CN1103609C - Inhalation device - Google Patents

Abstract

An inhalation device for use with a nebulizer (208) comprises a body portion and a discharge tube movable relative to the body portion, the discharge tube remaining in a rest position when not discharging and in an operative position when discharging occurs. The inhalation device has a mask frame (202) and an outlet through which the patient can inhale. A restraining and pressure sensing element comprising a resilient plate (234) which prevents relative movement between the discharge tube and the body portion when in the first position, to prevent movement into the operative position; and the plate in the second position allows this relative movement. The plate may sense the pressure drop created by the patient during inspiration and move correspondingly from the first position to the second position.

Description

Suction apparatus

The present invention system is about a kind of suction apparatus, with so that spray mass-energy in container, discharge.The present invention is particularly about a kind of metered-dose inhaler device, use so that a certain amount of pastille liquid in vaporific mode for giving patient.

In treatment or relax respiratory tract disease, during such as asthma, pharmaceutical sucks and treats is the thing of knowing, medicinal liquid ties up under the pressure condition and is seated in the container, and the general system of this container is placed in the suction apparatus in a movable manner.This kind aerosol apparatus has comprised the delivery pipe that a body part and can move with respect to body, in the time need not discharging action, is in stop position, and when taking place to discharge, just at operating position.Use this suction apparatus, patient need cause the relative motion between sprayer body part and delivery pipe, such as the blind end of compression body, and This move must cooperate patient's suction action.But the patient who very unfortunately needs this mode to treat can't cooperate their breathing and the action of artificial this device of actuating.

There are many designs to propose because of managing to overcome this problem, make aspiratory action itself cause that metering medicaments disengages.This device is referred to as breath actuated device.

When the breath actuated device of design one cover, must satisfy some demand conditions, but this type of condition utmost point is not easy to be fitted to each other.Therefore, need sizable strength to make between body part and delivery pipe and move mutually, but when air-breathing, only can produce very little strength, especially when patient dyspnea is arranged and will use this kind device most probably the time for so.Overcome method that this problem proposes at present for establish an auxiliary energy reservoir in suction apparatus, for example become the form of spring, spring easily makes this device disengage the medicine of a dosage, and the mat work certain suppress mechanism and limit its work like this.Therefore, the small strength that is produced by suction can be used to discharge and suppresses mechanism and permit this device of spring actuating.

This practice has caused another problem, promptly is exactly how to keep this device stable.If inhibition mechanism can release medicine then when not having suction action to take place, still has the risk that accident is disengaged medicament to exist by breathing the small strength that produces.Opposite, can quite safe ground do not activated and avoid the unexpected generation that discharges if suppress mechanism, then patient's inspiratory force that can send is not enough to release medicine again.

The suction apparatus system of the present invention's work eye notices these conflicting requirements, and a kind of feasible solution is provided.

From another aspect of the present invention, the suction apparatus system that is provided cooperates aerosol apparatus to use.And a body part and a delivery pipe are arranged.This delivery pipe can move body part, and delivery pipe ties up to resting position when stopping to discharge; And when discharging produces, then move to operating position.This device has frame outside the getter device in addition, and outlet is arranged on the housing, and patient can be air-breathing by this outlet, and an inhibition and pressure sensing element are arranged, and, can prevent the relative motion between delivery pipe and body part, and enter operating position during in primary importance in it; During in the second position, then allow this kind relative motion to take place in it.This element can sense the pressure that patient produces and fall when air-breathing, thereby correspondingly moves to the second position from primary importance.

In preferred embodiment of the present invention, be called straining element or inhibition and pressure sensing element and be a kind of flex plate that can resilience, such as sheet metal, as steel plate.Also can use two Zhang Ping's plates in addition, and need not have bounce-back flexible, and be hinged, and a kind of may to reach one of this purpose method be that two Zhang Ping's plates are combined them with a kind of so-called hinges.Use single flat board also can reach identical effect in addition, its thickness is eased down to a certain degree along the horizontal expansion line, so that form a hinge axis on the part actual effect of attenuating thickness.

