CAP

• US 20070210462A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Flolid, Gregory, Shelnutt, Sam, Felty, Dave, Delgado, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/72.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2006/008 Air-humidifier with water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/00 Air-humidification , e.g. cooling by humidification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A container cap for providing a seal with an annular wall of a receptacle is disclosed. The cap includes a top wall, an annular seal wall, and cam structure. The annular seal wall extends axially from the cover portion. The annular seal wall is spaced radially inward of the cam structure. An end portion of the annular seal wall is configured to form a seal with the annular wall of the receptacle when the end portion is forced into engagement with annular wall of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A humidifier reservoir cap for providing a seal with an annular wall of a humidifier reservoir, the cap comprising:

a top wall;

a port defined by an annular wall having an outlet end that is recessed with respect to the top wall and is spaced radially inward of the top wall;

an annular sealing wall extending axially from the top wall and spaced radially outward of the annular wall of the port, the annular sealing wall including an end portion that is configured to form a seal with the annular wall of the receptacle when the end portion is forced into engagement with the annular wall of the receptacle;

a cam structure spaced radially outward of the sealing wall, the cam structure being configured to engage the humidifier reservoir and force annular sealing wall into engagement with the annular wall of the reservoir to provide the seal between the cap and the annular wall of the humidifier reservoir.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein the cap is formed from a single piece of material.

3. The cap of claim 1 wherein the end portion of the annular sealing wall is tapered.

4. The cap of claim 1 wherein the annular sealing wall is greater than two inches in diameter.

5. The cap of claim 1 wherein the annular sealing wall is between is between two and six inches in diameter.

6. The cap of claim 1 wherein the cam structure is formed on a continuous radially outer wall.

7. A humidifier reservoir cap for providing a seal with an annular wall of a humidifier reservoir, the cap comprising:

a top wall;

a port defined by a first annular wall that extends away from the top wall, an inner end wall that extends radially inward from the first annular wall, and a second annular wall that extends axially from the inner end wall back toward the top wall;

an annular sealing wall extending axially from the top wall and spaced radially outward of the first annular wall of the port, the annular sealing wall including an end portion that is configured to form a seal with the annular wall of the receptacle when the end portion is forced into engagement with the annular wall of the receptacle;

a cam structure spaced radially outward of the sealing wall, the cam structure being configured to engage the humidifier reservoir and force annular sealing wall into engagement with the annular wall of the reservoir to provide the seal between the cap and the annular wall of the humidifier reservoir.

8. The cap of claim 7 wherein the end portion of the annular sealing wall is tapered.

9. The cap of claim 7 wherein the cap is formed from a single piece of material.

10. The cap of claim 7 wherein the annular sealing wall is greater than two inches in diameter.

11. The cap of claim 7 wherein the annular sealing wall is between is between two and six inches in diameter.

12. The cap of claim 7 wherein the cam structure is formed on a continuous radially outer wall.

13. A container assembly comprising:

a cap comprising;

a top wall;

a port defined by an annular wall that is recessed with respect to the top wall and is spaced radially inward of the top wall;

an annular sealing wall extending axially from the top wall and spaced radially outward of the annular wall of the port, the annular sealing wall including an end portion;

a first cam structure spaced radially outward of the annular sealing wall;

a receptacle comprising;

a compartment portion that defines an interior space of the receptacle;

an annular wall extending axially from the compartment portion;

a second cam structure defined on an outer surface of the annular wall of the receptacle;

wherein the first and second cam structures engage one another upon rotation of the cap with respect to the receptacle to move the annular sealing wall of the cap into engagement with the annular wall of the receptacle to form a seal therebetween.

14. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein the annular sealing wall is tapered.

15. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein the annular wall of the receptacle is tapered.

16. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein the annular sealing wall is tapered and the annular wall of the receptacle is tapered and wherein the taper of the annular sealing wall engages the taper of the annular wall of the receptacle.

17. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein the annular sealing wall is greater than two inches in diameter.

18. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein annular sealing wall is between is between two and six inches in diameter.

19. A humidifier reservoir assembly for a continuous positive airway pressure device comprising:

a receptacle that includes a plate opening, a cap opening and conduit opening;

a conduit disposed in the conduit opening for supplying fluid under pressure to the receptacle;

a plate disposed in the plate opening such that a seal is formed between the plate and the receptacle;

a cap that seals the cap opening, the cap including an outlet port for communicating fluid under pressure out of the receptacle.

20. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the cap comprises:

a cover portion;

an outer wall extending axially from the cover portion;

an inner annular wall extending axially from the cover portion and spaced radially inward of the outer annular wall, wherein the inner annular wall engages the receptacle to form a seal with the receptacle.

21. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the outlet port is defined by a first annular wall that extends away from a top wall of the cap, an inner end wall that extends radially inward from the first annular wall, and a second annular wall that extends axially from the inner end wall back toward the top wall.

22. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the outlet port is defined by an annular wall having an outlet end that is recessed with respect to a top wall of the cap and is spaced radially inward of the top wall.

23. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the cap opening is sized to accept an average size human hand.

24. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the cap opening is greater than two inches in diameter.

25. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 19 wherein the cap opening is between is between two and six inches in diameter.

26. The humidifier reservoir of claim 19 wherein the cap opening is positioned with respect to the plate opening to allow the plate to be removed by inserting an object through the cap opening and pressing on the plate.

27. The humidifier reservoir of claim 20 wherein the cap opening is disposed through an upper surface of the receptacle and the plate opening is disposed on a lower surface of the receptacle.

28. A humidifier reservoir assembly for a continuous positive airway pressure device comprising:

a receptacle that includes a plate opening, a cap opening and conduit opening;

a conduit disposed in the conduit opening for supplying fluid under pressure to the receptacle;

a plate disposed in the plate opening such that a seal is formed between the plate and the receptacle;

a cap that seals the cap opening, wherein the cap opening is sized to accept a human hand of average size.

29. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 28 wherein the cap comprises:

a cover portion;

an outer annular wall extending axially from the cover portion;

an inner annular wall extending axially from the cover portion and spaced radially inward of the outer annular wall, wherein the inner annular wall engages the receptacle to form a seal with the receptacle.

30. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 28 wherein the cap opening is greater than two inches in diameter.

31. The humidifier reservoir assembly of claim 28 wherein the cap opening is between is between two and six inches in diameter.

32. The humidifier reservoir of claim 28 wherein the cap opening is positioned with respect to the plate opening to allow the plate to be removed by inserting an object through the cap opening and pressing on the plate.

33. The humidifier reservoir of claim 28 wherein the cap opening is disposed through an upper surface of the receptacle and the plate opening is disposed on a lower surface of the receptacle.

34. A method of cleaning a humidifier reservoir assembly for a continuous positive airway pressure device that includes a receptacle and a heat transfer plate comprising:

inserting at least a portion of a human hand through a cap opening of the receptacle;

pressing the heat transfer plate with the human hand to remove the heat transfer plate from the receptacle;

washing the receptacle;

washing the heat transfer plate.