RESPIRATORY GUIDING APPARATUS

Abstract

Respiratory guidance device, particularly for children, comprising a pumping device designed to draw in and exhale air; a hard housing designed to enclose the pumping device; an inflated body in fluid connection with the pumping device; an elastic cover designed to enclose the hard housing; a control element located within the hard housing and designed to control the pumping device in such a way that the inflated body inflates and deflates in a sequence that mimics a desired breathing pattern.

Description

BE2024 / 5759 -2- not only because of the size of the device, but also because the breathing pattern of children differs from that of adults. However, it has been shown that children may also need an aid to slow down their breathing and thus be able to calm them down, in a stressful circumstance or simply for falling asleep. 5

[04] The present invention aims to solve or alleviate one or more of the above-mentioned problems. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a breathing guidance device, in particular for children, that is relatively simple, screen-free and intuitive to use. 10 Summary of the invention

[05] For this purpose, according to a first aspect of the invention, a respiratory guidance device is provided, in particular for children, for the 15 guidance of breathing according to the characteristics of claim 1. In particular, the respiratory guidance device comprises a pumping device designed to draw in and expel air. The device further comprises a hard casing designed to enclose the pumping device.A hard housing means that the housing is non-elastic. The hard housing can, for example, be a shell made of hard plastic. The device further comprises an intumescent body which is preferably made of a non-elastic material and which allows swelling by supplying air to an inner side of the intumescent body. The shape of the intumescent body determines the maximum volume during swelling. The intumescent body is in fluid connection with the pumping device. To this end, the hard housing comprises an opening through which a tube passes, connecting the pumping device to the intumescent body. The device further comprises an elastic cover designed to enclose the hard housing. The respiratory guidance device also comprises a control element located inside the hard housing which is designed to control the pumping device in such a way that the intumescent body swells and deflates according to a sequence which a imitates desired breathing pattern.The control system is designed to allow the pumping mechanism to draw air into the swelling body so that the swelling body swells, imitating inhalation, and to subsequently allow the pumping mechanism to extract that air from the swelling body so that the swelling body de-swells, imitating exhalation. In an inventive manner, the swelling body is situated between the hard housing and the elastic cover, whereby the volume of the swelling body at maximum expansion is smaller than the volume of the hard housing, preferably smaller than half the volume of the hard housing. Due to the elastic cover that almost completely envelops the hard housing, air supply is barely possible into the inner space of the hard housing. However, due to the relatively small volume of the swelling body at maximum expansion, sufficient air is present in the hard housing to allow the swelling body to expand and de-swell without the need for further air supply.The hard casing can thus offer sufficient protection to relatively vulnerable electronic and technical components, such as the pumping devices and the control element, and can withstand slight negative pressure that may arise during the swelling of the corpus cavernosum, while the elastic cover protects the corpus cavernosum and simultaneously follows the swelling and deswelling of the corpus cavernosum through its elasticity, thus in an interactive visual manner, can guide a user in breathing according to a pattern that follows the swelling and deswelling of the corpus cavernosum. The respiratory guidance device is therefore autonomously usable, safe, durable, and solid thanks to the described construction.

[06] The erectile tissue can preferably extend over less than half of the surface area of ​​the outside of the hard casing, but preferably over less than a quarter of the surface area of ​​the outside of the hard casing. Preferably, the erectile tissue can extend along only one side of the hard casing.In this way, the sensory and / or visual control or guidance provided by the corpus cavernosum is primarily palpable and visible at one specific location on the respiratory guidance apparatus, which offers an advantage, especially for children who are still reasonably small, particularly in being able to hold the device in their hand, even during swelling.

[07] The corpus cavernosum can be advantageously pear-shaped. The pear shape refers to a larger volume on one side, for example a lower side, of the corpus cavernosum and a smaller volume on an opposite side, for example a higher side of the corpus cavernosum. Again, this shape can cause a concentration of swelling at one specific location of the corpus cavernosum and of the respiratory guidance apparatus. The swelling can be positioned in the respiratory apparatus in such a way that the greater part of the swelling of the corpus cavernosum manifests itself on one side of the apparatus near a lower side.

[08] The corpus cavernosum can advantageously contain at least one, preferably two, recesses.Depending on the shape of the hard casing, the 5 inflator may include more or fewer recesses, preferably along an outer edge of the bulor. Because the hard casing preferably has at least a partially curved surface, these recesses allow a nearly flat bulor to be placed on a curved surface in as compact a manner as possible without parts of the bulor overlapping, which can lead to problems during inflation.

[09] The respiratory guidance device can further advantageously include a foam layer that stretches between the bulor and the elastic cover. The foam layer can somewhat equalize the deformation of the bulor during inflation, so that possible sharper edges at maximum expansion of the bulor are not felt by the user and thus tactile control can be improved.

[10] The device can preferably be designed to be held in the hand.20 To this end, the dimensions of the device, in particular a circumference, can be chosen so that a hand, preferably a child's hand, can encircle at least half of the circumference. Furthermore, the device is designed to provide tactile signals that can be perceived by a user's palm. However, the device can also be used based on visual signals without holding it in the hand, but simply by placing it in a visible position.