An embodiment explains detailedly with reference to the accompanying drawings more than the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates first embodiment, the vertical section that this figure system is got along A-A line among Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 illustrates first embodiment, is the vertical section of being got along B-B line among Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the cross section of getting along C-C line among Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates the present invention's second embodiment, is the vertical section of getting along A-A line among Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is the vertical section of getting along B-B line among Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is the section of getting along C-C line among Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is the plan view from above among the embodiment of Fig. 4 to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 illustrates the present invention's the 3rd embodiment, is the vertical section along the A-A line is got in Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is the vertical section of getting along B-B line among Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is the cross section of getting along C-C line among Fig. 8;

Figure 11 illustrates the fourth embodiment of the present invention, is the vertical section of getting along A-A line among Figure 12;

Figure 12 is the vertical section of getting along B-B line among Figure 11;

Figure 13 is the cross section of getting along C-C line among Figure 11;

Figure 14 is in a different position corresponding to Figure 11 but this device is shown;

Figure 15 illustrates the fifth embodiment of the present invention, is the vertical section of getting along A-A line among Figure 16;

Figure 16 is the section of getting along B-B line among Figure 15;

Figure 17 is the cross section of getting along C-C line among Figure 16;

Figure 17 a is to use the perspective view of the elastic button in Figure 15 to Figure 17;

Figure 18 illustrates the sixth embodiment of the present invention, is the vertical section that the 19A-A line is got among the figure;

Figure 19 is the section of getting along B-B line among Figure 18;

Figure 20 is the cross section of getting along C-C line among Figure 19;

Figure 21 is the top plan view of the 6th embodiment, it is shown resets fixed position; And

Figure 22 is the part side view of the 6th embodiment when Figure 21 position.

Consult Fig. 1 to first embodiment shown in Figure 3, it has comprised that ejiction opening (4) that an outer housing (2) is provided with 11 body forms the form of mouthpiece, all will call in this way later on, but also can be the form that nose holds.One Room (6) is arranged in the outer housing (2), wherein undertake the main part of aerosol apparatus (8).Inner room (6) is long slightly than the main part of aerosol apparatus, and main portion can longitudinal sliding motion in this inner room.With identifier, for example show respectively and distinguish on the main part with green and redness with colour band (10) and (12).One of these two kinds of colour bands or another can see from an aperture (14) of the antetheca of shell (2), studies carefully the lengthwise position of the main part branch of looking closely aerosol apparatus why and decide.

This aerosol apparatus has a delivery pipe (16) autonomous agent part to stretch out in the mode of commonly seeing, and its end is undertaken in plumber block (18) one openings, and plumber block is integrally formed in mouthpiece (4), and opening part is easy to insert in order to do delivery pipe an angle of chamfer that can allow delivery pipe insert.The tip place of delivery pipe props up shoulder pad (20), and the outlet of delivery pipe communicates with discharge orifice (22).Delivery pipe is outwards ejected from main part by the spring (not shown) in the container to commonly use mode.

One guiding element (24) at inner room (6) but in longitudinal sliding motion, can very clearly see that from Fig. 2 this guiding element being " H " shape and a cross wall (25) is arranged from what longitudinal section was seen.Seal with a lid (26) upper end of outer housing (2), and a compression spring (28) is contained between the cross wall (25) and top cover (26) of guiding element (24), with the main part that forces guide plate spare and aerosol apparatus (8) down.Top cover preferably can take off, and can renew after exhausted in order to do just aerosol apparatus.

One face groove (30) is down arranged on guiding element (24), and face groove (32) is up arranged on tube sealing piece (18).The flex plate (34) that one side can resilience is arranged in addition, and then insert respectively in groove (30) and (32) its upper end and lower end.Though this plate can use other material, used thickness is that 1 millimeter the steel disc of a few percent is the most suitable.Do not bearing under the situation of external force, plate (34) comes down to straight, plate (34) at Fig. 1 to state shown in Figure 3, that is the resting state that is referred to as hereinafter) be curved slightly, partly make its inwall that reclines (36) in wherein because of the power that is subjected to spring to put on plate.The transverse end surface of plate (36) is close on the limit wall (37) of outer housing (2), but still has enough gaps to allow plate be easy to move.Its move mode appearance further specifies after a while.

