Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
  • A62B18/08—Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices
  • A62B18/10—Valves

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a breathing mask which when worn is intended to cover at least the wearer ' s mouth and nose and which includes means to hold the mask in a fixed position on the face of a wearer, a first and a second 5 opening, an inhalation valve fitted in the first opening and connectable to a source of breathing gas, and an exhalation valve fitted in the second opening.
• the breathing mask is normally a full-face mask which includes the described mask as an inner mask that covers the mouth and the nose region of the wearer's face, and an outer mask which is o worn outside the inner mask and which covers the wearer's face and includes a transparent viewing window in the region of the wearer's eyes.
• the outer mask and the inner mask are normally constructed so that breathing gas from a gas-storage source will first enter the outer mask and flush the inner surface of the viewing window so as to remove any moisture that may be present, and then passes 5 through a valve and into the inner mask. Exhalation gas leaves the mask through an exhalation valve.
• These valves are normally one-way valves.
• Such breathing masks are also usually used together with helmets which embrace the wearer ' s head and which include a breathing mask that covers the mouth and nose region of the wearer ' s face.
• the front side of the helmet includes a transparent viewing 0 window or visor.
• the mask is donned and breathing gas is taken from a breathing-gas source, normally a gas cylinder having a gas pressure of up to 300 atm. Because the mask cannot be donned quickly, it must be 5 donned in good time before entering a non-breathable atmosphere. When entering a breathable atmosphere after leaving an unbreathable atmosphere, the mask must be removed so as to not consume gas unnecessarily from the breathing-gas source, which covers only a limited breathing time.
• a breathing-gas source normally a gas cylinder having a gas pressure of up to 300 atm.
• An object of the present invention is to enable breathable ambient air to be o breathed-in while wearing the mask, and to switch to breathing from the gas supply with the aid of a simple hand manipulation when the ambient air is not safe to breath.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a breathing mask of the aforesaid kind which can be switched from a gas-supply breathing mode and an ambient air breathing mode easily and effectively.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a mask which, when worn, will enable air to be inhaled through the medium of the inhalation valve, either from the gas supply or from the ambient atmosphere.
• a breathing mask which covers at least the wearer ' s mouth and nose and which includes means for holding the mask in a fixed position on the wearer, a first and a second opening, an inhalation valve which is fitted in the first opening and which is connectable to a source of breathing gas, and an exhalation valve fitted in the second opening.
• the inventive mask is characterized by a valve positioning device which is connected to the exhalation valve and which has a second position in which the exhalation valve is out of contact with the second opening, and a first position in which the exhalation valve is in contact with the second opening, wherein the wearer is only able to exhale through said opening when the device is in this latter position.
• the inhalation and exhalation openings of the mask are disposed in a rigid plate fitted in the mask, which is pliable and flexible in other respects.
• the plate is referenced 6 and the exhalation opening is referenced 1.
• the exhalation valve 4 solely permits the passage of gas from the opening 1 and is fitted on an arm 3.
• the arm 3 is pivotal about a pivot pin 2 attached to an exhalation valve positioning device in the form of a cover 5, in a manner not shown.
• the arm 3 has an extension 7 which extends out on the side of the pivot pin 2 distal from the exhalation valve 4.
• the cover 5 is arranged for pivotal movement towards and away from the exhala- tion valve 4.
• the extension 7 of the arm 3 terminates immediately adjacent the inner defining surface of the cover 5.
• the cover 5 is pivotal about a pivot pin 8 between the position shown in full section lines and the position shown in dotted lines 5'. As the cover 5 is pivoted 5 from the closed position shown in full lines to the open position 5' (shown in dotted lines), it will come into contact with the extension 7 of the arm 3 and therewith rotate the valve 4 from the position shown in full lines, in which the valve closes the opening 1 , to a position 5 ' in which the opening 1 is open.
• the cover 5 is held fixed in its open and its closed position with the aid of a locking means not shown.
• a o spring biases the cover 5 in a direction towards its closed position.
• the mask includes an indicator which indicates the position of the cover 5, therewith obviating the need to "feel" for the cover in order to ascertain whether it is open or closed.
• the cover position indicator may be fitted adjacent the cover and function to cause an electric signal to be transmit- 5 ted to an indication lamp provided in the viewing window or visor.
• This lamp may be a light emitting diode.
• the locking means may include an outwardly and upwardly projecting rod.
• This rod may, for instance, have an arm or some other device which extends perpendicularly to the rod axis and which must be brought from a low to a high position in order to be able to rotate the cover 5 from its 0 opening closing position to its opening uncovering position.
• the rod must be brought back to the lower position when the cover 5 is swung back to its closed position. The rod is brought to its lower position when the cover 5 is closed by means of a spring force.
• the mask When using the illustrated mask, the mask is preferably fitted with a 5 breathing-activatable inhalation valve, preferably a valve which is controlled by the need to breath and which is connected to a portable supply of breathing gas.
• the connection between the gas supply and the need-controlled inhalation valve may be an open connection.
• the mask can be donned in good time before entering an unbreathable atmosphere.
• the cover 5 is therewith open and inhalation and o exhalation take place through the exhalation opening 1.
• the need-controlled inhalation valve is not opened until activated by a subpressure, which can be generated by taking a deep breath.
• the cover 5 When expecting to enter an unbreathable atmosphere or when detecting that an unbreathable atmosphere has been entered, the cover 5 can be closed without needing to actuate the locking means. When the cover 5 is closed, the cover will no longer act on the arm extension 7 and the valve 4 will be positioned across the exhalation opening 1 and therewith close the 5 opening to the entry of inhalation gas.
• the inventive mask may also be also be provided with a mechanically actuable inhalation valve, preferably a need-controlled inhalation valve, connected to a portable supply of breathing gas.
• the connection between the gas supply and the need-controlled inhalation valve may be an open connection.
• the inhalation 5 valve is then inactive, i.e. is closed.
• the mask can be donned in good time before entering an unbreathable atmosphere.
• the cover 5 is open and gas is inhaled and exhaled through the exhalation opening 1.
• the cover 5 can be closed without needing to actuate the locking 0 means.
• the arm extension 7 will therewith no longer act on the cover 5 and the valve 4 will be positioned across the exhalation opening 1 and therewith close the valve for inhalation purposes.
• the inhalation valve is activated so as to enable gas to be inhaled from the gas supply (not shown).
• the face mask according to one or more of Claims 1-12 includes preferably an outer mask or helmet fitted with a visor.
• the face mask according to Claim 7 includes preferably an outer mask or a o helmet with a visor provided with said indicating device.
• the indicating device in the breathing mask is preferably an electronic device, for instance a light emitting diode.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
• Finger-Pressure Massage (AREA)
• Adjustment Of The Magnetic Head Position Track Following On Tapes (AREA)
• Polishing Bodies And Polishing Tools (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20397300

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 1995
  • 1995-02-20 SE SE9500627A patent/SE504000C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-02-19 DE DE69608952T patent/DE69608952T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-02-19 WO PCT/SE1996/000216 patent/WO1996025982A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-02-19 CA CA 2213262 patent/CA2213262A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-02-19 EP EP96904412A patent/EP0810897B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-02-19 AU AU48528/96A patent/AU705233B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-02-19 JP JP8525611A patent/JPH11500637A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

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