TUB FOR HUMIDIFIER

• US 20080302361A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: SNOW, John Michael, ZEKIC, John, CORK, Simon Robert, HUNTER, Benjamin John
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/60 Biased catch or latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/608 Pivoted

Abstract

A humidifier includes a tub. The tub includes a base plate; a tub base; a seal between the base plate and the tub base; and a latch mechanism that connects the base plate to the tub base so that the base plate is engaged with the seal. The latch mechanism may include an overcenter latch pivotably attached to the tub base and latch tabs formed on the base plate, the overcenter latch engaging the latch tabs in the connected position to connect the base plate to the tub base. The latch mechanism may alternatively include resilient tabs on the tub base, the resilient tabs elastically biasing the base plate toward the tub base upon connection of the base plate to the tub base. The resilient tabs may include tamper evident projections that indicate that the base plate has been disconnected from the tub base. The base plate may be stainless steel and be formed by stamping. The base plate may include a stamped ring. The humidifier further includes a tub lid configured to cover the tub to form a water container. A cradle receives the water container. A hinged lid on the cradle is pivotable between an open position permitting insertion of the water container into the cradle and a closed position covering the inserted water container. A heating element contacts the base plate when the water container is inserted into the cradle. The humidifier is connectable to a flow generator of a CPAP device.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising a tub, the tub comprising

a base plate;

a tub base;

a seal between the base plate and the tub base; and

a latch mechanism that connects the base plate to the tub base so that the base plate is engaged with the seal.

2. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises an overcenter latch pivotably attached to the tub base and latch tabs formed on the base plate, the overcenter latch engaging the latch tabs in a connected position to connect the base plate to the tub base.

3. A humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the overcenter latch comprises a textured surface.

4. A humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the overcenter latch comprises two catches, each catch configured to engage a respective latch tab when the overcenter latch is in the connected position.

5. A humidifier according to claim 4, further comprising two pivot hinges that pivotably connect the overcenter latch to the tub base.

6. A humidifier according to claim 5, wherein each pivot hinge is connected to each catch.

7. A humidifier according to claim 6, wherein each pivot hinge comprises a first pin configured for connection to the tub base and a second pin for connection to the catch.

8. A humidifier according to claim 7, wherein the first pin has larger diameter than the second pin.

9. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a plurality of resilient tabs provided on the tub base and a plurality of corresponding slots on the base plate that receive the resilient tabs.

10. A humidifier according to claim 9, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a releasable fastener that releasably fastens the base plate to the tub base.

11. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises tabs on the tub base and a snap ring having a first end that engages the base plate and a second end that is held by the tab.

12. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises tabs on the tub base and the base plate is held between the tabs and the seal.

13. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises resilient tabs on the tub base, the resilient tabs elastically biasing the base plate toward the tub base upon connection of the base plate to the tub base.

14. A humidifier according to claim 13, wherein the resilient tabs include tamper evident projections that indicate that the base plate has been disconnected from the tub base.

15. A humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a base unit configured to receive the tub, wherein the latch mechanism comprises resilient latches on the base unit that engage the tub base to bias the tub base and the base plate towards each other.

16. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises an overcenter cam pivotably attached to the tub base, the overcenter cam comprising a linkage that engages a cam lever on the base plate to connect the base plate to the tub base.

17. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises two pair of snaps, each pair of snaps being configured to engage opposite sides of a respective tab of the base plate.

18. A humidifier according to claim 17, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises stakes extending from the tub base and configured to extend through apertures in the base plate, and the stakes are configured to be melted to maintain the seal in compression between the tub base and the base plate.

19. A humidifier according to claim 17, wherein the two pairs of snaps are arranged symmetrically around a center of the tub base.

20. A humidifier according to claim 18, wherein the apertures are provided in the tabs of the base plate.

21. A humidifier according to claim 18, wherein the heat stakes are configured to be heated ultrasonically or by a heated probe.

22. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a snap ring configured to be permanently connected to the tub base, and the seal is configured to be compressed between the snap ring and the base plate.

23. A humidifier according to claim 22, wherein the snap ring comprises a plurality of snaps configured to engage a corresponding plurality of snaps around a periphery of an opening of the tub base.

24. A humidifier according to claim 23, wherein the snap ring further comprises a channel and the tub base further comprises a plurality of alignment tabs configured for insertion into the channel, wherein alignment tab prevent relative rotation of the snap ring with respect to the tub base and disengagement of the snaps.

25. A humidifier according to claim 23, wherein the snap ring and the base plate are oval shaped.

26. A humidifier according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of snaps comprises six snaps.

27. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a peripheral wall of the base plate that is configured to be folded to compress the seal between a peripheral edge of an opening of the tub base and a bottom of the base plate.

28. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a peripheral wall of the base plate, the peripheral wall having a hook portion configured to engage a peripheral edge of an opening of the tub base to compress the seal between the peripheral edge and a bottom of the base plate.

29. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a peripheral wall of the base plate that comprises a plurality of resilient tabs configured to engage a peripheral edge of an opening of the tub base to compress the seal between the peripheral edge and a bottom of the base plate.

30. A humidifier according to claim 27, wherein the peripheral edge of the opening of the tub base comprises a channel or groove configured to accommodate the seal.

31. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a plurality of stakes extending from the tub base, the stakes are configured to pass through corresponding apertures in the seal and the base plate and be heated so that melted portions of the stakes engage the base plate to compress the seal between the base plate and the tub base.

32. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is formed of metal.

33. A humidifier according to claim 32, wherein the base plate is formed of stainless steel.

34. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is formed by stamping.

35. A humidifier according to claim 34, wherein the base plate comprises a stamped ring.

36. A humidifier according to claim 35, wherein the stamped ring is circular.

37. A humidifier according to claim 35, wherein the stamped ring is D-shaped.

38. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises upturned edges.

39. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises alignment tabs and the tub base includes alignment slots configured to receive the alignment tabs.

40. A humidifier according to claim 39, wherein the alignment tabs are spaced apart by about 5 mm-15 mm.

41. A humidifier according to claim 40, wherein the alignment tabs are spaced apart by about 10 mm.

42. A humidifier according to claim 39, wherein the alignment tabs and the latch mechanism provide a generally triangular compression region for the seal.

43. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the seal is provided in a groove formed in the tub base.

44. A humidifier according to claim 43, wherein the seal comprises an O-ring.

45. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the seal is overmolded to the tub base.

46. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the tub base comprises ribs at the connections between the latch mechanism and the base plate.

48. A humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a tub lid configured to cover the tub, the tub and the tub lid forming a water container, wherein the tub lid comprises an air inlet aperture configured to receive a flow of air from a flow generator connectable to the humidifier, an air passage configured to deliver the flow of air to the tub, and an outlet configured to pass humidified air out of the tub.

49. A humidifier according to claim 48, further comprising a cradle configured to receive the water container.

50. A humidifier according to claim 49, wherein the cradle is configured to be connected to the flow generator.

51. A humidifier according to claim 49, wherein the cradle comprises a hinged lid, the hinged lid being pivotable between an open position permitting insertion of the water container into the cradle and a closed position covering the inserted water container.

52. A humidifier according to claim 51, wherein the hinged lid comprises an air outlet pipe configured to communicate with the outlet of the tub lid when the hinged lid is the closed position.

53. A humidifier according to claim 49, wherein the cradle comprises a heating element configured to contact the base plate when the water container is inserted into the cradle.

54. A CPAP device comprising a humidifier according to claim 1.

47. A humidifier according to -aim 46, wherein the tub base further comprises a gap provided between at least two of the ribs.

55. A humidifier comprising a tub, the tub comprising

a base plate;

a tub base;

a seal between the base plate and the tub base; and

latch means for connecting the base plate to the tub base so that the base plate is engaged with the seal.