Abstract:
A cold weather breathing device that protects the face including the mouth and nostril area from direct exposure to the external environment, prevents a user&#39;s goggles from fogging in cold environments, and keeps moist exhaled breath away from the user&#39;s face. In a preferred embodiment, the device is configured to provide separate breathing channels for exhaled air from the mouth and nose. To promote ease of cleaning, the breathing device can be attached to a head garment with a simple interlocking design that allows its removal and separate cleaning. The breathing device provides a nose-channel-forming member and mouth disc that are mounted on the head garment and inset into a mouth-channel-forming member which is thus attached to the head garment.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a type of head garment primarily intended for, but not limited to, use in cold weather activities such as skiing, motorcycling or snow-mobiling. More particularly, it pertains to a breathing apparatus which is attached to a protective head garment.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    While engaging in cold weather activities, a participant&#39;s face is frequently covered with protective gear such as a hat, goggles and a neck garment. Sometimes the neck garment and hat are combined into a unified head garment. “Head garment” as used herein refers to either a neck garment that also covers the face or a combined hat/neck garment. Although it is common practice to leave the nose and mouth exposed for ease of breathing and to prevent the user&#39;s goggles from fogging, there are conditions, such as extremely cold temperatures, when the user will also want to cover his (“his” is used in a generic sense to mean both genders) nose and mouth with a warm protective material.. This can create problems. Since the user has to breath through the material covering his nose and mouth, the flow of moist exhaled breath is restricted from passing through the material and typically finds a less restrictive path along the sides of the nose and into the goggles. Once in the goggle cavity, the moist breath condenses and freezes on the goggle lens impairing the user&#39;s vision. The moist exhaled breath can also permeate the head garment material and eventually freeze causing discomfort. Some head garment designs attempt to solve this problem by providing holes for the mouth and nostrils. This may solve the goggle fogging problem but leaves the small areas of skin around the mouth and nostrils directly exposed to the cold external environment which is uncomfortable and can leave the user susceptible to frost bite.  
           [0003]    A cold weather hood disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,336 to Kathleen K. Stout, and cold weather breathing devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,292 and 4,441,494 to Anthony P. Montalbano, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,247 to Bert R. Stroup, U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,474 to Joseph H. Edwards, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,804 to Carey et al. all allow either the bottom of the nose or mouth or both to be directly exposed to the cold external environment.  
           [0004]    The cold weather hoods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,009 to David Ryvin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,086 to Allen F. Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,268 to Patrick T. Hunt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,094 to Armand De Angelis and Albert J. Laliberte, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,379 to Thomas S. Martin all disclose single cavity devices that cover both the nose and mouth. This allows the moist breath to surround the nose and mouth creating a humid environment which is uncomfortable.  
           [0005]    Finally, cold weather breathing devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,292 and 4,441,494 to Anthony P. Montalbano, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,247 to Bert R. Stroup, U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,086 to Al/en F. Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,268 to Patrick T. Hunt, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,094 to Armand De Angelis and Albert J. Laliberte all implement designs that use the body to preheat the air to be inhaled. These designs are complex, cumbersome and would impede the range of motion necessary in many cold weather activities. Furthermore, these designs create resistance to the flow of exhaled breath which can be uncomfortable and cause a user&#39;s goggles to fog.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An object of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that protects the face including the mouth and nostril area from direct exposure to the external environment, prevents a user&#39;s goggles from fogging in cold environments, and keeps moist exhaled breath away from the user&#39;s face.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that permits free flow unobstructed breathing from both the nose and mouth while shielding these body parts from the external environment.  
           [0008]    A first feature of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that separates the exhaled air from the mouth of a user from the exhaled air from his nose.  
           [0009]    A second feature of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that provides separate breathing channels for exhaled air from the mouth and nose.  
           [0010]    A third feature of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that directs the external air flow that may pass through the device away from the user&#39;s nose.  
