Self sealing water trap

• US 7,383,852 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intersurgical Ag
• Original Assignee: Intersurgical Ag
• Inventors: Pittaway, Alan, Jassell, Surinderjit Kumar, Payne, Simon Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider; Craig M
• Application Number:
  US10/497,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20050121074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 137/171, 137/203, 137/454.6, 554/29, 554/33, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 137/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/02 by utilising gravity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3003 Fluid separating traps or vents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7668 Retained by bonnet or closure

Abstract

A water trap suitable for use in a mechanical ventilation circuit comprising a cap with an inlet and an outlet, a fluid collection vessel engageable with the cap, and a rotatable closure with at least one aperture interposed between the cap and the vessel. The vessel is operably linked to the closure such that engagement or disengagement of the vessel from the cap causes the closure to be rotated. The cap is formed with an internal partition extending into abutment with the closure to define a chamber via which the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication and the closure forming a base of the chamber. When the vessel is engaged with the cap, the closure has a first orientation in which the at least one aperture is located within the periphery of the skirt in the base of the chamber and the vessel is in communication with the chamber via the at least one aperture. When the vessel is removed from the cap the closure is rotated to a second orientation in which the at least one aperture is located externally of the periphery of the skirt and the base of the chamber.

Claims

1. A mechanical ventilation system comprising:

a cap having an inlet and an outlet;

a fluid collection vessel engageable with the cap;

a rotatable closure interposed between the cap and the fluid collection vessel and including at least one aperture, the fluid collection vessel is operably linked to the closure such that movement of the fluid collection vessel from the cap causes the closure to be rotated;

wherein the cap is formed with an internal partition in the form of a skirt that extends into abutment with the closure to define a chamber via which the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, the closure forming a base of the chamber, such that when the fluid collection vessel is engaged with the cap the closure has a first orientation in which the at least one aperture is located within the periphery of the skirt in the base of the chamber and the fluid collection vessel is in communication with the chamber via the at least one aperture, and when the fluid collection vessel is removed from the cap the closure is rotated to a second orientation in which the at least one aperture is located externally of the periphery of the skirt and the base of the chamber; and

conduits connected to the inlet and outlet.

2. A water trap suitable for use in a mechanical ventilation circuit, the water trap comprising a cap having formed therein an inlet and an outlet, a fluid collection vessel engageable with the cap, and a rotatable closure interposed between the cap and the fluid collection vessel and including at least one aperture, the fluid collection vessel is operably linked to the closure such that engagement or disengagement of the fluid collection vessel from the cap causes the closure to be rotated,

wherein the cap is formed with an internal partition in the form of a skirt that extends into abutment with the closure to define a chamber via which the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, the closure forming a base of the chamber, such that when the fluid collection vessel is engaged with the cap the closure has a first orientation in which the at least one aperture is located within the periphery of the skirt in the base of the chamber and the fluid collection vessel is in communication with the chamber via the at least one aperture, and when the fluid collection vessel is removed from the cap the closure is rotated to a second orientation in which the at least one aperture is located externally of the periphery of the skirt and the base of the chamber.

3. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the skirt depends from the underside of the cap and surrounds the openings of the inlet and outlet.

4. A water trap as claimed in claim 3, wherein the skirt is of elongate shape.

5. A water trap as claimed in claim 4, wherein the skirt is oblong in shape, having a length that is greater than its width.

6. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the skirt is formed separately from the cap.

7. A water trap as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cap includes formations which engage the skirt.

8. A water trap as claimed in claim 7, wherein said formations take the form of a rib onto which the skirt is pressed with an interference fit.

9. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein a resilient seal is provided between the lower edge of the partition and surface of the closure.

10. A water trap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal is formed in elastomeric material and at least one of the remainder of the cap and skirt is formed in rigid plastics material.

11. A water trap as claimed in claim 10, wherein the component that carries the seal is formed using a two-shot injection molding process.

12. A water trap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal is affixed to the lower edge of the partition.

13. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotatable closure has the form of a disc.

14. A water trap as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rotatable disc is received within the cap with a snap fit.

15. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the collection vessel has a quick release type connection to the rest of the trap.

16. A water trap as claimed in claim 15, wherein the quick release type connection is a bayonet-type fitting.

17. A water trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the skirt is integrally formed within the cap.

18. A method for making a water trap for use in a mechanical ventilation circuit, the method comprising:

providing a cap having an inlet and an outlet;

providing a fluid collection vessel for engagement or disengagement with the cap;

interposing a rotatable closure with at least one aperture between the cap and the fluid collection vessel, wherein the fluid collection vessel is operably linked to the closure such that the engagement or disengagement of the fluid collection vessel from the cap causes the closure to be rotated,

wherein the cap is formed with an internal partition in the form of a skirt that extends into abutment with the closure to define a chamber via which the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, the closure forming a base of the chamber, such that with the engagement of the fluid collection vessel with the cap the closure has a first orientation in which the at least one aperture is located within the periphery of the skirt in the base of the chamber and the fluid collection vessel is in communication with the chamber via the at least one aperture, and with the disengagement of the fluid collection vessel with the cap the closure is rotated to a second orientation in which the at least one aperture is located externally of the periphery of the skirt and the base of the chamber.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the skirt depends from the underside of the cap and surrounds the openings of the inlet and outlet.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the skirt is of elongate shape.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the skirt is oblong in shape, having a length that is greater than its width.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the skirt is formed separately from the cap.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cap includes formations which engage the skirt.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the formations take the form of a rib onto which the skirt is pressed with an interference fit.

25. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising providing a resilient seal between the lower edge of the partition and surface of the closure.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the seal is formed in elastomeric material and at least one of the remainder of the cap and skirt is formed in rigid plastics material.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the component that carries the seal is formed using a two-shot injection molding process.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the seal is affixed to the lower edge of the partition.

29. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the rotatable closure has the form of a disc.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the rotatable disc is received within the cap with a snap fit.

31. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the collection vessel has a quick release type connection to the rest of the trap.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the quick release type connection is a bayonet-type fitting.

33. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the skirt is integrally formed within the cap.