초록 ▼

A face mask for use in cold weather to supply warm air for inhalation by normal breathing to persons having respiratory and heart ailments to avoid the discomfort, pain and limited mobility caused by breathing cold air and to healthy people engaged in strenuous cold weather activities. The face mask

A face mask for use in cold weather to supply warm air for inhalation by normal breathing to persons having respiratory and heart ailments to avoid the discomfort, pain and limited mobility caused by breathing cold air and to healthy people engaged in strenuous cold weather activities. The face mask has inlet and outlet check valves and a cold air intake chamber with an electric heater element therein which heats the cold air to supply warm air for inhalation. The heater element is preferably powered by a portable battery pack and controlled by electronic circuitry to maintain the heated air in a predetermined temperature range.

대표청구항 ▼

A respiratory apparatus which comprises: a face housing constructed and arranged for overlying and encircling the nose and mouth of a person when received on their face, an intake housing having an air intake chamber and carried by said face housing, an inlet check valve carried by said face housing

A respiratory apparatus which comprises: a face housing constructed and arranged for overlying and encircling the nose and mouth of a person when received on their face, an intake housing having an air intake chamber and carried by said face housing, an inlet check valve carried by said face housing and constructed and arranged to permit air to pass from said chamber through said valve and into said face housing when the wearer of the mask inhales and to prevent air from passing from said face housing into said chamber when the wearer exhales, an exhaust check valve carried by said face housing and constructed and arranged to permit air to pass from said face housing through said exhaust valve to the exterior of said face housing when the wearer of the mask exhales and to prevent air from passing through said exhaust valve and into said face housing when the wearer of the mask inhales, and a heater assembly having an electric heating element means, a radiator means disposed in said chamber and in heat transfer relationship with said heating element means and constructed and arranged to heat air in said chamber when an electric current is supplied to said heating element means, whereby cold air drawn into said chamber is heated by said heater assembly to an elevated temperature to supply warm air to be inhaled by the wearer of the mask, a temperature sensor means for sensing the temperature of said radiator means with respect to an adjustable reference level and producing an associated electronic temperature senson signal, an electronic control circuitry means constructed and arranged to receive said temperature sensor signal and having a current supply means connected to a portable power supply means for selectively and controllably supplying current to said electric heating element means in response to said temperature sensor signal, a means for sensing failure of said temperature sensor means and a means for inhibiting operation of said heating element means in the event of failure of said temperature sensor means.