US2000064A - Respirator - Google Patents

Description

H. "5. COVER May 7, 1935.

RESPIRATOR Filed March 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mfg 62 W67;

$19 iiivfruy.

16 Wit/2:55:29.

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'May 7, H. s covz 2, o0o;o64

RESPIRATOR Filed march 27, 1955 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1 935 PATENT OFFICE nasrma'ron Harvey s. Cover, South Bend, Ind.

Application March 2'1,

17 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in respirators, and has for an object the production of a device to be used for protecting the user from dust, smoke, and noxious gases of various kinds.

Another object is the provision of a device for the above purposes which may be manufactured at an extremely small cost, perform its functions efficiently, and yet have a greater capacity for utility than present devices now have. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class mentioned, that may be used without occasioning the great difficulty in breathing which devices in use heretofore have caused.

Another object is the provision of a device to which auxiliary filter chambers may 'be securely attached with great ease and speed, and yet the cost of manufacture of my device is far less than that of present devices which may be used with auxiliary filter chambers.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a device that is foldable, compact, easily put on, well balanced, light, and is practically foolproof in that it is almost impossible to apply the device to the users face in an incorrect manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which,

when in position on the wearer, will not interfere with the wearers clear vision of his work.

Another important object is'the provision of a device having an exhaust valve which is conveniently placed and thus operatesvery efficiently. J

My invention may behest understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device applied to the face of a user;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device; Fig. 3 is a side elevational. view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig.3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantiallyon the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of the preferred form of exhaust valve used in my device, and shows the parts in the relation they assume when air is being forced outwardly frqm'the device and I 1933, Serial No. 662,929

Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the auxiliary chambers which may be used in my device, and parts are broken away to illustrate the construe-1 tion and filters used;

The preferred construction of my device comprises a main shielding body l5, which is preferably molded and therefore integral, and has a hollow interior and wedge-like exterior appearance. Body l5 may be provided at its rear edge with cutouts I6 'for the accommodation of the bridge of the nose of the user, and since. these cutouts in my preferred construction are identical, the device may be turned upside-down and used in the same manner, as is shown in Fig. 1. This invertible feature of my invention is covered in my co-pending application, Serial No. 684,503, filed August 10, 1933.

Centrally and toward the front of,my device, as shown in Fig. 2, may be a flutter valve H which may be formed of two lips l8, preferably formed integrally with body l5, and adapted normally to remain in closed position, as shown in Fig 6. Lips 18, may be formed of the same kind and thickness of rubber as body l5, and resemble in cross-section the appearance of a duck's bill, with the extreme forward ends in contact, and their rear edges spaced apart to some extent. Interiorly of my device I preferably provide a pair of integral rubber. bosses l9 adjacent the rearmost portions of lips l8, and 30 substantially centrally vertically of said lips. Since each-boss I9 is similarly placed on its lip, it can be seen that the two bosses will contact and cause lip members l8 to remain separated adjacent said bosses. From an inspection of Fig. 4 it can be seen that there is a large air passage provided around bosses I 9, and from Fig. 6 it can be seen that this passage continues forwardly and diminishes in size until it is entirely closed. by the forward meeting edges of lips l8. It will also be noted that the bosses I9 serve as fulcrums, so that as the face portion is spread to apply to the face, the valve lips are pressed more firmly together to ensure proper closing of the valve.

In the preferred construction of my device the side walls of body I! may be extended so as to provide filter retaining chambers 20 having end walls 2|, provided with apertures 22. The side walls of extending filter chambers 20 may be provided with integral extending bosses 23 which may be of appropriate size and height to engage apertures 24 of extension cap 25 which may be made of relatively stiff material such as aluminum and have a large opening 55 26 in its outer end wall. A screen 21 may be inserted in cap 25 and thus cover opening 28 and be retained against flange 28. It can be seen that the space between end walls 2| and screen 21 provides a space in which suitable filter material 29 may be placed for the filtering. of air. Adjacent the inner ends of the walls of filter chambers 20 may be provided suitable flanges 30 which are formed simply by extending the side wall of body l5 across the inner opening of filter chambers 20. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the side walls of body I5 thuscarry large apertures 3| through which filter material 32 is inserted into chambers 20, and will be retained in said chambers by flanges 30. This filter and filter retaining means are covered in my copending application, Serial No. 684,968, filed August 14, 1933. Preferably, body I5, filter chambers 20, valve I'I, bosses I9, bosses 23, and flanges 30 are one integral piece of rubber, and may be formed with a' minimum of work in molding. As is well known in the art, lips I8 may be properly molded by inserting a thin piece of steel so as to separate the rubber at this point and provide a passage for air at the outer ends of said lips.

Adjacent the rear edges of the side walls the body I5 may be secured appropriate fastening devices or bolts 33 to one of which may be attached head strap 34, and to the other of which may be attached strap 35 carrying buckle 36.

I'he'utility and operation of my device is fairly apparent from the foregoing description, and consequently a limited explanation will be given. The user puts appropriate filter material in chambers 20 and in caps 25 if additional filter material is desired to be used, and pushes caps 25 onto filter chambers 20 and lines up bosses 23 with apertures 24 so that the caps may be retained in proper position. Caps -'-25 may be easily and quickly secured by simply compressing the side walls of filter chambers 20 until bosses 23 readily slip within the walls of caps 25, and when they are in line with apertures 24 the resilience of the rubber will cause them to be pushed outwardly through said apertures and thus case the secure engagement for caps 25. The types of filters for particular uses are well known in the art, and of course may be varied to suit the particular need.