Between plate (34) and outer housing (2) rear wall, an inner room (38) is arranged, and the otch that has a key hole shape at cover on the rear wall with form one correspondingly the hands of key hole shape by sheet (40).The selection of kerf width is to reach a suitable Ventilation Rate, phase makes air can enter inner room (38), assist the conveying of medicament, hands is pressed the still attached work of end portion of sheet on the wall remainder, and the material of rear wall, at least adhere to the place at hands by sheet, should have enough flexible, in order to do hands can inwardly be pressed into by sheet, simultaneously after removing external force factor, material has enough resilience strength again, makes hands by the sheet original position of rebounding.Still show in two ribs among Fig. 1, rib is located on the sidewall of inner room (38) assisting the end portion of dull and stereotyped (37) is imported in the groove (32) when the assembling.

It should be noted that this device except some above-mentioned perforates, a plurality of other openings are still arranged.Therefore, a passage (44) is arranged on the top cover (26), the part of guiding element (24) on cross wall (25) remained under the atmospheric pressure.Passage (44) also can move downward in the upper end of guiding element (24) to the lower surface that is lower than top cover (26) (45) afterwards, air is imported inner room (38), make to allow patient be absorbed into medicament.A passage (46) is also arranged on the antetheca of outer housing (2), inner room (6) is remained under the atmospheric pressure, this atmospheric pressure also passes through passage (48) and communicates with the front surface of plate (34), and this does well out of to be provided with a little vertical inner room (50).

The mode of operation of said apparatus is as described below, suppose this device be in as shown in Figure 1 to Figure 3 that is be in resting state, indicate to patient by from aperture (14), seeing green color bars (10).Patient is air-breathing via mouthpiece, causes the pressure of inner room (38) to reduce to below the atmospheric pressure, and because the front of plate (34) still is under the atmospheric pressure, the result of both pressure reduction makes plate (34) desire to move to the rear portion.But because of the two ends up and down of plate all are clamped in groove (30) and (32), cause flat board at first to move to straight state, shown in straight line (52), rise a little just so force guiding element (24) to resist the strength of spring (28).We can see originally when resting state, between the lower end of the upper end of guiding element (24) and top cover (26) slight gap are arranged, and this moves and could realize.Plate when original resting state position and the size of the bias of straight line (52) determine it to reach linear state and the amount that should do.In general, the collinear distance of plate misalignment is about 1 millimeter a few tenths of, and this distance is shorter, and this device is sensitiveer.

The now plate move past linear position and to the diagram in the rightabout bending, in case crossed linear state, plate can be bent to a sizable degree freely, and guiding element (24) can freely move down under the effect of compression spring 28, this has caused the aerosol apparatus theme and has moved down, and delivery pipe is fixed in the tube sealing piece (18), relative motion between this main body and delivery pipe makes the medicine of a dosage discharge via delivery pipe, outlet aperture (22) and mouthpiece (4) and gives patient that can find out red ribbon this moment from aperture (14).Should be appreciated that spring (28) must have enough powerful strength to overcome under the normal condition the strength of dosage pipe with respect to the past extrapolation of aerosol apparatus, overcome the power that the frictional force of resisting the aerosol apparatus longitudinal sliding motion and flat board (34) produce when crooked.

After patient sucked the potion dose, this device was returned to original resting state again, and this action should be finished after use at once.In order to reach this purpose, patient can press hands curves inwardly it by sheet (40), impels plate (34) to cross linear position and enter illustrated origin-location.When doing like this, cause that guiding element (24) upwards gos up and spring (28) compressed again.

Second embodiment shown in the present key diagram 4 to Fig. 7.Corresponding with the element among first embodiment basically in the present embodiment is to give identical label, adds that only respectively 100 represent.

Second embodiment do not have the external springs (28) among first embodiment, just there is not guiding element (24) yet, the substitute is it and use a kind of aerosol apparatus through improvement, delivery pipe wherein (116) is not as by external springs that it is extrapolated traditionally, but inwardly pushes away.Realize that the spring assembly of this effect can see in Fig. 4, its label is 154.Therefore, the potential that provides first embodiment medi-spring (28) to be provided of the spring (154) among second embodiment is stored.Because do not exist as corresponding guiding element 24 among first embodiment, the main part of aerosol apparatus among second embodiment (110) is longer, so that change the degree of accuracy of nearly slip.At tube sealing piece place an inner room (155) is arranged, the inner conical packing ring (156) of putting, delivery pipe (116) is lived in this packing ring catching, and prevents to move up under the effect of its compression spring 154.

