BREATHING BAGS
United States Patent 3638648
A single strip of flexible and impervious material is folded lengthwise upon itself to form a double-thickness member, which is provided midway between its ends with a recess extending inwardly from one edge. The edges of the strip and substantially all of the area between the recess and the other edge of said member are sealed together so that two longitudinally spaced breathing bags are formed that are integrally connected at their inner ends by a band adapted to extend around the back of the neck to suspend the bags over the chest. Each bag has an opening therein near its outer or lower end.
US Patent References:
Closed circuit breathing apparatus
Hamilton et al. - September 1958 - 2852023
Self contained breathing apparatus
Braunstein - September 1959 - 2906262
Breathing apparatus with breathing bag-operated valves
O'Neill - February 1968 - 3370585
Breathing apparatus
Emerson - September 1968 - 3402711
Closed circuit breathing apparatus
Hamilton et al. - September 1958 - 2852023
Self contained breathing apparatus
Braunstein - September 1959 - 2906262
Breathing apparatus with breathing bag-operated valves
O'Neill - February 1968 - 3370585
Breathing apparatus
Emerson - September 1968 - 3402711
Application Number:
05/012202
Publication Date:
02/01/1972
Filing Date:
02/19/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Mine Safety Appliances Company (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A62B9/00; A62B7/00
Field of Search:
128/202,142.2,203,191,142,147,142.3,142.5-145.8,146-146.7 156/217,227
Primary Examiner:
Gaudet, Richard A.
Assistant Examiner:
Mitchell J. B.
Claims:
I claim
1. A pair of longitudinally spaced breathing bags comprising a single strip of flexible impervious material folded lengthwise upon itself to form a double-thickness member, said member being provided midway between its ends with a recess extending inwardly from one edge thereof, and an adhesive cementing together the edges of the strip and substantially all of the area between said recess and the other edge of said member, whereby two bags are formed that are integrally connected at their inner ends by a band adapted to extend around the back of the neck and suspend the bags against the chest, each bag having an opening therein near its outer end.
2. A pair of breathing bags according to claim 1, in which said recess extends inwardly from the edges of said strip, and the folds of the suspended bags are located adjacent each other.
3. A pair of breathing bags according to claim 2, in which said openings are located along said other edge of said member in positions to face each other when the bags are suspended against the chest of the user.
4. In breathing apparatus, a pair of substantially vertical laterally spaced rectangular breathing bags provided near their lower ends with openings facing each other, and a double-layer band integrally connected to the upper inner corner portions of the bags and adapted to extend around the back of the neck to suspend the bags over the chest of the user, the bags and band being formed from a single strip of flexible impervious material folded lengthwise upon itself to form a double-thickness member, said member being provided midway between its ends with a recess extending inwardly from one edge thereof to form said band, the edges of the strip and the layers of said band being cemented together.
5. In breathing apparatus according to claim 4, said recess extending inwardly from the edges of said strip, and the folds of the bags being located adjacent each other.
6. In breathing apparatus according to claim 4, an air-purifying canister disposed between said bags, and means connecting said bag openings with the canister and supporting it from the bags.
1. A pair of longitudinally spaced breathing bags comprising a single strip of flexible impervious material folded lengthwise upon itself to form a double-thickness member, said member being provided midway between its ends with a recess extending inwardly from one edge thereof, and an adhesive cementing together the edges of the strip and substantially all of the area between said recess and the other edge of said member, whereby two bags are formed that are integrally connected at their inner ends by a band adapted to extend around the back of the neck and suspend the bags against the chest, each bag having an opening therein near its outer end.
2. A pair of breathing bags according to claim 1, in which said recess extends inwardly from the edges of said strip, and the folds of the suspended bags are located adjacent each other.
3. A pair of breathing bags according to claim 2, in which said openings are located along said other edge of said member in positions to face each other when the bags are suspended against the chest of the user.
4. In breathing apparatus, a pair of substantially vertical laterally spaced rectangular breathing bags provided near their lower ends with openings facing each other, and a double-layer band integrally connected to the upper inner corner portions of the bags and adapted to extend around the back of the neck to suspend the bags over the chest of the user, the bags and band being formed from a single strip of flexible impervious material folded lengthwise upon itself to form a double-thickness member, said member being provided midway between its ends with a recess extending inwardly from one edge thereof to form said band, the edges of the strip and the layers of said band being cemented together.
5. In breathing apparatus according to claim 4, said recess extending inwardly from the edges of said strip, and the folds of the bags being located adjacent each other.
6. In breathing apparatus according to claim 4, an air-purifying canister disposed between said bags, and means connecting said bag openings with the canister and supporting it from the bags.