           [0011]    A fourth feature of the invention is a cold weather breathing device that allows separation and removal of the region of the device surrounding the nose and mouth from the rest of the cold weather breathing device so that it can be separately cleaned.  
           [0012]    A fifth feature is a head garment construction design that fastens two panels of material such to create a pocket for the nose.  
           [0013]    A sixth feature of the invention is a novel method of constructing a cold weather breathing device that exhibits one or more of the foregoing features.  
           [0014]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cold weather breathing device comprises a garment configured so that the material covering the nose is loosely fitted such that a seal is created when the garment material is sandwiched between a pair of goggles and the user&#39;s nose. Free flow breathing is obtained by providing two independent channels for the nose and mouth air flow that directs moist breath away from the face. This feature combined with the nose seal eliminates the tendency for the user&#39;s goggles to fog. Furthermore, the breathing device keeps the skin around the user&#39;s nose and mouth comfortably dry by isolating the nose breath from the mouth breath through the implementation of the independent breathing channels. In the preferred embodiment, both the nose and mouth are directly shielded from the external environment. To promote ease of cleaning, the breathing device can be attached to the head garment with a simple interlocking design that allows its removal and separate cleaning.  
           [0015]    In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the head garment comprises an interlocking mouth disc with a hole near its center that aligns ,with the user&#39;s mouth and an interlocking nose channel with a first hole near its center that aligns with the user&#39;s nostrils and a second hole and an optional third hole open to the external environment. Both are made from a flexible thermally suitable material and the construction is configured so as to have a low resistance to the flow of breath to the external environment. These interlocking parts are fastened to the head garment such that the hole in the interlocking mouth disc aligns with a first hole in the head garment which aligns with the user&#39;s mouth and the first hole of the interlocking nose channel aligns with a second hole of the head garment which aligns with the user&#39;s nose. The head garment also comprises a mouth channel that has a first hole near its center that aligns with the user&#39;s mouth, a second hole above the first hole that aligns with the user&#39;s nostrils and a third hole and an optional fourth hole open to the external environment. Preferably, the third hole and optional fourth holes are provided such that their openings are directed both towards the user&#39;s face and in a somewhat downward direction. The mouth channel is made from a flexible thermally suitable material and has a low resistance to the flow of breath to the external environment. Preferably, the mouth channel is mounted to the garment by deforming the interlocking mouth disc and interlocking nose channel and forcing them through the first and second holes in the mouth channel, respectively, where they return to their original shape. Since the interlocking nose channel and interlocking mouth disc are fastened to the head garment and in turn interlock with the removable mouth channel, an attachment mechanism for connecting the mouth channel to the head garment is established.  
           [0016]    In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment, the mouth channel is cut along one edge, preferably the bottom edge, and is also cut along the internal nose channel, preferably along “face side” of the barrier forming the nose channel. With these cuts the user can pivot the front of the device away from their face allowing quick access to their nose and mouth without removing the garment. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one form of a head garment incorporating the cold weather breathing device according to the invention disposed about the head and face of a user, with goggles in dashed lines also shown;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of one form of a mouth-channel-forming member incorporated in the head garment of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one form of an interlocking nose-channel-forming member incorporated in the head garment of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one form of an interlocking mouth disk incorporated in the head garment of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a head garment fabric subassembly according to FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the nose-channel-forming member and mouth disc of a head garment subassembly according to FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the head garment shown in FIG. 1 shown in wearing position on the head of a user;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view of the parts illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 4  before assembly into the head garment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9A, 9B,  9 C and  9 D are schematic flow diagrams illustrating the exhaled air flow from the user in the FIG. 1 embodiment, and in two variations of the FIG. 1 embodiment, respectively;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a modification of the head garment shown in FIG. 1 shown in wearing position on the head of a user. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    The subject invention generally relates to a head garment  2  incorporating a cold weather breathing apparatus  4  according to the invention the head garment  2  is shown in wearing position on the head of a user  6 , which breathing apparatus  4 , among other things, facilitates free flow breathing and eliminates the tendency for a user&#39;s goggles  8  to fog. As shown in FIG. 1, the head garment comprises a soft insulating cloth of the type typically worn to protect against cold and wind, for example, fleece or wool, that is fitted about the head of the user  6  and typically extends down to protect the neck of the user. The garment, for simplicity and to fit persons of various sizes may be separated in the back as shown in FIG. 5 and provided with VELCRO bands  10 , one or several spaced bands (only one of which is shown), to assist the user to fit the garment over his head.  