The function of groove has been to insert the lower limb of flex plate, and its label is (132), and is formed on the tube sealing piece as first embodiment.Because do not have guiding element among second embodiment, the upper end groove shown in the label (130) is to be flexed into groove with a screed (157) to constitute.Dull and stereotyped (157) have undertaken another function simultaneously, are exactly when this device during at its resting state, and the upper part of inner room (138) is sealed.Purposes for this reason, the tip of dull and stereotyped (157) bend to arc and slide with the rear wall that forms a saddle (158) and be close to inner room (138).The state that second embodiment is presented in Fig. 4 to 7, the state that system is discharging when medicament, and can see that saddle (158) has been moved down into a position of no longer inner room (138) being sealed, allows that air freely flows into inner room via space (159) when arriving this position.

Another place different with first embodiment of second embodiment promptly is the mode difference that this device recovers resting state.Do not use the hands that uses among first embodiment by sheet (40), but establish a hole (161) on the wall after outer housing, and seal with a kind of gas-pervious deformable membrane (160), the edge system of this film is fixed on peripheral part of outer housing with glue or other modes.Make this device recover resting state, patient can promote diaphragm (160), makes it to contact with plate (134), and continues to push away and cause plate and cross its linearity sector and join with wall (136).

Fig. 8 is to the 3rd embodiment shown in Figure 10, and is rather similar to first embodiment in many aspects, and similar elements system is represented that by same numeral just the front has added 200.As the situation of first embodiment, the 3rd embodiment has used traditional aerosol apparatus, and the relative aerosol apparatus main part of delivery pipe is outwards partially.

We can see at Fig. 8 to the embodiment shown in Figure 10, label for (234) but the resilience flex plate tie up to the front end of device, but not as first embodiment, be seated in the rear end.Inner room (238) is formed between a flat board (234) and the antetheca (262), and other has a through hole (263) that passage between mouthpiece (204) and inner room (238) is provided.In order to do when user is air-breathing, in inner room (238), produce pressure below atmospheric pressure.Mouthpiece is provided with a capping (264), links in mouthpiece with hinge at pivot (265), and the end of capping simultaneously has an integrally formed body of rod (266).When the capping involution, to shown in Figure 10, the body of rod (266) passes the through hole (267) on the antetheca (262), makes the top of the body of rod withstand plate (234), and it is contacted with abuts with wall (236) as Fig. 8.The selection of through hole (267) size must suitably make the air capacity of passing through through hole when air-breathing within an acceptable scope.It is suitable having some air to enter by this way, and the resistance that patient is felt when air-breathing is not too large, but from another point of view, the air admission amount again can not be greatly to the hypotension in the inner room (238) is moved right plate (234) to being not enough to.This device is preferably gone into rate operate as normal when air-breathing patient with 30 liters of suctions of per minute.

Aerosol apparatus (208) is blocked by support arm (268), and support arm and guide plate (224) are integrally formed.The upper body part of aerosol apparatus is surrounded by a pipe (269), and spring (228) is compressed between pipe (269) and the support arm (268), impels the body part of aerosol apparatus down to lean on.

When this device was in Fig. 8 to state shown in Figure 9, the body part of guiding element (224) and aerosol apparatus (208) was because the existence of dull and stereotyped (234) still can't be moved under the effect of spring.When patient need use this device, can open capping (264), the body of rod (266) and dull and stereotyped (234) are disengaged.Still remain on illustrated position dull and stereotyped (234) this moment, till patient is air-breathing from mouthpiece, in this moment inner room (238) because of hypotension, and impel flat board (234) curved to the right, make guiding element (224) move down, body part by support arm (268) drive aerosol apparatus moves down in the lump simultaneously, and therefore the potion medicine flows to patient.After the use, patient is closed upper cover (264) once again, and the body of rod (266) pushes back to original illustrated position with plate (234), and this device recovers resting state again, prepares to use next time.

In order to assist when the patient inhales supply air to give patient, on the limit wall of inner room (238), provide pair of channels (270).

To these described three kinds of embodiment all are automatic operations, and just suction action itself has been carried medicament.To the 4th kind of embodiment shown in Figure 14, is need be manually-operated at Figure 11, and promptly suction action itself can not cause delivery of medicaments and just allow it be transferred.Present embodiment roughly add that with same label 300 represent corresponding to the element of first full pattern.

