Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment of the present invention, a breathing mask is provided which has the intake air heater and heat and moisture exchange media located below the nose and situated for minimum exposure to heat transfer to the exterior. The mounting thereof is somewhat cantilevered from the mask, to minimize direct heat transfer to the exterior. Electric heating element means are provided and supplied from an energy pack mounted in the mask itself at a relatively low level. Some of the inhaled air passes through a first filter and moisture collecting medium to the mouth and/or nose of the individual wearing the mask. All inhaled air passes through a heat exchanger and a second filter and moisture exchanger. A valve is provided so that all air exhaled during normal respiration passes through both of the moisture exchangers. A second valve is provided in the wall of the mask to permit exhalation of any air exceeding that which can get through both of the exchangers during strenuous exercise and unusually high rates of respiration.
A device for compensating for the moisture and heat losses from an artificial nose used with a patient, which device is provided to be incorporated in the duct for supplying air and/or gasses to a patient and which is composed of a chamber (1) used as actual artificial nose wherein a hygroscopic material (7) serving as a buffer is provided, with means being provided to maintain the air in- and exhaled by the patient, at the required heat level, between the artificial nose and the patient. FIG. 1.
A flexible mouth seal having a porous direct flow hygroscopic material associated with a cold weather mask. The nose has free breathing and does not breath in or out through the hygroscopic material. The cold weather mask and mouth seal captures some of the moisture in exhaled air by a porous hygroscopic material and returns the moisture to the dry cold inhaled air for assistance in cold weather breathing.
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.
A lightweight face mask for heating surrounding air to be inhaled by a user includes a thin cup-shaped inner shell and an outer shell spaced from and surrounding the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining a preheating chamber therebetween through which air passes in a counter-current flow pattern before entering a user breathing space inside the inner shell. The mask may include an electric heating element and battery power supply for additionally heating air entering the user breathing space.
A humidity-retaining mask includes a foldable mask body made of humidity-absorbing sheet material which is folded into a honeycomb structure when the mask is used. The mask body has a recessed portion on the upper side thereof to receive a user's nostril, and ear traps attached to the mask body.
