A breathing apparatus for athletes to warm and moisturize inhaled air has an elongate housing having both lateral and downward curvatures with respect to the position of the apparatus when positioned over the mouth of the wearer. An oral aperture for disposition over the mouth of the wearer is disposed centrally of the housing on the concave side of the lateral curvature. A plurality of corresponding pairs of spaced-apart leaf members or vanes disposed within the housing. The leaf members are disposed so that the inner ends of the pairs of members form a chamber adjacent to the oral aperture, with the chamber having diminishing depth from front to rear so as to permit the leaf member ends to catch and distribute exhaled air along passages formed by the leaf members. The exhaled air warms and moisturizes the leaf members, which in turn warm and moisturize the inspired air to prevent damage to sensitive tracheal membranes of runners in cold weather.

A cold weather air warming apparatus for permitting a user to breathe air warmed by the body. The cold weather air warming apparatus includes a mouthpiece that has a mouth engaging portion, a coupling portion, and a lumen extending through opposite ends of the mouthpiece. A length of body tubing has opposite open first and second ends. The first end of the body tubing is coupled to the coupling portion of the mouthpiece. The length of body tubing is flexible and adapted for wrapping around a torso of a user, the open second end of the length of body tubing is in communication with the lumen of the mouthpiece.

A mask for use in severe arid climates which includes a countercurrent exchange medium, confined within a mask shell, which salvages heat and moisture given off during exhalation for subsequent transfer to inhalation air. A shaped mask member forms the mask to fit snugly over the lower face and nose. A normally closed opening in the mask shell permits access to the mask interior and to the countercurrent exchange medium. Tubular inserts provide supplemental quantities of the medium as well, in a modified form, provide an interface for additional respiratory gear.

A breathing device that includes a mouth piece that is insertable into the mouth to improve breathing. The mouth piece has an opening defined therethrough to permit exhaling and inhaling of air. A filter holder is attached at a substantially right angle to the mouth piece and has a channel defined therethrough. A removable filter is disposed inside the channel and comprises a corrugated sheet metal that permits condensation of air on the sheet metal when air is exhaled through the mouth piece and into the filter.

A breathing device including a heat exchanger module retained adjacent the mouth of a user by a fabric holder. The heat exchanger module includes a wall surrounding a non-linear, tubular flow passage extending between a first air vent and a second air vent. A heat exchanging medium comprising a woven copper cloth is disposed within the flow passage. The flow passage includes a larger cross-sectional area adjacent the first air vent than adjacent the second air vent.