US2379493A - Breathing mask - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1945. s. A. MoREHousE n' 2,379,493

BREATHING MASK Filed Feb. 28, 1942 Patented July 3, 1945 'l 2,379,493v a y n Silas'A` Morehouse, Losfngelcs; Calif.y

' 'appiicaticprfetmary72s, 1942, sc'riatNc. '.sclai'pss. toiles-'141) This invention relates A broadly' i ito*A breathing masks` and associated gearfor" use particularly in? supplyingl oxygen` tc aviators, 'although the 'ap-v paratus involves Y*featuresof construction that' may'be-usefu1lmre1ate'd quipnientlsuch as gas `.nl`objec`t of the invention 'is toprovidebreath-Lv in'g'imask equipment that i'scomtortable;compact, andi relatively tree 'from' ioc'se,y dangling parts;l whilat the 'same-time satisfying the ser'vicefre'-v quirements of a breathing mask. y' l' Another object' is .toZ provide a breathingrm'a'sk assembly klian/ing 'a gas=sup`plying or purifyingA A `relatwly important premaman rmeoesignof` oxygen masks has fbeen yto provide' a 'satisfactory construction of the rebreathng "bag. Oneof thel simple rubber'bladder suspended from the face'- piece in-'frontof the chest vof theusr, as-discl'osed in United States patent? .tovI-Ieidbrink 2*,448;349.

Another method; disclosedfin United States patent torHeidbrink 2",185';99?7,is" tcposition an' chamber 'carried on thehead of the wearer? in" such Ya In'arnn'erl as'y to be* comfortably supported and out of theway. I

' Another object fis'to provide breathing "mask equipmentadapted' to` be Wornentirely on the ordinary rubber bladder y'oni `the topy of theheardof the user, somewhat'ndthe*fashionofia plume onthe-topo'fahelme't. l vSuch'constructionsgsatisfy :the gas-storingV ireduirements, butV have disadvantages from a mechanical standpoint 'in that the bladdersar'e un'- y protected and subject to dalmageiand may become head4 and' provide an unusual amount' of protec f Another object' is toj provide an aviatorsfoXy-- gen mask adapted to` be' supplied Awith oxygen through a connecting tube from astationary tank,.irr Whichthe aviators head cannot be' pulled or jerked by the connecting .tube should 'the aviator have to leave thisiairpl'ane under emergencyconditions.

AAnother object is toprovidean oxygen mask 0r without goggle lenses` for the eyes-0f the wearer. y A l- "Another Object S- tO- providerfor heatingthe oxygenssupplied.toyanoxygen mask.` v It; .l l@ther `morespeciiieobjects and features ofthe invention Willv become apparent` frompthe de-` scription Ito follow ofa specic embodimentof .'xyg'enmasks for aviators are not-broadly new. The e'ssential elements. of such a mask include 'a facepiece" adapted vto l covery and seal "about, the

nose and mouth of the l wearer,l an A expansible'and contractible, rebre'athng bag', .connected ,to ,theL

facepiece, and a connection toa source of oxygen. The oxygen source suppliesa relatively vs`low,rconi Vtinuous strearnuot oxygen sufficient j to` satisfy the users oxygen requirements .butv not equall` to the rate ofjinhalation of' the' user. of fthe rebreathing bag is to rprovide av` reservoir in which a'jcertain amount of breathed `gas and oxygen from the Oxygen source isv stored during eiihalationfand then supplied' to the facepiece during inhalationwitnreiatively little yres.i. tamce S0- thalt th user 'ji's not ffcrceqr to'j exert abnormai rriuscularY eifort in order' to breathe;N 'l l t entangledwith other apparatus. r s f 'My maskfdiii'ers essentially from the'- prior vcon-- vstructions` nientioned thattherebreathing bag is enclosed and `soslfiaied that'it 'forms a coinpact unit'moufrited Aonthe head of the user in such away -asn'ot to extend in any direction Where it wouldinterfere with the normal' moveel'iminates the loose ccnglcrneraticn'of tribes and Wiresy leading tothe headgear`l of` airV aviator, which headgear must'include, in additiongtd the oxygen supplying equipment, the usual microso constructed as to adapt it for use' either with Si@ phone aina arphoneSj-fbrflmdin communie-ation I .esferas man .the drawing;

