Tub for humidifier

• US 8,365,726 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• 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, Cork, Simon Robert, Zekic, John, Hunter, Benjamin John
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILIPS, BRADLEY H
• Application Number:
  US12/134,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 403/321, 403/326, 403/330, 128/203.16, 128/203.17, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/200.11, 128/202.27
• US Class Current: 128/203.26
• 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 water container configured to hold a supply of water, the water container comprising a tub lid coupled to a tub, the tub comprising

a base plate formed of a heat conducting material;

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, 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.

2. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the overcenter latch comprises a textured surface.

3. A humidifier according to claim 1, 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.

4. A humidifier according to claim 3, further comprising two pivot hinges that pivotably connect the overcenter latch to the tub base.

5. A humidifier according to claim 4, wherein each pivot hinge is connected to each catch.

6. A humidifier according to claim 5, wherein each pivot hinge comprises a first pin configured for connection to the tub base and a second pin for connection to the catch.

7. A humidifier according to claim 6, wherein the first pin has larger diameter than the second pin.

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

9. A humidifier according to claim 8, wherein the base plate is formed of stainless steel.

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

11. A humidifier according to claim 10, wherein the base plate comprises a stamped ring.

12. A humidifier according to claim 11, wherein the stamped ring is circular.

13. A humidifier according to claim 11, wherein the stamped ring is D-shaped.

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

15. 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.

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

17. A humidifier according to claim 16, wherein the alignment tabs are spaced apart by about 10 mm.

18. A humidifier according to claim 15, wherein the alignment tabs and the latch mechanism provide a generally triangular compression region for the seal.

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

20. A humidifier according to claim 19, wherein the seal comprises an O-ring.

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

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

23. A humidifier according to claim 22, wherein the tub base further comprises a gap provided between at least two of the ribs.

24. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the tub lid is configured to cover the tub, and 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.

25. A humidifier according to claim 24, further comprising a cradle configured to receive the water container.

26. A humidifier according to claim 25, wherein the cradle is configured to be connected to the flow generator.

27. A humidifier according to claim 25, 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.

28. A humidifier according to claim 27, 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.

29. A humidifier according to claim 25, wherein the cradle comprises a heating element configured to contact the base plate when the water container is inserted into the cradle.

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

31. A humidifier comprising a tub configured to hold a supply of water, the tub comprising

a tub base forming a bottom portion of the tub;

a base plate at least partly sealed against and positioned at a bottom portion of the tub base; and

a latch mechanism adapted to sealingly connect the base plate to the tub base, 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.

32. A humidifier according to claim 31, wherein the base plate is detachable from the tub base when the overcenter latch is disengaged from the latch tabs, and the base plate is secured to the tub base when the overcenter latch is engaged with the latch tabs.