Breathing aid device

This invention relates generally to breathing assist devices and, more particularly, to a device which provides for heat exchange between exhaled and inhaled air and which is worn entirely around the neck.

Various breathing aid devices have been proposed in the prior art. Examples of typical breathing aids are found in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,491,754; 3,707,966; and 4,062,359. All of the referenced patents disclose devices utilizing some type of conduit which is positioned next to the body for heat exchange relationship between the body and inhaled air.

Another prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,150,671. This device uses exhaled air for heat exchange relationship with inhaled air, but does not employ any means to take advantage of body heat.

An improved breathing aid is disclosed in my prior patent no. 4,269,183, issued May 26, 1981. While my prior device represents an improvement in breathing aids in that it takes advantage of air lost from the head as well as heat from exhaled air to warm incaning air, the device has one shortcoming in common with the other prior art constructions. It is relatively bulky and cumbersome to wear. It is also aesthetically unacceptable to some persons. Moreover, all of the prior art devices, including my own prior patented device, fail to provide any means to reflect radiant heat from the body back towards the air intake conduit after it has once passed outwardly away from this conduit.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a breathing aid in which both exhaled air and body heat are utilized to warm inhaled air, and the bulky and unattractive heat exchange bags previously associated with such devices are eliminated.

To this end, according to the invention, a breathing aid device comprising a mask for covering the mouth and nose of a wearer and having an intake port, air intake means coupled to the intake port and having an air intake conduit extending through an enclosure, and exhaust means for exhausting air from the mask into the enclosure for heat exchange with the air inhaled through the air intake conduit,is characterised in that the air intake means comprises at least one pair of air intake conduits arranged to extend around opposite sides of the wearer's neck, and the enclosure is formed by a scarf or muffler which substantially encases the air intake conduit on each side of the neck.

With this arrangement, heat from the wearer's neck radiates into the muffler and, together with exhaled air exhausted into the muffler, warms the inhaled air as it is drawn through the air intake conduits passing through the muffler. The muffler may include an insulating layer, and preferably has a heat reflective surface disposed adjacent the air intake conduits outwards thereof with respect to the wearer's neck for reflecting heat back for further heat exchange with the inhaled air.

Because the device in accordance with the invention is worn entirely around the neck area and includes a muffler, it is more aesthetically acceptable and is also easier to put on and take off than conventional devices worn in the chest or head area. The device also has a greater capacity for inhaled air than devices previously available, thereby offering less breathing resistance to the wearer during inhalation.

An example of a breathing aid device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

• Figure 1 is a front elevational view, with portions broken away, of the breathing aid of the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of the device shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and
• Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 and is designed to be worn around the head A of a person, more particularly in the area of the neck which is designated by the letter B in FIG. 2. Device 10 canprises a mask 12 designed to fit over the mouth and nose of head A and which is secured to the head by a strap 14. Mask 12 is provided with a peripheral strip 16 of resilient flexible material such as foam rubber. This flexible strip facilitates sealing of the mask to the face area.

Mask 12 is provided with a nose clip 18 which conforms the mask to the nose to assure proper fit. Clip 18 is provided with snaps 20 for purposes to be made clear hereinafter. The mask also has an intake port 22 which is coupled with a "T" connection 24 (FIG. 1). Mask 12 is provided with one way exhaust valves 25 disposed on opposite sides of the wearer's nose. Valves 25 allow air to exit from the mask via openings 27 but do not permit air to enter the mask.

Coupled with "T" connection 24 is an intake conduit designated generally by the numeral 26. Conduit 26 comprises first and third conduit stretches 28 and 30 disposed on one side of the head and coupled with "T" 24 by means of a short piece of flexible conduit 32. It is to be understood that conduit 26 also comprises second and fourth conduit stretches disposed on the opposite side of the head. As the second and fourth conduit stretches are identical to stretches 28 and 30, only the latter will be discussed and like reference numerals will be used on the second and fourth conduit sections.

Conduit sections 28 and 30 are joined together by an "I" coupling 34 which is also coupled with flexible conduit 32. It is to be noted from viewing FIG. 4 that the inner surfaces 28a and 30a of the respective conduit sections 28 and 30 are relatively smooth so as to facilitate the passage of air therethrough. While a plastic material will normally be used for conduits 28 and 30, a highly polished metal may also be employed to further enhance air flow as well as heat exchange characteristics. Each of conduit sections 28 and 30 is provided with a one-way flapper type of valve 36 positioned immediately downstream of "I" coupling 34. The details of construction of flapper valve 36 are shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,269,183 which is incorporated herein by reference and, accordingly, these details will not be repeated herein. Another one-way flapper type valve 38 is coupled with one leg of "I" coupling 34 and is of larger diameter than conduit stretches 28 and 30. Valve 38 is of a size such that it is capable of exhausting a volume of air equal to the combined volume passing through conduit stretches 28 and 30 at any point in time. Valve 38 is of the same construction and operates in the same manner as valve 36.

Conduit 26 is encased within a muffler 40 which is of a length sufficient to extend around the entire neck area B. Snaps 42 on muffler 40 mate with snaps 20 to hold the muffler to mask 12. It is to be understood that muffler 40 is of a generally flat one-piece construction similar to that of a conventional muffler except that provision is made for joining the two sides of the muffler together. To this end, a releasably fastener strip 44 such as the interlocking cloth type material sold under the trademark Velcro is provided. Alternatively, the ends of the muffler may simply be tied together. A similar type of interlocking cloth fastener 46 is used at the back portion of the neck to hold the two lengths of muffler 40 around head A. Muffler 40 is also provided with two large openings 48 on opposite sides of the head through which the ends of conduit stretches 28 and 30 project. It may be desirable to provide an elastic band, tie string or other tensioning device around the perimeter of opening 48.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, muffler 40 is provided with an insulating layer 50 which extends over approximately two-thirds of the inner surface of the muffler. Insulating layer 50 is characterized by an inner surface 52 of highly reflective material. A suitable material for constructing insulating layer 50 having a highly reflective inner surface is the material sold under the trademark Space Blanket. Insulating layer 50 is preferably secured to muffler 40 by stitching, adhesive tape or other suitable means.

When the device of the invention is to be used by a wearer, mask 12 is placed over the nose and mouth and secured by head strap 14. The two ends of muffler 40 are joined by fastener 46. As the wearer inhales, air will enter ,conduit stretches 28 and 30 travelling along the length of these stretches and entering mask 12 through intake port 22. As the wearer exhales, the force of air passing out through port 22, conduit 32 and "I" coupling 34 will cause valves 36 to close thus forcing the exhausted air out through valve 38. This exhausted air will be trapped inside of muffler 40 where it will undergo heat exchange with the incoming air passing through conduit sections 28 and 30. The exhausted air will eventually be discharged through the muffler since it is not air tight. Furthermore, body heat emanating from the neck and lower portion of the head of the wearer will pass through that portion of muffler 40 which is next to the body and which does not have insulating layer 50 next to it. The path of this radiant heat is indicated by arrows in FIG. 4. The radiant heat will undergo further heat exchange with incoming air passing through conduit stretches 28 and 30. The radiant heat will then be reflected by surface 52 back in the direction of the conduits where it undergoes still further heat exchange.

It has been found that the device of the present invention provides heat exchange capability which exceeds that of the prior art devices that utilize bulky and unattractive bags or headgear. Because the device of the present invention is worn entirely on the neck area, it is also possible to increase the volume of intake air by utilizing multiple intake conduits. This provides for greater ease and comfort in breathing. The device is also much easier to put on and take off since it is not required to remove the clothing or other wearing apparel.