Fig. 1 is aside View of an' oxygen, cordance with my invention, 'shown positionon the head of auser; l 4 n.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section,taken through the rebreathing reservoir of the maskshOWIl in Fig. 1;

mask acjmounted in Fig. 3 is a detail', vertical section, taken substantially inthe plane III-1110i? Fig." 2;

' Fig.v 4 is a detail View, partly ,in nsection, -of Ia portion .of the cord for makingagas `and electric connection tothemask; v v

Fig. 6 lis a detailtsectionftaken substantially in substantially in thep1ane `.VIV-*morrisrv r1; c c

Fig :7 vis atdetail section showing the shapeof kthe face-contacting edge of the mask; and -K Fig. ais al detail elevationzview showing an ori.- ceinthe facepiece for-:insertion of `a .drinking tubeg-y'l Referring, first, 'to Fi`g. 1f;the apparatus there` in disclosed comprises a IhelmetV I'I adaptedto t on the head of the user; and. facepiece' H adapted tto cover the nose andf vmouth and `'fctrn'r l aig'as-ztight, fit fal'gainstr the face; The helm'et'- If ment cfthahead; Mydesfig'n "arse substamtiailyl place by an outer band or harness I1 which overlies the cup I6 and is secured by'straps I8 and",t

I9 to the side portions or flaps I3 of the helmet I0. The straps I8 and I9 may be providedwith H connecting buckles 'to permit adjustment.

I prefer to provide the face-cup I6 with a relatively wide face-contacting lip2l, as shown 20 Fig. '7, the face-contacting surface of lip 2l being preferably provided with alternate. furrows '22 and ridges 23 to secure'afmore nearlygas-tight seal with theface.l

The'facepiece IIVmay beprovided with suit'- able means for supporting a microphone 24 in front 'of the mouth of the user. The exact construction of the microphone mounting does'not constitute a part of the present .invention and it'may'be constructed -as described in .my copending application'Serial` No. 328,491, led April 8,1940, on anOxygen'mask.:

A breathing tube 25 extends `from the face'cup I6 'through an opening provided therefor in the band I1 to a rebreathingreservoir on the helmet I0. This tube 25 may be of soft rubber, corrugated circumferentially, 'so as to reinforce it against collapse in response to the' suction that is produced when'theV user inhales; 'The tube 25 extends rearwardly and upwardly; well away from the nearest eye,`so that itY does not obstruct the vision of the wearer, and -lies close against'the cheek sothatit is notlikely to become entangled withanythingp i v Referring now to Figs;y 1, Zand 3, the helmet I0 has, formed on the side thereof a bulbous; rough--v ly annular extension extending all the way around the head;` Y The greater .portion ofy this extension is hollow'and forms a chamber for a rebreathing bag' ort'bladder 28. The front portion of the bulbous. extension contains padding ,29, such as hair, to protect the head in the event of crash, and to .also serve as' a visor-to shade the eyes of the user. j

That portion of thebulbous extension containing the rebreathing bag.4 281 is of substantially horseshoe shapeh in plan, and may be deiined by an outer wall of relatively stift' leather, orsimilar material, secured at its. edges to the skullcap portion I2 of the helmet, the portion `I2 serving as the inner wall of the chamber containing the rebreathing bag 28K. To facilitateinspection ,or repair'of the rebreathingbagJhe lower edge of the casing 30 may be secured; to the portion I2 of the helmet by a slide' fastener 3 I. The breathing tube 25 extends through an aperture provided therefor in the casingv 30 and connects tothe rebreathing bag-'V28 adjacent-the forward end thereof. ,IAnloxygen'tube 32 extends through an-aperture provided therefor in the casing 30 and connects to the rebreathing bag 28 at a point displaced rearwardly from the breathing tube 25. `The wall 30 may advantageously beforrned of leather with the fur left on, to provide thermal insulation and help keep the air in the rebreathing bag warm. This air is warmed toa certain extent by conduction from the head of the wearer through the wall I2.

Respiration of the user causes the rebreathing bag 28 to alternately ll and collapse within the casing 30. To permit free contraction and expansion of the rebreathing bag., a number of vent holes 33 may be provided in the casing 30 adjacent the lower edge thereof.

