gripped by a user via this neck (12).

76. The equipment of claim 75, wherein the neck (12) is located approximately in the upper third of the shell.

77. The equipment of claim 75, wherein the neck (12) is designed to allow it to be easily held by a patient using one hand.

78. The equipment of claim 75, wherein the sub-parts (3a, 3b, 5) comprise two half-shells (3a, 3b) fastened together, forming a protective shell that covers the entire body of the bottle (1) and at least a portion of the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

79. The equipment of claim 78, wherein one or more additional protective elements (14a, 14b) are provided between the half-shells (3a, 3b) and the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

80. The equipment of claim 79, wherein the protective elements (14a, 14b) are shaped so as to follow the contours of all or part of the external surface of the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

81. The equipment of claim 75, wherein:

a) a closure cap (5) is fitted onto the two half-shells (3a, 3b) facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2); and

b) at least one of the said protective half-shells and/or the closure cap (5) includes a port (6) located facing the tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2) so as to allow access to at least one fitting (7) on the said tap or tap/pressure-regulator (2).

82. The equipment of claim 75, wherein the weight of the assembly is less than 5 kg, preferably less than 3 kg.