         [0027]    A mouth-channel-forming member  12 , which is made from a flexible, shape-holding thermally-suitable material, for example, soft silicon rubber or plastics (by “thermally-suitable” is meant a material that will remain pliable at cold temperatures and will ward off cold and wind), is shown attached to the head garment  2  so as to cover both a head garment nostril opening  14  and head garment mouth opening  16 , not shown in FIG. 1, which are aligned with the nostrils and mouth, respectively, of the user. The head garment  2  is configured such as to create a nose pocket  18  that has a loose fit over the user&#39;s nose. Also referring to FIG.&#39;S  2 ,  3  and  4 , the other parts of the cold weather breathing apparatus  4  include a removable generally tubular nose-channel-forming member  20  and mouth disc  22  both of which are inset inside the generally tubular mouth-channel-forming member  12  (inset views not shown). The nose-channel-forming member  20  and mouth disc  22  are also made from flexible, shape-holding thermally-suitable materials. The nose-channel-forming member  20  has on top a nose channel nostril port  24  surrounded by a nose channel flange  26 . The mouth-channel-forming member  12  also has on top a second nostril port  28  into which the nose channel flange  26  is fitted (nested parts not shown). When the flexible nose-channel-forming member  20  is squeezed through the nostril port  28  in the mouth-channel-forming member  12  so as to nest inside the generally tubular mouth-channel-forming member  12 , it springs back to its original shape such that the nose channel flange  26  protrudes through the similarly shaped nostril port  28  of the mouth-channel-forming member  12 . While not visible in FIG. 1, the nose channel flange  26  is fitted to the head garment nostril opening  14  and is attached to the garment at the nose channel flange  26  by sewing or other means. The mouth disc  22  has a center hole  30  adapted to align with the not-shown head garment nostril opening  14 . While not visible in FIG. 1, the mouth disc  22  is attached, as by sewing or other means, to the head garment  2  below the attached nose-channel-forming member  20 , and the annular part  32  surrounding its center hole  30  nests inside the mouth hole  34  in the mouth-channel-forming member  12  and holds the head garment  2  attached to the mouth-channel-forming member  12  in its proper position. The annular part  32  surrounding the center hole  30  in the mouth disc  22 , serves the interlocking function previously described which allows the mouth disc  22  to be removed from its position within the mouth-channel-forming member  12  for drying and cleaning. Similarly, the nested nose-channel-forming member  20  holds its position inside the tubular mouth-channel-forming member  12  by reason of the nose channel interlocking tube extensions  36  and nose channel flange  26  which is also the previously described interlocking function that also allows the nose-channel-forming member  20  to be removed from its position within the mouth-channel-forming member  12  for drying and cleaning. Each of the mouth-channel-forming member  12  and nose-channel-forming member  20  have at opposite ends intake/exhaust ports designated, respectively,  38  and  40 .  