It is also desirable to provide a permeable wall in therebreathing bag to permit auxiliary air to enter when the rebreathing, bag is empty, and such permeable wall may be formed by a patch 34 (Fig. 3) of porous sponge rubber secured to the rebreathing bag 28 overlying a hole 35 therein'. A'number of small vent holes 3B may be provided in the casing 30 overlying the permeable member 34.

` vIn operation, a continuous stream of oxygen is supplied through the tube 32 to the rebreathing bag 28, so that the latter becomes filled with oxygen andexhaled gases before the end of each expiration. After the bag 28 haslled, `a, portion ofthe last exhaled air escapes through a conventional exhaust valve 45 (Fig. 2) which is connected to and extends laterally from the face cup I6. This valve 45 is of conventional constructionemployed in gas masks, andthe like, for years, and simply functions as a check valve to permit escape of air in response to excess pressure within the cup while preventing the entry of air.

The front or visor portion 38 of the bulbous extension on the helmet may be formed of soft leather, and stuifed with hair or 'other'suitable padding material, as previously indicated. It is stuffed sufciently tightly to retain its shape in ordinary use, but will yield and cushion the head of'- the user against blows from the front, such as might result in an airplane crash. It preferably extends forwardly beyond the microphone 24 so that if the users head is thrown forwardly against the instrument board of an airplane, the stuffed visor lportion will stop movement of the head toward the instrument board before the microphone can contact the instrument yboard and be forced back into the users face.

The visor portion 38 is flush with and joined to the rebreathing case 30 at its rear'end and is secured at its upper and lower'edges to the skullcap portion I2 of the helmet.

The oxygen supply tube 32 extends away from the helmet to a suitable oxygen supply system. Likewise electrical connections extend from the microphone 24 and the earphones I5. In accordance with the present invention, I combine the oxygen tube and the electrical wires into asingle composite cord 40 which extends toan anchor clip 4I adapted to be secured to one of the shoulder strapsl42 of a conventional parachute harness. n The anchor member 4I makes releasable connection to a second cord 50 which may be extended to any suitable distance to complete con,- nection to an oxygen supply system and to the radiosystem of which the microphone 24 and the earphones I5 constitute parts.

The upper end of the composite cord 40 is secured, as by a strap 5l, to the helmet I0 at the rear portion of the head of the wearer. From this'point the oxygen tube 32 extends to the rebreathing bag, and the wires extend to the microphone and earphones. Thus the microphone wires 52, which may consist of two insulated conductors formed into a single cord, extendthrough a conduit 53 provided therefor in the band I'I of the facepiece vr'The cord 54, going-:to .therfleft earphone, 'is very s'hort 'and does motneed :to be, aanchor'ed fdo'wn. The cord 5521,1g6ingtoitlfie rightl geaiphone, preferably 'extends'aroundthe Y'back 'of the' fhea'd 'immediately belo'w the ease reo `and fis; i5

preerablyexten'ded through a tunnel or f'loops i55 fto ho1d itsnugly againstthehelmet.

The composite fcord 140 may be formed fby lay ing the various electrical conductingwiresf about the lower portion -of Fig. 4, the whole being enclosed vin 'an `'outer :casing 56, A'which may be foi wovenr-sbfic for rubber.

"The 'lanchor Aclip Wl' #may be4 constructed as y"til/'ely rigid (i1-ip 5" :infilor Whh 'the `p`al`aJChl1t 'shouldcr'str'ap l2 cfan be y"forced through an? opening 58 at one side of the clip. Thefout'er wa/1159 of the lclip has secured thereto a casing member I`lllcontaining-'aprojecting'tube'lil over the Vupper 20 end -of which 'the 4`oxygen 'tube -`40 'is slipped, and ya plurality of Aelectr-icalconducting elements 62` to the 'upper v-en'dsof which the"various.electricalv wires 63 are individually connected as by pins.

