Faceted nasal seal

• US 8,409,152 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hair, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US12/970,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 604/36, 604/37, 604/93.01, 604/94.01, 604/275, 128/200.14, 222/211
• US Class Current: 604/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

A nozzle for a nasal rinse device includes a collar that forms a conduit. The collar is configured to attach the nozzle to the nasal rinse device. An outlet aperture defined by the collar is on a top portion of the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a skirt extending outwards and downwards from the collar, and an outer surface of the skirt is faceted.

Claims

1. A nasal rinse device comprising

a body defining a reservoir, the reservoir configured to hold a nasal rinse fluid, wherein the body further comprises

a neck extending from the body;

an attachment collar configured to be secured to the neck; and

a nozzle secured to the attachment collar, wherein the nozzle comprises

a skirt having a faceted outer surface; and

an inner collar conduit defining an outlet aperture at an apex of the skirt, wherein the inner collar conduit extends downward from the apex and is substantially surrounded by the skirt; and

a valve assembly comprising

an upper housing in fluid communication with the inner collar, the upper housing comprising

an inflation port disposed within an outer surface of the upper housing, wherein the inflation port is in fluid communication with an outer surface of the body;

an inlet port disposed on a bottom surface of the upper housing, wherein the inlet port is in communication with the inflation port and the reservoir;

a lower housing comprising a cylindrical wall defining a fluid transport cavity, wherein the cylindrical wall is operatively attached to the upper housing and the fluid transport cavity is in fluid communication with the upper housing; and

a ball member disposed within the fluid transport cavity; and

a delivery tube configured to attach to the lower housing and extending into the reservoir, wherein the delivery tube is configured to transport liquid from the reservoir to the fluid transport cavity.

2. The nasal rinse device of claim 1 further comprising a reed valve disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing, wherein the reed valve selectively covers the inlet port.

3. The nasal rinse device of claim 1, wherein the upper housing further comprises

an extending rim extending from an upper surface of the upper housing, wherein

the extending rim defines an upper fluid transport cavity, and

the upper fluid transport cavity is in fluid communication with the fluid transport cavity and the inner collar;

and

a retention device disposed within the upper fluid transport cavity, wherein the retention device prevents the ball member from traveling into the upper fluid transport cavity.

4. The nasal rinse device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is substantially flexible.

5. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein a void space is defined between the inner collar conduit and the skirt.

6. The nasal rinse device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises

a flange surrounding a bottom of the nozzle;

and

an annular groove separating the bottom of the skirt and the flange.

7. The nasal rinse device of claim 6, wherein a portion of the attachment collar is received within the annular groove on the nozzle and a portion of the flange is substantially covered by a portion of the attachment collar.

8. The nozzle of claim 6, wherein a diameter of the flange is larger than a diameter of a terminal edge of the skirt.

9. The nasal rinse device of claim 1, wherein the skirt further comprises at least two frustum sections stacked in series on top of one other, wherein the first frustum section has an average larger diameter than the second frustum section.

10. The nozzle of claim 9 further comprising a ridge located at the intersection between the first frustum section and the second frustum section.

11. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein the at least two frustum sections comprise five frustum sections.

12. The nasal rinse device of claim 1, wherein the attachment collar further comprises

threading along at least a portion of an inner surface, wherein the threading is configured to secure the attachment collar to the neck;

and

an outlet conduit extending upwards from the attachment collar, wherein the outlet conduit is configured to be received within the inner collar conduit, and the outlet conduit fluidly connects the inner collar conduit and the reservoir.