[11] More preferably, the hard casing can be nearly egg-shaped. In other words, the hard casing can be nearly ellipsoidal. This shape can simplify holding the respiratory guidance device in the hand because this shape fits reasonably organically in a user's palm. Alternatively, other shapes may be used, preferably with at least a partially curved surface and preferably free of edges or flat sides, which 2024 / 5759 BE2024 / 5759 -5- corresponds less to the anatomy of a hand. Preferably, the hard casing is free of ribs and the hard casing encloses a virtually continuous surface.

[12] It is desirable that the hard housing comprises at least two shell parts. Two shell parts can be manufactured reasonably easily. After assembling the pumping device and the control element in one of the shell parts, the hard housing can be closed with the other shell part. Preferably, one shell part is a shell half, which can simplify the manufacturing and joining of the parts, but it does not necessarily have to be two parts of nearly equal size.10

[13] The pumping device can preferably be a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump can, for example, comprise two chambers and two diaphragms connected by a shaft and deep to separate air from the fluid to be pumped, air in this case. The diaphragm pump can be driven by an electric motor which receives power from a battery, preferably from a rechargeable battery. A diaphragm pump requires relatively little maintenance, is reasonably cost-efficient and can last reasonably long.The pumping device may further comprise a solenoid valve designed to alternate between drawing air into the inflated body and extracting air from the inflated body. Other types of pumps are also possible, such as peristaltic pumps.

[14] The hard housing and elastic cover may contain any opening designed to be aligned, where said opening is designed to provide access to a charging port of the control element. This charging port can be a USB, USB-C or other type charging port. Preferably, the charging port is a magnetic charging port, where at least one magnet is designed to align the device with an external charging station.

[15] The hard housing can preferably contain a movable tab designed to activate the control element. That movable tab can, for example, be formed by a U-shaped or V-shaped recess in the hard housing that creates a movable tab in the hard housing. Pressing on said movable tab can activate the control element.The movable 2024 / 5759 BE2024 / 5759 -6- tab can also be designed to indicate a choice for a specific pre-set breathing pattern, for example by pressing the tab several times. Due to the elasticity of the elastic sleeve, the elastic sleeve may, but need not, contain an opening for a control button or no control button. An indication on the elastic sleeve where the tab is located may be sufficient because the pressure exerted on the elastic sleeve can be transmitted to the movable tab on the hard housing.

[16] The respiratory guidance apparatus may further comprise a figurative cover that sufficiently depicts a figure and is designed to at least partially enclose the elastic cover. The depicted figure may be a human figure or an animal figure or a fantasy figure with at least a face. The depicted figure is preferably an upright figure.The figurative sleeve comprises a cutout at the level of a belly of the depicted figure, whereby the shape of the cutout corresponds almost exactly to the shape of the corpus cavernosum. Preferably, the cutout in the figurative sleeve is larger than the corpus cavernosum, or at least as large as the corpus cavernosum. Consequently, the elastic sleeve can be inserted into the figurative sleeve in such a way, or, in other words, the figurative sleeve can be wrapped around the elastic sleeve in such a way that the swelling or de-swelling of the corpus cavernosum occurs primarily at the level of the cutout in the figurative sleeve. For the user, particularly for children, this creates the impression that the figure is breathing, more specifically that it is breathing via abdominal breathing, whereby the user receives not only haptic or tactile guidance regarding breathing but also visual guidance. 25

[17] The control element can be configured to control the pumping device in such a way that the erectile tissue undergoes five to twelve sequences of swelling and deswelling during a predetermined time span that imitate a breathing pattern with inhalation and exhalation.Between swelling and deswelling of the corpus cavernosum, a pause may be provided during which the pumping device neither draws in nor extracts air. Furthermore, the control element may be configured to switch off automatically after the aforementioned predetermined time span. This time span may be adjustable or pre-programmed, and is preferably adapted to a child's attention span, for example, a time span between 2 and 8 minutes, preferably between 3 and 6 minutes, or preferably of approximately 4 minutes. The consequences of swelling and deswelling of the corpus cavernosum are also preferably attuned to calm breathing for a child, who, as is known, breathes slightly faster than an adult. Possible sequences include, for example, a period of swelling of the corpus cavernosum, which mimics inhalation, lasting approximately 2 to 6 seconds, for example 2.5, 2.8, 3.5 or 5 seconds, followed by a period of de-swelling of the corpus cavernosum, which mimics exhalation, lasting approximately 2 to 6 seconds, for example 2.5, 2.8, 3.5 or 5 seconds.Between swelling and deswelling, a pause of, for example, 0 to 1 second may be provided, for example, of approximately 0.4 or 0.5 seconds.10

[18] The present invention will be further clarified by reference to the figures of example designs. Corresponding elements are indicated by corresponding reference signs. 15 Brief description of the figures