`64 on `the ends of the wires and pin jacks `6`4a 25 forme'd in the upper ilends of the connectors k"62. The case 60 is, o'f course, constructed of -electrica'l insulating material so as not vto shortcircuit the electrical conductors 62.V `At thellower end" f the case :60 "the conductors622may1termi- `2'3"() "nate in pin jacks 365 Whih Areceive Ac'OnIieCiZ-'i'ng p'ins lil'on theiends of-wires'l formin'g a part of "the cable orA cord 5'0 qwhich extends away --from 'the'body of :thepe'rsonus'ing the mask'. The oxy- `li'l in'the'anchor member"4l. lAsa resultfhoi the construction described, 4 .the-"cord f5 0 can 'be -`vj erked away from "the anchor member -"4`I {in jan A'meruser. l

I nd'th'at it is 'sometimes desirable when flying vat extremealtitudes in 'an airplane without adequate heating facilities, yto supply-some heat tothe .oxygen because of the fact that theoky'gen "45 is 'cooled -even 'below 'the `low temperature eX- istent at high altitude, by expansion as it leaves the pressure tank in which it is stgred I therefore provide in the cord an electrical heating l device for warming the oxygen as it flows to the mask. The construction ofthe heating device is disclosed in Fig. 4. It comprises afmetalnipple 10 inserted in the oxygen tube 32 and surrounded by an electrical heating co-il 7|. The

coil 1I may beseparated from the metal nipple 55 10 by a thin layer of electrical insulating material 12, such as mica, and is itself formed ofl wire insulated withheat-resistant electrical insulation of any known type. The coil is `surrounded -by a thin layer 13 of thermal insulation to re- 60 duce Wastage of heat by radiation. The coil 1I is connected at opposite ends to a pair of wires from the plurality of wires 63 in the cord, whichwires may be connected at their remote ends (by a pair of conductors in the cord 50) to any suit- 65 able source of current, such as the usual electric battery of an airplane. Of course a switch may be inserted in the heating circuit at any convenient point, but since it is not essential, and would be of conventional construction, it is not disclosed in the drawing.l e v Electrical connections to the microphone 24 and the earphones l5 are preferably made by means of screw connections, so that 'the microphone and earphones can be removed from the 40 extending tothe apparatus onthelhead of v'the figo -lielmet 'assembly for 'testing 4:or serlvicing without removing theonnectingfwires from the helmet.

. 'f-fi/ifIihe-lband `lSVI' is provided Vwith :detachable fasteners on .thefright side. (noi-,visible vin the draw- '.in positlon'ed similarly rto 'thebuckles'fZU on ithe'fleftfsside, --so 'that `,the 4facepiece v ill can y'be f loosened and r`swung awayirom the' face Awithout interference? by` `the "breathing ltube 25 and the felectricalleads52 extending to ythe microphone. Af-ter the .facepiecehas been `released :asy de- Yscribed,:the chin .strap i4 on the helmet can be'releasedfand: the .helmet 'removed from the headJf-Thehelmet is put :on .by reversing the procedure; flnazmely, rst .applying the vhelmet porition lill ftofthe :head and securing .the chin :strap '124,1 andwthen locating .the :facepiece in proper lpositionfin `iront of fthe face and -securing'the "fastenerslo'nfthe right :side thereof, vwhich-.Ias-

v"tenerscorrespond to the buckles 20 @shown in Fig. 1. i

It is sometimes desirable, particularly when flying at great altitudes during fthe daytime, to 'have dark goggles toshieldf'the eyes from the -intense light. "It is awkward to-Wear conventionalv goggles with oxygen mask equipment, :and in accordance with the present invention, I provide clipsl v8l) on the "face cup i6, adapted vto Vreceive `thelower edgesof avpair of gogglelenses Y 'fing'the oxygen mask. However; in accordance A'with the"present invention, I make it 'possible l'for"the*aviator to imbibe liquid through a drinkf I ing tubeA without removing `this' ,oxygen ,'mask.

Thus, as yshown in Figs. Zand 8, 'the rubber 'face e cup I`6l hasv an invva'ijfdly extending 'nipplef'illly formed l.therein immediately 'to l one side of lthe lmicrophone '24, .this nipple having a pairA of crossjslits 9| and V9.2- therein, `through .which y a drinking tube can be passed -to the mouth of the aviator. The rubberwalls of the nipple will return to normal, closed lposition when the drinkingtube is withdrawn.