Description:
It is an object of this invention to provide a pair of breathing bags which can be quickly and easily formed from a single strip of material shaped to permit the bags to be hung from around the neck.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the bags are formed;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank after it is folded to form the bags; and
FIG. 3 is a front view of breathing apparatus, including the bags, in operative position.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a rectangular strip of flexible material that is impervious to air and of the required length and width is cut to provide a blank 1 having an inwardly extending recess 2 in each side midway between its ends. Aluminized rubber is the preferred material. The two recesses are the same size and preferably have curved inner ends. The blank is provided near its opposite ends with a pair of small openings 3, through which air can be breathed into and out of the bags that are to be formed. These two openings preferably are on the longitudinal centerline 4 of the blank. A third opening 5 is formed in the blank at one side of the centerline, between one end of the blank and the recesses. This opening is for a pressure relief valve.
After the strip has been cut to provide the blank just described, it is folded lengthwise upon itself along its centerline so that a double-thickness member 7 is produced that is half as wide as the blank, as shown in FIG. 2. The two recesses 2 register with each other to form a single recess. The edges of the blank and the area between the recess and the fold are sealed together by a suitable adhesive 8 or cement. This produces two longitudinally spaced rectangular bags 9 integrally connected by a band 10 at the inner end of recess 2. Before the blank is folded, tubular fittings 11 are mounted in openings 3, and a relief valve 12 is mounted in opening 5. If desired, the central recess in the double-thickness member 7 could be formed after the blank has been folded and its two layers have been bonded together across their central area.
After the bags have been formed, their folded edges are swung toward each other in the planes of the bags into substantially parallel relation, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. 3. The length of band 10 that connects the two bags is great enough to permit it to extend around the back of the neck of a person wearing the bags, with the two bags hanging down over his chest. As shown in FIG. 3, the fittings 11 at the lower ends of the bags are connected to openings in the opposite sides of the lower end of an upright air purifying and oxygen generating canister 14 mounted in the back section 15 of a rectangular case by means of screws 16. The canister is provided with an inlet-outlet port in its upper end, to which a flexible breathing hose 17 is attached. Until this apparatus is used, the breathing bags and the hose are folded inside the case, which has a removable cover (not shown) and which is sealed. When the cover is removed and the hose and bags are released, the wearer inserts his head through the space between the bags above the canister and positions the connecting band 10 against the back of his neck, with the smooth surface bags hanging down over his chest and supporting the canister and back section of the case.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the bags are formed;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank after it is folded to form the bags; and
FIG. 3 is a front view of breathing apparatus, including the bags, in operative position.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a rectangular strip of flexible material that is impervious to air and of the required length and width is cut to provide a blank 1 having an inwardly extending recess 2 in each side midway between its ends. Aluminized rubber is the preferred material. The two recesses are the same size and preferably have curved inner ends. The blank is provided near its opposite ends with a pair of small openings 3, through which air can be breathed into and out of the bags that are to be formed. These two openings preferably are on the longitudinal centerline 4 of the blank. A third opening 5 is formed in the blank at one side of the centerline, between one end of the blank and the recesses. This opening is for a pressure relief valve.
After the strip has been cut to provide the blank just described, it is folded lengthwise upon itself along its centerline so that a double-thickness member 7 is produced that is half as wide as the blank, as shown in FIG. 2. The two recesses 2 register with each other to form a single recess. The edges of the blank and the area between the recess and the fold are sealed together by a suitable adhesive 8 or cement. This produces two longitudinally spaced rectangular bags 9 integrally connected by a band 10 at the inner end of recess 2. Before the blank is folded, tubular fittings 11 are mounted in openings 3, and a relief valve 12 is mounted in opening 5. If desired, the central recess in the double-thickness member 7 could be formed after the blank has been folded and its two layers have been bonded together across their central area.
After the bags have been formed, their folded edges are swung toward each other in the planes of the bags into substantially parallel relation, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. 3. The length of band 10 that connects the two bags is great enough to permit it to extend around the back of the neck of a person wearing the bags, with the two bags hanging down over his chest. As shown in FIG. 3, the fittings 11 at the lower ends of the bags are connected to openings in the opposite sides of the lower end of an upright air purifying and oxygen generating canister 14 mounted in the back section 15 of a rectangular case by means of screws 16. The canister is provided with an inlet-outlet port in its upper end, to which a flexible breathing hose 17 is attached. Until this apparatus is used, the breathing bags and the hose are folded inside the case, which has a removable cover (not shown) and which is sealed. When the cover is removed and the hose and bags are released, the wearer inserts his head through the space between the bags above the canister and positions the connecting band 10 against the back of his neck, with the smooth surface bags hanging down over his chest and supporting the canister and back section of the case.