Patents by Inventor William F. Kirk

William F. Kirk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4860740
    Abstract: A device facilitating the inhalation of powdered medicaments from within a container. The device comprises a body having walls partially defining a chamber, an inlet port into the chamber for the entry of air, and a mouthpiece having a central through opening communicating with the chamber. A support member also partially defines the chamber and is manually movable relative to the body to convey a first portion of the container from (1) a first position spaced from the chamber to (2) a predetermined dispense position within the chamber with an open end of the first capsule portion uppermost so that airflow into the inlet port and through the chamber induced by suction at the mouthpiece will cause the powdered medicament in the first container portion to become entrained in the airflow; and an extractor is mounted for movement relative to the body to remove a second container portion and open the container prior to positioning of the first container portion at the dispense position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Riker Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Kirk, Anthony C. L. Wass, Eric A. Baum, Ian P. Tansey, William G. Meredith
  • Patent number: 4446862
    Abstract: A breath actuated device for the oral inhalation of medicaments in finely divided powder form, comprising a chamber (72) having one or more inlet ports for the entry of air and an outlet in direct communication with a mouthpiece (66) and positioned within the chamber, means for separating the lid and base components (62A, 62B) of a capsule (as defined herein) containing the medicament while holding the capsule substantially vertically to expose an aperture in the base component facilitating access to the powdered medicament and means for supporting the base component of the capsule containing the powdered medicament in a substantially vertical position, the inlet ports, outlet port and means for supporting the base component of the capsule being arranged such that when the device is operated by suction at the mouthpiece an air flow is established from the entry ports to the outlet port directly across the aperture in the base component of the capsule causing the particles of powdered medicament in the base co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Inventors: Eric A. Baum, Leslie J. Davies, William F. Kirk, Anthony C. L. Wass