Abstract:
A respirator includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a separator that separates the first chamber and the second chamber. A filtration system includes an inhale valve that only allows air to enter the respirator and an exhale valve that only allows air to exit the respirator. The system can be reversed so that the inhale valve and exhale valve may be positioned on either the first or second chamber. A replaceable filter can be provided that includes a supply canister including a supply of filter material, a take-up canister that receives used filter material, and a path between the supply canister and the take-up canister that guides the filter material across the respirator&#39;s inhale valve, exhale valve, or both the inhale and exhale valves.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a filtering respirator. 
         [0002]    Related art respirators have a variety of uses, including protecting a user from harmful bacteria or particles contained within unfiltered air. However, existing respirators do not adequately account for various situations, such as when a user wants to replace the respirator&#39;s filter or change the flow of air into and out of the respirator, without becoming exposed to unfiltered air, and/or wants to separate air flow between the nose and mouth. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Exemplary embodiments of a respirator comprise a first chamber, a second chamber and a filtration system. The filtration system includes an inhale valve and an exhale valve, so that air may be inhaled into the first chamber, and exhaled through the second chamber. 
         [0004]    Additionally, in some embodiments, the filtration system can be reversed so that inhale valve allows air to be inhaled into the second chamber and so that exhale valve allows air to be exhaled from the first chamber. This can prove especially useful, for example, if a user needs to sneeze. If the user has the inhale valve positioned with respect to the second chamber, the user can quickly change to the exhale valve if the user needs to sneeze. This will allow the user to sneeze without needing to remove the respirator, thereby avoiding becoming exposed to unfiltered air. 
         [0005]    Some embodiments may include a replaceable filter. The replaceable filter includes a supply canister including a supply of filter material, a take-up canister that receives used filter material, and a crank, annular engaging mechanism, or the like. The filter material is passed over the inhale and/or exhale valves and the user may engage the crank, annular engaging mechanism, or the like to roll used material into the take-up canister so as to place a fresh portion of the filter material over the inhale and/or exhale valves. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the respirator can have a variety of uses. For example, medication or anesthesia could be applied to a filter within the filtration system. Additionally, the respirator could be used to regulate breathing to help with sleep apnea. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention are described in or apparent from the following description of embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals represent like parts, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of a filtering respirator with nasal and oral separation; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate a filtering respirator with an exemplary embodiment of a reversing member during rotation; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of a respirator with a replaceable filter; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the replaceable filter shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment of a respirator with two replaceable filters. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    An exemplary embodiment of a respirator is shown in  FIG. 1 . The respirator  100  can be worn over the nose and mouth of a user and can be secured to the user by a fastener  150 . While the fastener  150  in this exemplary embodiment uses two elastic straps, various fasteners can be used. For example, the respirator  100  can be secured to the user by a single tied string, or by a Velcro strap. As another example, the respirator  100  can be attached to or incorporated into a protection helmet, hood, face shield, goggles or the like. 
         [0015]    The respirator  100  comprises a first chamber  110 , a second chamber  120  and a filtration system  130 . The first chamber  110  and the second chamber  120  are isolated from each other by a separator  140  so that the air in the first chamber  110  is not intermixed with the air in the second chamber  120 . 
         [0016]    The filtering system  130  includes a base member  131 , a reversing member  133 , an inhale valve  135  and an exhale valve  137 . The inhale valve  135  and exhale valve  137  are one-way valves that may be covered with filters  160 ,  170 . The filters  160 ,  170  may be replaceable. The inhale valve  135  allows air to enter the first chamber  110  or the second chamber  120  without air being able to exit through the inhale valve  135 . Conversely, the exhale valve allows air to exit the first chamber  110  or the second chamber  120  without allowing air to enter through the exhale valve  135 . The base member  131  has an opening (not shown) that allows air to pass between the inhale valve  135  or the exhale valve  137  and the first chamber  110 , and an opening (not shown) that allows air to pass between the inhale valve  135  or the exhale valve  137  and the second chamber  120 . 
