COUNTERBALANCED NASAL BULB ASPIRATOR

Abstract

A nasal bulb aspirator that can be sized to fit the needs of infants through adults and is designed to ensure that the tip remains hygienically intact by a one-way valve and a counterbalance system that prevents the tip from touching surrounding surfaces, thereby limiting cross contamination from possibly resistant pathogens.

Claims

1. A nasal aspirator supported on an underlying support surface, the aspirator comprising: a resilient bulb; a nozzle having a tip; a first one-way valve for permitting air to pass from said tip into said bulb; a second one-way valve for permitting air to escape said bulb; and a support member for balancing said bulb upon said surface whereby said tip remains away from said surface.

2. The aspirator as defined in claim 1 wherein said bulb includes an underside having a flattened surface for balancing said bulb upon said underlying support surface.

3. The aspirator as defined in claim 1 wherein said support members including at least two legs.

4. The aspirator as defined in claim 3 wherein said legs are weighted.

5. The aspirator as defined in claim 3 wherein said legs including flattened contact surfaces for balancing said bulb upon said underlying support surface.

6. The aspirator as defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle includes a conical shape.

7. The aspirator as defined in claim 1 wherein said bulb, said nozzle and said first one-way valve are separable.

8. A counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator oriented on an underlying support surface, the aspirator comprising: a resilient bulb; a nozzle having a tip for suction of liquids by a vacuum created by compressing said bulb and thereafter releasing said bulb; a first one-way valve for permitting air to pass from said tip into said bulb; a second one-way valve for permitting air to escape said bulb; and a support member for balancing said bulb upon said surface whereby said tip remains away from said surface.

9. The aspirator as defined in claim 8 wherein said bulb includes an underside having a flattened surface for balancing said bulb upon said underlying support surface.

10. The aspirator as defined in claim 8 wherein said support members including at least two legs.

11. The aspirator as defined in claim 10 wherein said legs are weighted.

12. The aspirator as defined in claim 10 wherein said legs including flattened contact surfaces for balancing said bulb upon said underlying support surface.

13. The aspirator as defined in claim 8 wherein said nozzle includes a conical shape.

14. The aspirator as defined in claim 8 wherein said bulb, said nozzle and said first one-way valve are separable.

15. A bulb aspirator supported on an underlying support surface, the aspirator comprising: a resilient bulb; a nozzle having a tip for suction of liquids by a vacuum created by compressing said bulb and thereafter releasing said bulb; and a support member for balancing said bulb upon said surface whereby said tip remains away from said surface.

16. The aspirator as defined in claim 15 wherein said bulb includes an underside having a flattened contact surface for balancing said bulb upon said underlying support surface.

17. The aspirator as defined in claim 15 wherein said support member includes at least two legs.

18. The aspirator as defined in claim 17 wherein said legs are weighted.

19. The aspirator as defined in claim 17 wherein said legs include flattened contact surfaces for balancing said aspirator upon said underlying support surface.

20. The aspirator as defined in claim 15 wherein said nozzle includes a conical shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator according to the principles of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a side exploded and cross-sectional view of the component parts of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the component parts of the aspirator of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] One or more embodiments of the subject disclosure will now be described with the aid of numerous drawings. Unless otherwise indicated, use of specific terms will be understood to include multiple versions and forms thereof.

[0028] In any event, turning now to the Figures, and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator 10 of the present disclosure is shown. The main component parts include the bulb 12, the nozzle 14 and the aspirator support member 16. FIGS. 3 and 4 better illustrate additional component parts, including the bulb valve cover 18, the nozzle tip 20 and the legs 22 of the support member 16. While FIG. 5 best shows the contact points of the aspirator with a support surface, and specifically the flattened contact surface 24 on the underside of the bulb 12 and the contact surface 26 of the support member 16 legs 22.

[0029] The bulb 12 is made of a resilient, compressible and elastic material that will tend to return to its original shape and produce suction after it has been collapsed. The nozzle tip 20 is made of a pliable material to avoid damaging the mucosal membrane inside the nose. The nozzle may also be conical 28 or have a stepwise widening (see FIG. 2) of the outer diameter to avoid the stem being inserted too deep into the nostril.

[0030] During use, the bulb 12 is compressed and the nozzle tip 20 is inserted into a nostril or mouth. The nozzle 14 and the bulb 12 may be made of a single piece or they may be separable for cleaning and maintenance purposes. In any event, there remains an air-tight connection therebetween so that the vacuum created therein by the suction bulb 12 will be transmitted to the hollow tip 20 and produce the desired suction in the tip 20. The compressed bulb 12 is then gradually released to withdraw mucus and secretions from the nostril or mouth. The sucking force is controlled by the user by simply controlling the compressive forces at the bulb.

[0031] Turning now to the cross-sectional and exploded views of FIGS. 6-8, additional particular features of the present disclosure can now be better described. First, and in order to prevent any positive or forward pressure being created in the tip 20, the bulb 12 is fitted with a first one-way valve 30 (so-called duckbill valve) which permits air to pass from the air passage assembly 32 within the nozzle into the bulb 12, but positively prevents any reverse flow from the bulb 12 into the assembly 32 and ultimately out of the tip 20 and into a nostril or mouth.

[0032] Similarly, the rear of the bulb 12 includes a second one-way valve 34 for permitting air to escape from the bulb 12 when the bulb 12 is collapsed. This valve 34 includes an aperture 36 in the bulb 12 which is covered by a thin rubber flap 18 of preferably silicon. The flap 18 is attached at one side to the valve insert 38 while the other side of the flap is left free so as to permit a flap valve action to obtain this so-called umbrella valve.

[0033] Accordingly, and during use, the bulb 12 is compressed and the first one-way valve 30 is tightly closed to prevent positive pressure from being built up within the air passage assembly while the aperture 36 is uncovered by the flap 18 to permit the air in the bulb to be expelled therefrom as the bulb is compressed. When the pressure on the bulb 12 is relaxed, the flap 18 will tightly close the aperture 36 and air will be drawn into the bulb 12 through the first one-way valve 30, thereby creating a suction in the bulb collection chamber 40. This suction will be transmitted to the tip 20 of the nozzle 14 and cause any mucus or other secretions in the nostril or mouth to be drawn into the collecting chamber 40. The bulb and/or nozzle may be of a viewable clear, blow molded acrylic with flanges at either end to create an airtight seal to both the tip and the bulb.

[0034] The counterbalance system of the present disclosure includes the support member 16 as well as the flattened contact surface 24 of the bulb. As such, the system of the nasal bulb aspirator 10 prevents the tip 20 from touching surrounding surfaces, thereby limiting cross contamination from possibly resistant pathogens. As best shown in FIG. 4, the bulb aspirator 10 is properly oriented upon a support surface 42 when the contact surfaces 26 of the weighted support legs 22 and the flattened contact surface 24 of the underside of the bulb 12 rest upon the underlying support surface 42. This keeps the tip isolated and remote from the support surface.

[0035] The bulb aspirator 10 is preferably injection molded to maintain the necessary geometry in the design and to add the proper weight to the feet 22 with a more condensed silicone. The bulb is molded from medical grade silicone that is lightweight with release recoil to assist in creating the negative pressure that is optimal for suctioning. The aspirator tip 20 is injection molded medical grade silicone for a softer touch, durability and machine-washability. In that regard, all components may be separable for cleaning and maintenance purposes. All components may be dishwasher safe and capable of sustaining boiling temperatures. The valves are preferably removable or replaceable if damaged or overused.

[0036] The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom. Accordingly, while one or more particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention if its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.