         [0028]    In FIG. 2, the mouth-channel-forming member  12  is shown orientated such that its two intake/exhaust ports  38 , nostril port  28  and mouth hole  34  can be seen. When worn, the openings of the intake/exhaust ports  38  are directed both sideways and in a somewhat downward direction shielding these openings from wind and precipitation. Referring to FIG. 3, the nose-channel-forming member  20  is shown with it&#39;s nostril port  24  and the two intake/exhaust ports  40  in view. The nose channel interlocking tube extensions  36  and nose channel flange  26  can also be seen. FIG. 4 shows the mouth disc  22  with it&#39;s center hole  30  and annular part  32  identified. The channels and ports formed by and in these parts  12 ,  20 , and  22  are large enough to produce a low resistance to the flow of breath through the head garment  2  and breathing apparatus  4  to the external environment. For example only, which is not to be limiting, the inside diameter of the tubes and the ports can be 1-3 cm in size.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a head garment fabric subassembly  42 . An upper panel  44  is shown attached to a lower panel  46  by sewing or other means along seams  48 ,  50  and  52 . The shape of upper panel  44  is such that when attached to the lower panel  46  the nose pocket  18  is formed. The nose pocket  18  is large enough to form a loose fit over the user&#39;s nose (not shown). The upper panel  44  and lower panel  46  are also shaped to form the head garment&#39;s mouth opening  16  and nostril opening  14  (only the front edge of the opening can be seen).  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the nose-channel-forming member  20  and mouth disc  22  shown mounted in position on the head garment fabric subassembly  42  to form the head garment subassembly  54  as created during the fabrication process. The nose-channel-forming member  20  is shown sewn or otherwise attached to the head garment nostril opening  14  (front edge shown) at the nose channel flange  26  (not shown). The mouth disc  22  is shown sewn or otherwise attached around the head garment mouth opening  16  at the inside edge  56  leaving the majority of the annular part  32  unattached. The seams are indicated by the dashed lines  58 ,  60 .  
         [0031]    Referring to the section view in FIG. 7, the mouth-channel-forming member  12  is shown mounted to the head garment subassembly  54 . It is attached to the head garment subassembly  54  by deforming both the nose-channel-forming member  20  and mouth disc  22  sufficiently as to be able to insert them into the nostril port  28  and mouth hole  34  of the mouth-channel-forming member  12 , respectively, where they return to their original shape locking the mouth-channel-forming member  12  in place. The deformation and insertion steps are not shown but their final interlocked states are depicted.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a partial exploded section view of the parts helping to illustrate how the parts go together in the preferred embodiment. The arrow  62  shows the mouth disc  22  being attached to the head garment fabric subassembly  42 ; the arrow  64  shows the nose-channel-forming member  20  being attached to the head garment fabric subassembly  42 ; and the arrows  66  show the mouth-channel-forming member  12  being attached to the mouth disc  22  and nose-channel-forming member  20 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9A schematically shows the flow path for exhaled air from the nostrils and mouth of the user. The nostril exhaled air follows the path shown by the arrows  68  partially through a nose channel  70  and then through part of the main mouth channel  72 . The mouth exhaled air follows the path shown by the arrows  74  entirely through the mouth channel  72 . It can also be seen in FIG. 9A how exhaled breath from the nose, arrows  68 , and mouth, arrows  74 , are kept separate by the barrier formed by the inset nose-channel-forming member, shown schematically by the barrier part  76 . The exhaled air from below the nostrils and above the mouth is separated for a short distance, for example, 2-5 cm, and thereafter follow the common mouth channel  72  of the mouth-channel-forming member  12  to its intake/exhaust ports  38 . This prevents the moist exhaled breath from coming in contact with the skin around the nose and mouth which is a comfort feature made possible by the dual channel configuration in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9B shows a variant. In this case, one of the intake/exhaust ports  38  of the mouth-channel-forming member  12  is closed off at  78  so to reduce or prevent the cold external air that may pass through the nose channel  70  that would cool the bottom of the user&#39;s nose causing discomfort. In this case, some small additional discomfort may be  
         [0035]    present since the nose exhaled air does pass by the mouth. In the FIG. 9C variant, the latter discomfort is avoided by closing off one intake/exhaust port at  80  of the barrier part  76  formed by the nose-channel-forming member. This design also reduces or eliminates the amount of cold external air that may pass above the barrier part  76  also reducing or eliminating the problem of cooling the bottom of the user&#39;s nose.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9D shows yet another variant. In this case, deflection members  82  are depicted. The air exhaled from the nose follows arrows  68  flowing between the ends of the barrier part  76  and the deflection members  82  and out the intake/exhaust ports  38 . The deflection members  82  divert the cold external air that may flow through the nose channel  70  reducing or preventing the above mentioned cooling effect.  