In the 4th embodiment, the relative motion between body part and delivery pipe is manually caused by patient.For reaching this purpose, patient to the inner pressure of outer housing (302), grips guiding element (324) when operating for the ease of patient simultaneously easily, and outer housing is provided with depression by tube sealing piece place.But, only patient carries out air-breathing action simultaneously manually-operated, otherwise can relative motion not take place because of the existence of dull and stereotyped (334) between guiding element (324) and the outer housing (302).Present embodiment is different from aforesaid embodiment, and when device was in its resting state, this plate system was plane.Remain on the tram when the resting state in order to ensure this device, flat board is a warpage in advance, and making its natural tendency is curved left from Figure 11 and Figure 13 sight.Wall (336) makes it can not be to excurvation, therefore dull and stereotypedly defeats on these walls the neglecting the degree that prebends greatly of its strength and deciding with one.In order to assist the installation of flat board (334), be equipped with fin (373) and (374) in the inside of outer housing (302) and guiding element (324).

When patient inhales, the air pressure of plate (334) front reduces, and makes it curved to the right, manual strength can be applied on the guiding element (324) simultaneously, and its inside to outer housing (302) is pressed into, and this point is shown in Figure 14.In case when the middle body of plate (334) had surmounted the fin (375) that is formed on guiding element inside, air can freely flow into the inside of this device, and through breather (348), vertically chamber (350) and winding board (334) longitudinal edge and flow in the mouthpiece (304).

After the use, this device recovers resting state automatically, its process system is after patient loosens pressure to guiding element (234), the body part of aerosol apparatus is retracted original position because of the spring strength at spray valve place, this action makes guiding element (324) also be retracted its original position, and the energy of storing in plate (334) also helps guiding element is got back to its original position simultaneously.

The embodiment that had just illustrated above, though simply constructed advantage is arranged, its shortcoming person of being to use need have a skill to operate, especially because user needs the correct size of judging application of force amount.The too little meeting of strength makes device inoperative, and too big strength may can have been damaged it.

In order to alleviate this problem, the firm device of describing can add a mechanism and be improved, and the strength that makes user put on device can be limited.From Figure 15 to the 5th embodiment shown in Figure 17 is exactly to come according to this.Except strength transmission mechanism, the element of the 5th embodiment counter element with the 4th embodiment substantially is identical, and label also is corresponding identical, has just added 100 in addition as a means of difference among the 5th embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 15 to Figure 17 a, the upper end of guide plate (424) connects a work holding flange (480), and an elastic button of flange now (481).When user forces on the button, the power of strength mat work button spring has passed on the guiding element (424), and applied bigger strength when the contact surface (484) of button (481) is gone up when user, strength is limited on the correct numerical value because of the influence that is subjected to button shoulder (482), and the function of this knob shoulder is that its can touch mutually with the part that outer housing (402) upper end exceeds.Button in the illustrated embodiment (481) is to make shape such as Figure 17 a, yet other replace parts, also available with the helical spring that forms an entity backstop as the top that has an increasing of a slice spring steel.

Employed elastic button in the embodiment of Figure 15 to 17a not only can make user need not go to judge the size of answering application of force amount, reaches required coordination simultaneously easilier.Therefore, user can press the button to the greatest extent until by till motionless, and with energy storage in elastic button, as long as now just can be air-breathing ready.Just in the air-breathing while, be stored in energy in the button and order about guiding element and move downward, and cause disengaging of potion medicine.

Figure 18 is the another kind improvement pattern of the 4th embodiment to the 6th embodiment shown in Figure 22.This modified form is to be equipped with a kind of energy storage device of work and to make present embodiment to operate automatically.The element of the 6th embodiment is general corresponding with the element of the 4th embodiment, and label is also corresponding identical, has just increased by 200 in addition.

Figure 18 extremely device shown in Figure 22 is provided with a mouthpiece cover (586), has put mouthpiece (504) in state system shown in Figure 180.There is a pipe inner sleeve (587) big envelope (586) the inside, and its tip part links to each other with mouthpiece (504), and a kind of is to be contained in the sleeve (587) by the energy storage device that helical spring constituted.

