CA2178522A1

CA2178522A1 - Breathing exercise device

Info

Publication number: CA2178522A1
Application number: CA 2178522
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gregory John Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-07
Filing date: 1996-06-07
Publication date: 1997-12-08

Abstract

A lightweight, portable breathing exercise device comprises a mouthpiece, a short air passageway and at least one insert adapted to fit snugly in an opening in the air passageway. A plurality of inserts adapted to be releasably fit snugly in an opening in the passageway may be provided, each insert being adapted to restrict the flow of air through the passageway to a different degree.

Description

2~ 78522 BREATHING EXERCISE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of breathing exercise devices for use in sports, medical tre~tm~-nt~ and the arts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For a number of years, it has been recognized that breathing exercise devices can provide benefits to patients with respiratory ~ilme.nt.~. There has been little recognition, however, that such breathing exercise devices may also be of benefit to athletes and performers in the arts who have the need of improved lung capacity,such as actors and singers.

Given the medical treatment thrust of the prior art, the majority of relevant prior art comprises devices which are, heavy, bulky, or otherwise inconvenient to use. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,455,294 to Adlar et al. illustrates a series of nested cups in order to force air along a more tortuous path. U.S. Patent No. 3,710,780 to Milch describes the use of check valves and a liquid containing receptacle in order to vary airflow through a mouthpiece. U.S. Patent No. 4,221,381 discloses use of a mouthpiece attached by a tube to a cylinder with rotating valves. U.S.
Patent No. 4,601,465 to Roy discloses a mouthpiece attached to a tubular body defining an air duct. A membrane is mounted in the tubular body and proper stim~ tion is obtained when the tubular body is long enough to increase the deadspace of the respiratory system of the person using the device. This device consists of multiple pieces and a rotating sleeve. In addition, the tubular body needs to be quite large so that the weight of the device is significant. U.S. Patent No. 4,770,413 to Green discloses a similar concept.

Accordingly, an important aspect of the present invention is to provide a compact breathing exercise device which is portable and adapted to be used by anyone, no matter what level of activity is being undertaken. Rather than relying upon a complex mech~ni~m which may fail when put under stress, it is another aspect of this invention to allow the airflow through the device to be varied by using at least one simply constructed insert adapted to decrease the flow of air through the air passageway. A plurality of inserts may be provided so that a number of different air resi~t~nce combinations can be achieved. The inserts may be coded, either by colour or otherwise, to enable the user to determine the level of air resi~t~nce chosen.

In order to be easily put in place and removed, the inserts and the air passageway, as well as the mouthpiece, can be made of thermoplastic material.
Different thermoplastic materials can be chosen for each portion of the device to achieve Op~il"~l", results, or a single material may be chosen.
The inserts are preferably snap-fitted into the air passageway to create a snug fit, but to allow easy insertion and removal. The air passageway may be a separate piece adapted to mate with the mouthpiece, or may be constructed in a unitary fashion along with the mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece may be constructed in such a way so that it is easily held between the lips and gums or gripped by the teeth of the user. The entire device is pr~re~dbly easily washable for hygienic purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings depict an illustrative embodiment of the invention herein.

Figure I is a schematic, perspective top view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 2 is a sch~m~tic, perspective bottom view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 3 is a schematic, plan view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 4 is a s~h~m~ic~ bottom view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 5 is a schematic, horizontal rear view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 6 is a schematic, horizontal front view of the breathing exercise device.

2 1 7852~

Figure 7 is a schematic, horizontal left side view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 8 is a schematic, horizontal right side view of the breathing exercise device.

Figure 9 is a schematic, plan view of an insert.

Figure 10 is a schçm~tic~ horizontal side view of an insert.

Figure 11 is a schematic, horizontal front view of an insert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLU~-IKATED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 through 8 illustrate a compact, portable breathing exercise device.
A mouthpiece 2 is d~ignçd to fit in the mouth of a user to be held securely by the lips and gums or the teeth. The mouthpiece is p~erè-dbly formed continuously with a short air passageway 4 with a fixed opening 6 (see Figure S) to permit air to pass from the atmosphere into and through the mouthpiece. The fixed opening 6 is preferably of s~lfficient cross-section so that it allows a normal flow of air to the user with little breathing effort when the device is in place.
The device is pr~relably formed of injection moulded thermoplastic material for low cost of production and concictçn~y of ~ r~ e. The thermoplastic material of the finished product can be relatively hard and rigid, or relatively soft and flexible, depending upon the needs and plerelences of the user.

In order to reduce the flow of air through the air passageway 4, or alle~nali~ely expressed, to increase the effort required of the user to draw the same amount of air through the device, one or more inserts 8 adapted to fit snugly in the fixed opening 6 are provided. In the illustrative embodiment, a plurality of inserts 8 (Figures 1 to 11) is provided, each insert being adapted to restrict the flow of air through the air passageway 4 to a different degree. The inserts 8 are plereldbly easily removed from the air passageway so that other inserts may be used, and to facilitate cleaning of the device.

The illustrated device is so portable and compact that it is easily washed under a tap or in a sink. The inserts 8 are preferably formed so as to facilitate being snap-fitted into the air passageway 4. An eye 10 may be provided on the mouthpiece (see Figures 3, 4, 6 and 8) and on the inserts (not shown) to facilitate transportation of the unit on a chain or cord (not shown) and to prevent loss of inserts by detachedly connecting the inserts loosely to the mouthpiece. The inserts 8 may be used independently, or in an alternative construction, may be nested to provide increasing air r~ t~n~e with each insert added.

The inserts 8 may be coded by colour, size, shape or otherwise to permit the user to quickly identify the level of air restriction selected.

An illustrative embodiment has been described herein and shown in the acco"lpd"yillg drawings to illustrate the underlying principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that n.,l"erws modifications may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A compact, portable, breathing exercise device comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a short air passageway sealably connected to the mouthpiece with a fixed opening to permit air to pass from the atmosphere into and through the mouthpiece;

(c) at least one insert adapted to fit snugly in said opening, and to be easily removed therefrom, to reduce the flow of air through the passageway.

2. A compact, portable, breathing exercise device comprising:

(a) a lightweight unitary mouthpiece and air passageway;

(b) a plurality of inserts adapted to be releasably fit snugly in an opening in the air passageway to reduce the flow of air through the passageway, each insert being adapted to restrict the flow of air through the passageway to a different degree.

3. The breathing exercise device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the mouthpiece is constructed of flexible, thermoplastic material.

4. The breathing exercise device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the mouthpiece is adapted to be held between the lips and gums of the user.

5. The breathing exercise device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the inserts may be releasably snap-fitted into the air passageway.

6. The breathing exercise device of claims 1 or 2, wherein the inserts are codedto permit the user to quickly identify the degree of air restriction selected.

7. The breathing exercise device of claims 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of inserts may be nested to provide graduated increasing air resistance.