         [0037]    The manner of assembling the garment involves attaching the nose-channel-forming member  20  to the head garment nostril opening  14 , and the mouth disc  22  to the head garment mouth opening  16 , and then inserting both the nose-channel-forming member  20  through the nostril port  28  and mouth disc  22  through the mouth hole  34  of the mouth-channel-forming member  12 . This is the preferred way of assembling the garment since it also allows separation of the pieces bordering the mouth and nose for cleaning or drying. But it will be understood that it is not the only way of making a garment incorporating a cold weather breathing apparatus according to the invention and the claims should not accordingly be so limited.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 shows a modification which is somewhat simpler in form but does not allow separation of the parts as in the FIG. 1 embodiment. In this case, a single part  84  is attached to a head garment  86  over its nostril  88  and mouth  90  openings similar to those formed in the head garment fabric subassembly  42 . It is divided internally by a barrier  92  similar to that formed by the nose-channel-forming member  20  to form a separated nose channel  70  and mouth channel  72  for exhaled air. The usual intake/exhaust ports at the ends of the channels  70 ,  72  are not shown in this view. This view also shows optional parting lines  94  that sever the single part  84  along it entire length. With the single part  84  severed, the front side  96  can be pivoted up and away from the face allowing access to the user&#39;s nose and mouth. When released, the shape holding memory nature of the single part  84  will return the apparatus to is original form.  
         [0039]    By providing a head garment fabric subassembly  42  with a nose pocket  18  that loosely fits over the bridge of the nose, the use of goggles  8  will easily press the material against the nose creating a seal that prevents the user&#39;s breath from entering the goggles  8 , which avoids fogging the goggles.  
         [0040]    By providing a cold weather head garment  2  with a mouth-channel-forming member  12  and nose-channel-forming member  20  that covers both the mouth and nose, these body parts are shielded from direct exposure to a cold external environment improving user comfort and reduces exposure to frost bit.  
         [0041]    By providing both a mouth disc  22  and an nose-channel-forming member  20  that are larger than the mouth hole  34  and nostril ports  28  in the mouth-channel-forming member  12  through which they were inserted during the assembly process, the mouth-channel-forming member  12  can be securely fastened to the head garment subassembly  54 .  
         [0042]    By providing an independent nose-channel-forming member  20  through which the breath from the nose is expelled and an independent mouth-channel-forming member  12  through which the breath from the mouth is expelled, the moist breath is prevented from excessive contact with the skin around either the nose or mouth creating a dry more comfortable experience.  
         [0043]    By providing a mouth-channel-forming member  12  and a nose-channel-forming member  20  both with low resistance to the flow of breath to the external environment, the moist breath is prevented from following a more resistive path into the user&#39;s goggles  8  preventing fogging.  
         [0044]    By providing the intake/exhaust ports  38  in the mouth-channel-forming member  12  with directional openings that are sideways and oriented both towards the user&#39;s face and in a somewhat a downward direction, these openings tend to be shielded from wind and precipitation.  
         [0045]    By providing features, such as those shown in FIG. 8A, 8B,  8 C and  8 D, that deflects the flow of cold external air that passes through the breathing apparatus  4  away from the nose, the uncomfortable cooling of the user&#39;s nose reduced. By providing a two panel head garment fabric subassembly  42 , a nose pocket  18  is formed.  
         [0046]    By providing a breathing apparatus single part  84  that is severed along parting lines  94 , the user can move the front side  96  away allowing access to his nose and mouth.  
         [0047]    Although the description of this invention has been given with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed within a limiting sense. Many variations and modifications will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.