Tub for use in a humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11376392-B2
Application number	US-201815961017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Apr 24, 2018
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tub configured to receive a volume of liquid for a humidifier, comprising at least one plastic component and at least one metal component, which together form a space for receiving said volume of liquid, wherein the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component are attached to each other by means of a silicone seal. Furthermore, the invention relates to method for manufacturing a tub for a humidifier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tub configured to receive a volume of liquid for a humidifier, comprising
at least one plastic component having a bottom wall with a through hole; and
at least one metal component,
wherein the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component are attached to each other in a fluid tight manner by means of a silicone seal, such that the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component together form a space for receiving said volume of liquid; and
wherein at least a majority of an inner surface of the at least one metal component facing the space for receiving said volume of liquid is coated with the silicone seal, and
wherein the through hole is closed by said at least one metal component and said silicone seal.

2. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal provides a fluid tight connection between the at least one plastic component and the at least one metal component.

3. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal has a thickness between 0.01 mm and 0.2 mm.

4. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
at least a section of the at least one metal component and/or a section of the at least one plastic component is treated with a silicone adhesion promoting agent.

5. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal is formed from liquid silicone rubber.

6. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one plastic component and/or the at least one metal component are rigid.

7. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one plastic component is trough shaped, and includes one or more side walls, extending from said bottom wall.

8. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the tub is trough shaped, having the bottom wall and one or more side walls, wherein the at least one plastic component is sleeve shaped and forms the one or more side walls.

9. The tub according to claim 7 , wherein
the at least one metal component is attached to an inner side or an outer side of said one or more side walls and/or to an inner side or an outer side of said bottom wall.

10. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one metal component is shaped as a metal plate.

11. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
at least a portion of the at least one metal component is dome shaped in an outward direction.

12. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component are only attached to each other by means of the silicone seal.

13. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
at least a portion of the at least one metal component and at least a portion of the at least one plastic component overlap each other, and wherein the silicone seal is arranged to extend at least between the overlapping portions of the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component.

14. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein the silicone seal covers at least a portion of the at least one metal component, wherein the portion of the at least one metal component is not overlapping with the plastic component; and/or the silicone seal covers at least a portion of the at least one plastic component, wherein the portion of the plastic component is not overlapping with the at least one metal component.

15. The tub according to claim 1 ,
wherein the silicone seal further covers at least a further portion of the at least one metal component and/or the at least one plastic component for surface protection, including any surface forming the space of the tub.

16. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
an entirety of the inner surface of the at least one metal component facing the space for receiving said volume of liquid is coated with the silicone seal, in the form of a silicone layer on the surface of the at least one metal component.

17. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal is formed as a labyrinth seal.

18. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal forms at least one channel with two side walls, in which at least a section of the at least one plastic component and/or the metal component is arranged/received.

19. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the silicone seal is formed as a seal providing a spring effect, by comprising a silicone spring element.

20. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein
the tub is configured to be associated with a lid, wherein the tub comprises a lid silicone seal arranged to provide a fluid seal between the lid and the tub, when the lid is attached to the tub in a closed position.

21. The tub according to claim 20 , wherein
the lid silicone seal and the silicone seal attaching the plastic component to the metal component comprise a one-piece component.

22. An apparatus for humidifying a flow of air for delivery to a patient, said apparatus comprising:
the tub according to claim 1 ;
a heating element to heat liquid received within said tub.

23. An apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient comprising:
a patient interface;
a controllable motor-blower configured to generate a supply of air at a positive pressure relative to ambient pressure; and
the tub according to claim 1 .

24. The tub according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inner surface is not covered by the silicone seal.

25. A method for manufacturing a humidifier tub configured to receive a volume of liquid, the method comprising:
providing at least one metal component;
providing at least one plastic component with a bottom wall and a through hole; and
attaching the at least one plastic component to the at least one metal component in a fluid tight manner by means of a silicone seal, such that the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component together form a fluid tight space for receiving said volume of liquid,
wherein at least 70% of an inner surface of the at least one metal component facing the space for receiving said volume of liquid is coated with the silicone seal and
wherein the through hole is closed by said at least one metal component and said silicone seal.

26. The method according to claim 25 ,
wherein the at least one plastic component and the at least one metal component are premanufactured and inserted into a tool, wherein the at least one plastic component and the least one metal component are connected to each other introducing silicone into a connection region between the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component, by introducing liquid silicone into a connection region between the at least one metal component and the at least one plastic component.

27. The method according to claim 25 ,
wherein the tub is manufactured in a multi-component injection molding process, comprising injection molding a first component in a first injection molding step, injection molding a second component in a second injection molding step, and introducing a third component.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein first the at least one plastic component being the first component is injection molded and then the at least one metal component being the third component is introduced and afterwards the silicone seal being the second component is injection molded so as to connect the at least one plastic component and the at least one metal component, or first the at least one m

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Kirchberger Andreas
• Nickol Johannes
• Rothfuss Jens
• Burz Johann Sebastian
• Eibl Robert
• Bayer Christian
• Lang Bernd Christoph
• Eibl Andreas
• Kasparbauer Martin

Classifications

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• A61M2205/3653

  by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance · CPC title

• A61M2205/3334

  Measuring or controlling the flow rate · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M2205/0238

  the material being a coating or protective layer · CPC title