Big envelope (586) is provided with a pair of pin (589), and the upper end of outer housing (502) is provided with a bayonet socket device (590) with breach (591).Pin can be at big envelope (586) after pulling down on the mouthpiece, is respectively charged in the breach on the top of this device.Figure 21 and Figure 22 show that big envelope (586) is contained in the situation on the top.After big envelope (586) installs on the bayonet socket device, helical spring (588) is vertically compressed, the result produces a downward power and is added on the guiding element (524), and spring (28) among the function that this spring (588) is undertaken and first embodiment and the spring (228) among the 3rd embodiment are identical.

When using, patient removes big envelope (586) and it is installed in bayonet socket device (590) and upward device placed resting state.Then patient inhales is pulled down big envelope (586) then to obtain the potion medicine on the bayonet socket device, and this can make the body part of guiding element (524) and aerosol apparatus be returned to its original position.Big envelope (586) is reinstalled to mouthpiece (504) this moment again.

Carry as preceding institute, plate (34), (134), (234), (334), (434) and (534) but available resilience flexible metal such as steel make, but also available other materials replaces, such as the lamination of plastics and metal and plastics.Used spring among each embodiment is made with metal usually.Remaining is part in addition, except that aerosol apparatus itself, all extremely is fit to make with mouldable plastic material.The aerosol apparatus of all uses, comprise the unconventional aerosol apparatus that uses among second embodiment, all are types with dosage chamber, at delivery pipe with respect to from the outside potion medicament that replenishes automatically when mobile of aerosol apparatus body part.

Claims (18)

1. An inhalation device for use with a nebuliser having a body part and a discharge tube movable relative to the body part from a rest position to an operative position in which discharge is prevented and discharge occurs in an operative position, the The device comprises a housing for an inhalation device, an outlet for patient inhalation provided in the housing and a restriction and pressure sensing member which, when in a first position, prevents relative movement between the discharge tube and the body portion into the operative position , while allowing this relative movement to take place when it is in the second position, the sensing member can sense the pressure drop produced by the patient during inhalation, and move from the first position to the second position in response. 2. The device of claim 1, comprising an energy storage member operable upon movement of the restricting and pressure sensing member to a second position, causing said body portion and discharge tube to move relative to said operating The location of another location moves. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the energy storage member is a spring. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge pipe is received in a sealing block fixed in the outer cover, and the body part can slide longitudinally in the outer cover to drive the body part and the discharge pipe into and out of the operating position, and the spring is a spring arranged to urge the housing towards the operating position. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said body part is placed in a guide member movable therewith, and said spring acts on said guide member and the housing or a part fixed in the housing. between components. 6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said spring is provided so as to be detachably mounted in a position urging the housing towards the working position. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said spring is clamped in a cover member which when the spring and cover member are removed from said position which urges the cover towards the working position , used as a cover for the suction outlet. 8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge pipe system is accommodated in a sealing block fixed in the outer cover, and the body part can slide longitudinally in the outer cover to drive the body part and the discharge pipe In and out of the operating position, said spring is placed within said body portion and is arranged to bias the body portion and the discharge tube towards the operating position against each other, while being provided so that the discharge tube is clamped in the sealing block against the biasing force of the spring installation. 9. The device of claim 2, wherein the energy storage member is a spring-loaded manual member arranged to engage the housing when a force exceeding a predetermined maximum value is applied thereto. engaged to prevent forces exceeding a predetermined maximum value from being applied to the body portion and discharge member. 10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, 8 and 9, characterized in that the restraining and pressure sensing member is a resiliently flexible plate. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said plate system extends between a first position fixed to the housing and a second position fixed to the sprayer body portion, the plate being between the first position and the second position bend back and forth. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the plate bends in one direction in a first position and in the opposite direction in a second position, the plate being rotated from one position to the other To pass through an intermediate plane state. 13. The device of claim 11, wherein said plate is substantially planar in a first position and curved in a second position, the plate being in a direction opposite to the direction of curvature in its second position. Having a natural curvature, means are provided to prevent the plate from assuming its natural curvature when in the first position. 14. The device of claim 11 including an upright arrangement for returning the plate to its first position. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said erection means includes an upstanding member forming part of a wall of the housing and movable by the user to engage the flexible plate to Push it to the first position. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said erecting member is a resilient flexible thumb. 17. The device of claim 15, wherein said erecting member is a resilient flexible membrane. 18. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that said outlet is provided with an envelope with erecting members on it, and one wall of the outer cover is provided with an opening, so that the erecting members are closed at the outlet. The opening engages the flexible plate through the opening when the envelope is closed.

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