[19] Fig. 1a and 1b show a schematic representation in perspective front view, respectively rear view of a design of the 20 respiratory guidance device according to an aspect of the invention;

[20] Fig. 1c shows a schematic representation in perspective rear view of the respiratory guidance device of Figure 1a with loader and without figurative cover; 25

[21] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cutaway representation in perspective front view of the respiratory guidance device of Figure 1a;

[22] Fig.3 shows a schematic cutaway representation in perspective 30 rear view of the respiratory guidance device of Figure 1b; 2024 / 5759 BE2024 / 5759 -8-

[23] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation in perspective front view of the hard casing and the erectile tissue of the respiratory guidance device of Figure 1. 5 Detailed description of designs

[24] Fig. 1 a shows a schematic representation in perspective front view of a design of the respiratory guidance device 1 according to an aspect of the invention. To make the respiratory guidance device attractive and intuitive10 to use for children, the device may include a figurative cover2. The figurative cover depicts a figure that is recognizable as such to children. The depicted figure can be a human figure or an animal figure, such as a bear or a penguin, or a fantasy figure. The depicted figure is preferably an upright figure.The figurative sleeve 2 can enclose a face with eyes 2 and a nose 2 and / or a mouth with at least 15. Furthermore, the sleeve can enclose ears 2c, arms or wings 2 and legs 2e. The wings or arms 2d can preferably be placed in the longitudinal direction and protrude slightly from the outline to clarify a dividing line between a front and a rear side of the figurative sleeve. The legs 2e can be arranged so that they 20 provide additional support to the device when it is positioned upright. The figurative sleeve can furthermore include a recess 3 at the height of a front side, more specifically a belly, of the figure shown. The recess 3 can, for example, be egg-shaped. Through the recess 3, the elastic sleeve 4 of the respiratory guidance device 1 is clearly visible. 25

[25] Fig. 1b shows a schematic representation in a rear perspective view. of the respiratory guidance device1. A back side of the figurative cover 2 may have a thickening5 or opening or other indication that indicates under which place on the figurative cover a control element may be concealed.In this way, a user knows where the respiratory guidance device1 can be activated, for example by pressure. Furthermore, a rear and / or bottom of the figurative cover may contain an opening6 that provides direct access to a charging port7 of the device. The respiratory guidance device1 is preferably 2024 / 5759 BE2024 / 5759 -9- designed to be held in the hand, preferably in a child's hand, among other things by the shape which is adapted to a palm and by the dimensions of the device. The height of the device is approximately 8cm to 12cm, for example approximately 9.5cm, while the diameter at the widest point is approximately 4cm to 6cm, for example approximately 5cm. The circumference of the device can be5 for example approximately 15cm.

[26] Fig. 1c shows a schematic representation in perspective rear view of the respiratory guidance device 1' of Figure 1a with charger 8 but without figurative cover 2. The device can be used with or without figurative cover and / or 10 can be charged.The charging port7 of the device may comprise one or more magnets9 that help to place the device upright on a charger8. The charging port 7 may be, for example, a USB port, or a USB-C port, or, for example, a magnetic charging port. 15

[27] Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded view in perspective front view of the respiratory guidance device 1 from Figure 1a. The respiratory guidance device 1 comprises a pumping device 10 designed to draw in and expel air. The pumping device 10 can be, for example, a diaphragm pump with an electric motor driven by a 20 rechargeable battery 11. The pumping device 10 is enclosed by a hard housing 12, which preferably comprises two shell parts, for example, a front shell half 12a and a rear shell half 12b. The hard housing 12 can be approximately egg-shaped or can have the shape of an irregular ellipsoid. The hard housing can be made of, for example, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), or of another 25 hard and / or shape-retaining non-elastic plastic.Furthermore, the respiratory guidance device1 comprises an intumescent body13 in a fluid connection with the pumping device10. To this end, the hard housing12, preferably a front shell half12a, comprises an opening15 through which a preferably flexible tube can extend, forming the fluid connection between the pumping device10 and the intumescent body13. An elastic sleeve14 is designed to enclose the hard housing12. The intumescent body13 is inventively located between the hard housing12 and the elastic sleeve14. Another foam layer16 may be located between the intumescent body13 and the elastic sleeve14. The foam layer16 may, for example, be made of polyurethane (PU) or another foam known to the professional.

[28] Fig. 3 shows a schematic cutaway representation in perspective rear view of the respiratory guidance device of Figure 1b. Not only the figurative cover2, but also the elastic cover14 can contain an opening17 that are aligned with each other to provide access to a loading port7. The loading port7 can contain protective cap18.The hard housing12, for example the rear shell half12b, may include a movable tab19 and is designed to activate the control element of the pumping device10. That movable tab10 19 may, for example, be the result of an incision in the hard housing12. The elastic sleeve14 may then include a thickening or other indication at the level of the movable tab19 to indicate where the control element is located. The intumescent body13 also includes a connection20 to make a fluid connection with the pumping device10.15

[29] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation in perspective front view of the hard housing12 and the intumescent body13 of the respiratory guidance device1va.