Steam inhaler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208200-B2
Application number	US-202117483875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2021
Priority date	Sep 24, 2021
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A steam inhaler includes a steam chamber housing having mounted therein a heater assembly. The steam chamber housing defines a steam chamber adapted to receive water. A fitting mounted to the steam chamber housing has a steam conduit section extended toward an exterior vent opening, a nozzle conduit section extended from the steam conduit, and a fresh air conduit section extended from the steam conduit section at a location downstream of the nozzle conduit section. The fitting is configured such that steam flows freely from the steam chamber, through the steam conduit section toward the exterior vent opening, a suction provided at the nozzle redirects at least a portion of the steam into the nozzle conduit section toward a mask, and the fresh air conduit directs fresh air into the steam conduit section to reduce a temperature of the steam exiting the exterior vent opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steam inhaler comprising:
a steam chamber housing having mounted therein a heater assembly, the steam chamber housing defining a steam chamber directly above the heater assembly, the steam chamber adapted to receive water;
a fitting mounted to the steam chamber housing, the fitting having a steam conduit section extended from the steam chamber to an exterior vent opening, a nozzle conduit section extended from the steam conduit section at a location downstream of the steam chamber, and a fresh air conduit section extended from the steam conduit section at a location downstream of the nozzle conduit section, and
a steam nozzle in communication with the nozzle conduit section for directing steam into a mask releasably fitted onto the steam nozzle,
wherein the fitting is configured such that steam flows freely from the steam chamber, through the steam conduit section toward the exterior vent opening, and at least a portion of steam is redirected to the nozzle conduit section by suction at the steam nozzle, and the fresh air conduit directs fresh air into the steam conduit section to reduce a temperature of the steam exiting the exterior vent opening.

2. The steam inhaler of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the steam chamber housing is obliquely oriented relative to the heater assembly to direct water into contact with the heater assembly.

3. The steam inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the fresh air conduit section includes an inlet portion for receiving fresh air and an outlet portion, the outlet portion provided at least partially within the steam conduit section.

4. The steam inhaler of claim 3 , wherein the outlet portion of the fresh air conduit section is shaped to inject fresh air in-line with the flow of steam through the steam conduit section.

5. The steam inhaler of claim 3 , including a blower for generating a flow of fresh air within the steam inhaler that is directed into the inlet portion of the fresh air conduit section.

6. The steam inhaler of claim 1 , including a lower housing assembly provided with the steam chamber housing, and an upper housing assembly removably mounted to the lower housing assembly, the upper housing assembly provided with an upper steam chamber housing defining an upper steam chamber in fluid communication with the steam chamber, and the fitting is mounted to the upper steam chamber housing.

7. The steam inhaler of claim 6 , wherein the upper steam chamber housing is releasably mounted to the steam chamber housing.

8. The steam inhaler of claim 6 , wherein the upper housing assembly includes an extendable scented pad drawer configured to releasably hold a scented pad, and the nozzle includes a bore formed therein for directing scented air through the steam nozzle and into the mask.

9. The steam inhaler of claim 1 , including a removable water reservoir having a filter mounted therein for filtering water to be delivered to a lower steam chamber, and a bottom wall of the water reservoir includes a water outlet in fluid communication with the steam chamber.

10. The steam inhaler of claim 9 , including a pump adapted to pressurize the water reservoir to deliver filtered water from the water reservoir to the steam chamber.

11. The steam inhaler of claim 10 , wherein the water reservoir includes a stem having a water channel formed therein that is in fluid communication with the water outlet, the filter is mounted on the stem, and a separate cover for the water reservoir includes a water outlet conduit in fluid communication with the water channel.

12. The steam inhaler of claim 9 , including a rechargeable battery secured between the water reservoir and the steam chamber housing.

13. The steam inhaler of claim 1 , including a closure member movable between an open position where the exterior vent opening is open and a closed position where the exterior vent opening is closed.

14. A steam inhaler comprising:
a lower housing assembly including:
a lower steam chamber housing having mounted therein a heater assembly, the lower steam chamber housing defining a lower steam chamber directly above the heater assembly;

an upper housing assembly including:
an upper steam chamber housing releasably mounted to the lower steam chamber housing, the connection of the upper steam chamber housing to the lower steam chamber housing allowing for the removal of the upper housing assembly from the lower housing assembly,
a fitting mounted to the upper steam chamber housing, the fitting having a steam conduit section in communication with the lower steam chamber and an exterior vent opening, a nozzle conduit section extended from the steam conduit section and in communication with a steam nozzle, and a fresh air conduit section extended from the steam conduit section at a location downstream of the nozzle conduit section and in communication with an interior of the lower housing assembly, and
a mask releasably fitted onto the steam nozzle,
wherein the fitting is configured such that steam flows freely from the lower steam chamber through the steam conduit section toward the exterior vent opening, and at least a portion of steam is redirected to the steam nozzle conduit section by suction at the steam nozzle, and the fresh air conduit directs fresh air into the steam conduit section to reduce a temperature of the steam exiting the exterior vent opening; and

a water reservoir removably mounted to the lower housing assembly, the water reservoir having a filter for filtering water to be delivered to the lower steam chamber.

15. The steam inhaler of claim 14 , wherein the upper housing assembly includes an extendable scented pad drawer configured to releasably hold a scented pad, and the steam nozzle includes a bore formed therein for directing scented air through the steam nozzle and into the mask.

16. The steam inhaler of claim 14 , wherein a pump is mounted within the lower housing assembly, the pump is adapted to pressurize the water reservoir to deliver filtered water from the water reservoir to the lower steam chamber.

17. The steam inhaler of claim 14 , wherein the water reservoir is releasably mounted to a cover provided in the lower housing assembly, the cover has a water outlet conduit in fluid communication with the lower steam chamber.

18. The steam inhaler of claim 14 , wherein an outlet portion of the fresh air conduit section is shaped to inject fresh air in-line with the flow of steam through the steam conduit section.

19. The steam inhaler of claim 14 , wherein the lower housing assembly includes a blower for generating a flow of fresh air within the lower housing assembly, and further including a valve member adapted to allow the fresh air to flow into an inlet portion of the fresh air conduit section.

Assignees

• Helen Of Troy Ltd

Inventors

• Gundlach John D
• Johnson Kevin M
• Cavero Dio Climaco

Classifications

• A61H33/12

  Steam baths for the face · CPC title

• H05B1/025

  For medical applications · CPC title

• A61M2205/3653

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

• A61M2205/75

  with filters · CPC title

• A61M2205/7545

  for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates · CPC title