Various changes from the exact construction disclosed Vmay be made without departing from y the invention, and Ithe latter is to be limited only as set forth in the appended claims. For instance, the. general construction disclosed wouldv be useful in a gas mask, the air-purifying chemicals being contained in the rebreathing cham'- ber, which might, to advantage, then be extended all the way around the head, the stuffed visor being eliminated.

l. A breathing apparatusadapted to besupf ported on and movable with the headk ofA a person, and comprising: a rst means for effecting v abreathing connection with a breathing orifice of said person, and a second means deninga chamber `of substantial cu ic content, cooperating withsaid'rst means to supply breathing gas thereto, said second means including skullcap member vadapted to restsnugly on the top andL sloping side and rear portions ofthe head, and a bulbous wall joined at its edges to said'skullcap member and deiiningftherewithl a chamber curved longitudinally about the head in substancomprising: first ,connection with a 4 tially"horizontal position with its top approximately' level with the top ofthe head.

2. A breathing apparatus adapted to be supported on and movablek with the head of a person, andcomprising: a rst means for effecting a'breathing connection with `a breathing orifice of said person, a second means defining a chainber of substantial cubic content, a conduit connecting said second means with said first means to| supply breathing gas thereto, said second means including a skullcap member adapted to rest snugly on the ztop and sloping side and rear portions of the head, and a bulbous wall joined at its upper and lower edges to saidskullcap member and extending across the back and forwardly along the sides of said skullcap and defining therewith a chamber curved longitudi- -nally about the head, the top of said bulbous Wall lying approximately in a horizontal plane level with the top of the head of said person.

3. Aibreathing apparatus adapted to be supported on and movable with the head of a person, and comprising: a-first means for electing a breathing connection with a breathing orifice of said person, and a second means defining a chamber of substantial cubic content cooperating with said first means to supply breathing gas thereto, said apparatus including casing means of general 4toroidal shape, dimensioned to rest upon the upper sloping rear and side portions of the head, andl against the forehead with the top of said casing approximately level with the top of the head, thegrear portion of said toroidal casing being vhollow and constituting said chamber, and the front portion of said toroidal casing merging smoothly into said rear portion and containing shock-absorbing material.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the -frontal shock-absorbing portion of said toroidal casing extends forwardly and laterally above the eyes of said person to constitute 'a visor.

5. A breathing apparatus adapted to be sup- .iported on and movable with the head of a person, means for eiecting a breathing breathing orifice of said perdening an expansible reservoir connected son, and a second means and retractible rebreathing to fit over and seal around thereto, and means'for supplying a breathing gas to said reservoir, said rebreathing reservoir comprising an outer rigid casing .of longitudinally curved, tubular form adapted to lie against and be supported on the upper, slopingportions of the head, and a flexible bag positioned -within said outer casing and shaped to conform thereto when fully inflated, said outer casing having vent apertures therein.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5, in which said first means comprises a facial cup adapted the nose and mouth of a person, with a breathing tube extending from one side of said facial cup closely along the side of the head of the person to the adjacent side of said rebreathing reservoir, and check valve means extending laterally from the opposite side of said face cup.

'7. An aviators oxygen helmet comprising: a facepiece adapted to fit over and seal around the mouth and nose of the aviator, means for securing said facepiece against the aviator7s face, and goggle lenses, said facepiece being provided on opposite sides ,of the nose with downwardly extending pockets for receiving and -frictionally gripping the lower marginal portions of said lenses for detachably supporting said goggle lenses in position Ain front of the eyes of the aviator.

8. A breathing apparatus adapted to be suprported on and movable with the head of a person comprising: first means for effecting a breathing connection with a breathing orince of said person, and a second means defining an expansible and retractible breathing reservoir connected thereto, and means for supplying a breathing gas to said reservoir, said rebreathing reservoir comprising a scullcap adapted to fit on the head, an outwardly bowed strip of relatively stiff material extending across the back and forwardly along the sides of the scullcap with the upper and lower edges of said strip fastened to the scullcap to form therewith a chamber, and an elongated iiexible breathing bag disposed in said chamber.

' SILAS- A. MOREHOUSE.

Images