After the appropriate filters are in place my respirator may be secured to the face of the user by placing one of cutouts I6 on the bridge of the nose and applying head straps 34 and 35 in an appropriate manner. It can be seen that when the user inhales, air is drawn inwardly through filter chambers 20, and also through extension caps 25, if these are'being used. Since there is a filter chamber on each side of the preferred form of my device, it can be seen that air may be inhaled much more easily, and since there may be two of such chambers, the effectiveness of the filtering material should be greater than the present respirators which employ a single filter chamber.

During this time lips I8 of flutter valve I"I are drawn together and will not admit air to the interior of the device, but when the user exhales, the air is forced outwardly around bosses I9 and through the adjacent passage and between lips I8. when the exhalation of air has been completed the resilience of the walls of flutter valve I! will cause the lips I8 to come together and again form an air tight closure. It should be noted that the opening of the flutter valve is substantially vertically disposed, so that the moisture that condenses on the valve lips will fiow downwardly to the bottom of the opening and be disposed of instead of clogging the valve for its entire length. This is advantageous for free breathing at all times, but especially in cold weather, when the valve is liable to freeze shut if much moisture is allowed to stay for any considerable time in one place. Furthermore, the vertical arrangement of the valve lips, which are a continuation of the converging side wall of the device, provides a structure whereby the vision of the wearer is not interfered with to any appreciable extent. When the life of the filtering material has been exhausted, it may be easily removed from filtering chambers 20 by bending it so as to pass through aperture 3|, or it may be removed by. simply bending flange 30 so as to provide a larger opening. If the extension caps 2| are being used and the life of the filtering material has been exhausted, the caps may be removed by pressing inwardly on bosses 23 and pulling caps 2| outwardly. maythen be inserted in the device in the above described manner.

It can be seen that the life of the filtering material will also be extended by reason of the fact that the user exhales directly toward and into the flutter valve, and thus it is not necessary for the exhausted air to pass outwardly through the filter chambers, as is the case with present devices where the flutter valve is located a considerable distance away from the nostrils and mouth.

The entire body of the device is flexible, and because of this feature the device readily adapts itself to difierent shapes and sizes of features so as to provide protection. Since bosses I9 are made as herein described, it can be seen that the device may be used effectively on thin faces as well as rounded faces, for these bosses serve to keep a passage open toward the outer ends of lips l8, even though the side walls of body I5 may be pushed outwardly or inwardly when the device is used as aforesaid.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself ,of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of-the character described, comprising .a main body portion having a wedgelike exterior terminating in a pair of forwardly extending opposed lips and arranged to provide a flutter valve, and an intake opening to the rear of said flutter valve. I

2. A device of the character described, comprising a main body portion having a wedgelike exterior terminating in a pair of forwardly extending opposed lips and arranged to provide a flutter valve, an intake opening to the rear of said flutter valve, and means for separating said lips for part of their length.

3. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion formed of an in- ,tegral piece of flexible resilient material and terminating in a pair of forwardly extending Fresh filtering material lips arranged to provide a flutter valve, and an intake opening in said main body portion to the rear of said flutter valve.

4. A device of the character described comprising a substantially wedge-shaped main body portion of flexible resilient material, the apex of said wedge-shaped body portion being slit to provide a pair of forwardly extending opposed lips and providinga flutter valve, and an'intake opening to the rear of said apex.

5. A device of the character described. comprising a main body portion formed of an integral piece of flexible resilient material and being provided with a flutter valve integral therewith.

6. A device of the character described'comprising a main body portion formed of an integral piece of flexible resilient material and being provided with a flutter valve integral therewith, and an intake opening in said main body portion.

7. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion formed of an integral piece of flexible resilient material and being provided with a flutter valve integral therewith, said valve having 'a substantially vertical outer opening."

8. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion formed of an inte-.

gral piece of flexible resilient material, said body portion .having an integral pair of walls adapted to lie against each other to provide a flutter .valve with a substantially upright outer opening.

9. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion formed of an integral piece of flexible resilient material and being provided with a flutter valve integral therewith, said valve having a substantially upright outer opening, and an intake opening.

10. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion formed of an integral piece of flexible resilient material and being provided with a flutter valve integralthere with, said valve having a substantially upright outer opening, and being located so as'to suba flutter valve, said valve having a substantially upright outer opening, and an intake opening.

13. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion, said body portion having a pair of walls adapted to lie against each other to provide a flutter valve with a substantially upright outer opening.

14. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion being provided with a flutter valve, said valve having a substantially upright outer opening, and being located so as v to substantially register with the mouth of a user, and an intake opening.

15. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion, said body portion having an integral pair of walls adapted to lie against each other to provide a flutter valve with a substantially upright outer opening, and an intake .opening. v

16. A device of the character described comprising a main body portion terminating in a pair of forwardly extending lips and arranged to provide a flutter valve, an intake opening to the rear of said flutter valve, and means for separating said lips for part of their length.

1'7. A device of the character describedcomprising a main body portion terminating in a pair of forwardly extending lips and arranged to provide a flutter valve, a member secured to one of said lips and extending therefrom and toward the other of saidlips, and an intake opening to the rear 01' said flutter valve.

: nanvnvs. COVER.

DISCLAIMEFt 2,000,064.Harvey 8. Cover, South Bend, Ind. RESPIRATOR. Patent dated May 7,

1935. Disclaimer filed March 20, 1943, by the inventor.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14, in said specification.

[Ofiicial Gazette April13, 1.948.]

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