         [0017]    The replaceable filters  160 , 170  may be made of any suitable filtering material and may be located on the first chamber  110 , the second chamber  120 , or both. The filtering material may be scented or flavored, so that the user can have a pleasant experience while wearing the respirator. Additionally, or alternatively, medication can be provided on the filter so that the mask can be used to deliver medicine during a medical procedure or treatment, or to kill harmful bacteria. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 2-4  show an exemplary embodiment of a reversing operator of the respirator  100 . The reversing member  133  can be rotated with respect to the base member  131 , via a pin  132 , an annular engaging mechanism (not shown), or the like. The annular engaging mechanism would include parts formed respectively on the base member  131 , the reversing member  133 , or the like. Rotating the reversing member  133  places the inhale valve  135  and the exhale valve  137  in communication with either the first chamber  110  or the second chamber  120 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the filtering system  130  at a first position. The inhale valve  135  is positioned to be in communication with the first chamber  110 , and only allows air to enter the first chamber  110 , as shown by arrow I. The exhale valve  137  is positioned to be in communication with the second chamber  120 , and only allows air to exit the second chamber  120 , as shown by arrow E. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the filtering system  130  during rotation. The base member  131  remains stationary, and the reversing member  133  rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to reposition the inhale valve  135  and exhale valve  137 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows the filtering system  130  at a second position. The inhale valve  135  is positioned to only allow air to enter the second chamber  120 , as shown by arrow I. The exhale valve  137  is positioned to only allow air to exit the first chamber  110 , as shown by arrow E. 
         [0022]    When a user wears the respirator  100 , the user can be protected from harmful bacteria or particles in the unfiltered air outside the respirator. For example, a filter could be provided only on the inhale valve  135 . Additionally, or alternatively, any bacteria or germs that are carried by the user can be contained by the respirator  100  by providing a filter over exhale valve  137 , and therefore protect individuals around the user. 
         [0023]    The uses of the respirator  100  are not limited to protection from bacteria or particles. For example, an athlete can train his or her breathing using respirator  100 . For example, if the athlete wishes to train to breathe in through his or her nose and out through his or her mouth, he or she could adjust the reversing member  133  to be in a position where the inhale valve  135  is in communication with the first chamber  110  and the exhale valve  137  is in communication with the second chamber  120 . Alternatively, if the athlete wishes to train to breathe in through his or her mouth and out through his or her nose, he or she could adjust the reversing member  133  to be in a position where the inhale valve  135  is in communication with the second chamber  120  and the exhale valve  137  is in communication with the first chamber  110 . 
         [0024]    Another example of a use for the respirator  100  is in aiding individuals who suffer from sleep apnea. The user can adjust the reversing member  133  to regulate his or her breathing by moving the reversing member  133  so that the inhale valve  135  and the exhale valve  137  are located at a desired position. Additionally, tubing and/or an air pressurizing device could be attached to the respirator  100  to help regulate the flow of air to the user. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 5-6  show a second exemplary embodiment of a respirator  300 . The second exemplary embodiment comprises a first chamber  310 , a second chamber  320 , and a filtration system  330  with replaceable filters  360 ,  370 . The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment with respect to replaceable filter  360 . 
         [0026]    Replaceable filter  360  comprises a first canister  361 , a second canister  362 , and a crank  365 . Filter material  369  is rolled and placed in first canister  361 , passed over inhale valve  335 , and wound around crank  365  by engagement with an engager  368 . When the filter material  369  needs to be changed, a user may turn the crank  365  to roll used material into the second canister  362  and around crank  365 . This allows the user to place a fresh portion of filter material  369  over inhale valve  335 . Instead of or in addition to the crank  365 , a motor may be provided to place a fresh portion of filter material  369  over inhale valve  335  either based on elapsed time or some other indicator, such as manual indication by the user, that the filter material  369  needs to be changed. While  FIG. 5  shows replaceable filter  360  being located on inhale valve  335 , replaceable filter  360  may be instead located on exhale valve  337 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an interior view of replaceable filter  360  and a roll of filter material  369 . The replaceable filter  360  is divided into first filter casing  363  and a second filter casing  364 . The first filter casing  363  contains a first portion  361   a  of first canister  361  and a first portion  362   a  of second canister  362 . The second filter casing  364  contains a second portion  361   b  of first canister  361  and a second portion  362   b  of second canister  362 . The first filter casing  363  is attached to second filter casing  364  by a hinge  366 . The hinge  366  allows the first filter casing  363  to pivot with respect to the second filter casing  364 . The replaceable filter  360  may be placed in a closed position by swinging first filter casing  363  so that the first portions  361   a ,  362   a  of the first and second canisters  361 ,  362  come into contact with the second portions  361   b ,  362   b  of the first and second canisters  361 ,  362 . The first and second filter casings  363 ,  364  may then be secured by securing member  367 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a third exemplary embodiment. The third exemplary embodiment differs from the second exemplary embodiment in that replaceable filters  560 ,  570  are provided on both the inhale valve  535  and the exhale valve  537 . 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiments, these embodiments should be viewed as illustrative and not limiting. Various changes, substitutes, improvements or the like are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    For example, the shape and location of the inhale and exhale valves can be changed. Specifically, the inhale and exhale valves could be square, oval, or any other shape. As another example, the inhale and exhale valves could be located diagonally with respect to each other.