Patent Publication Number: US-2023158198-A1

Title: Breathing apparatus to eliminate airborne infections

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/257,098, entitled “BREATHING APPARATUS TO ELIMINATE AIRBORNE INFECTIONS,” filed on Oct. 18, 2021 and further claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/046,964, entitled “BREATHING APPARATUS TO ELIMINATE AIRBORNE INFECTIONS,” which is pending; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to preventing infections, and more particularly to a breathing apparatus for eliminating airborne infections. 
     Current approaches for treating and preventing infections mainly involve defensive approaches (e.g., washing hands, social distancing, wearing masks, and administering vaccines). Currently, an individual can utilize every one of these defensive measures and still become infected with an airborne illness, require hospitalization, or die. 
     The primary cause of transmission for many airborne illness is aerosol transmission. Social distancing addresses droplet transmission (10-100 microns) being exhaled by a contaminated person (e.g., through sneezing or coughing). Washing hands only addresses surface contamination and transmission. Aerosols (5-10 microns) can remain airborne for up to 18 hours. Most humans do not wear personal protective equipment (PPE) or masks that block particles this small. Wearing masks that fail to treat or kill the infectious agent may only serve to recirculate it in an asymptomatic patient. 
     One of the most prevalent airborne illnesses today is the SARS-CoV-2 virus (“COVID”). When inhaled, COVID will incubate and take around 10-12 hours to penetrate a cell and begin to replicate itself. Approximately 4-6 people out of every 100 who become infected with COVID are asymptomatic. Thus, many people can be infected without knowing they are infected and contagious. Furthermore, cases of COVID have exploded in places with mask mandates because droplet transmission is not the leading cause of transmission. 
     What is needed, then, is a breathing apparatus for eliminating airborne illnesses. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Brief Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One aspect of the disclosure is a breathing apparatus. The breathing apparatus may include a heater or an Ultraviolet (UV) light chamber configured to kill harmful organisms in air. The apparatus may include a vest with a UV light chamber. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include a vest, including a heating chamber disposed on the vest and a cooling chamber disposed on the vest. The heating chamber may include a heat source, and the heat source may heat air disposed within the heating chamber to a predetermined temperature. The heating chamber and the cooling chamber may be in fluid communication. The apparatus may include a breathing tube, including a first end and a second end. The first end may connect to the cooling chamber or to a UV light chamber. The apparatus may include a breathing mask. The second end of the breathing tube may connect to the breathing mask. The cooling chamber and the breathing mask may be in fluid communication via the breathing tube. In another embodiment, a UV light chamber and the breathing mask may be in fluid communication via the breathing tube. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure includes another breathing apparatus including a heater configured to kill harmful organisms in air. The apparatus may include an air intake. The apparatus may include a heating chamber. The apparatus may include an air intake channel disposed between the air intake and the heating chamber. The air intake and the heating chamber may be in fluid communication via the air intake channel. The apparatus may include a heat source disposed in the heating chamber. The apparatus may include a cooling chamber in fluid communication with the heating chamber. The apparatus may include an air channel connected to the cooling chamber. A first one-way valve may be disposed between the heating chamber and the cooling chamber. A second one-way valve may be disposed on an end of the air channel and disposed opposite the cooling chamber. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure includes another breathing apparatus including a UV light chamber configured to kill harmful organisms in air. The apparatus may include an air intake and a UV light chamber. The apparatus may include an air intake channel disposed between the air intake and the UV light chamber. The air intake and the UV light chamber may be in fluid communication via the air intake channel. The apparatus may include a UV light source disposed in the UV light chamber. The apparatus may include an air channel connected to the UV light chamber. A one-way valve may be disposed on an end of the air channel and disposed opposite the UV light chamber. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure includes a system. The system may include a vehicle. The system may include a breathing apparatus disposed in the vehicle. The breathing apparatus may include a heater or a UV light chamber, including an interior space. The interior space may include a heating chamber and a cooling chamber. A heat source may be disposed within the heating chamber. A UV light source may be disposed within the UV light chamber. The breathing apparatus may include a breathing tube, including a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The first end of the breathing tube may connect to the heater or the UV light chamber. The second end of the breathing tube may selectably coupleable to a breathing mask. The heat source may heat air disposed within the interior space to a predetermined temperature. In another aspect of the disclosure, the UV light source may expose the air within the interior space to ultraviolet light in the wavelength range of 100 to 300 nanometers. 
     Yet another aspect of the disclosure includes a breathing apparatus comprising various air treatment methods configured to kill harmful organisms in air. In one aspect, a treatment method may include ultraviolet light in the Ultraviolet C (UV-C) wavelength spectrum. UV-C wavelengths may include the range of 100 to 300 nanometers to kill harmful organisms in the air. Alternatively, the UV-C wavelengths may be applied in the range of 200 to 300 nanometers, with a desired wavelength of 222 nanometers. In another aspect of the invention, the breathing apparatus may include a damper, a filter, a cooling coil, an ultraviolet disinfection source, a humidifier, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) catalyst, or an ionization device, each of the foregoing may be used alone or in combination to reduce pathogens in the air. 
     Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of various embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front view illustrating one embodiment of a breathing apparatus disposed on a subject. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a breathing apparatus disposed on a subject. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a breathing apparatus. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a front view illustrating one embodiment of a breathing apparatus in a vest configuration disposed on a subject. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a back view illustrating another embodiment of the breathing apparatus in the vest configuration disposed on the subject. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a breathing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the disclosure and do not delimit the scope of the disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and are covered by the claims. 
     In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity. In addition, positional terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. refer to the apparatus when in the orientation shown in the drawing. A person of skill in the art will recognize that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “another embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not necessarily all embodiments” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. As used herein, the term “a,” “an,” or “the” means “one or more” unless otherwise specified. The term “or” means “and/or” unless otherwise specified. 
     A better approach to preventing the spread of airborne illness would be a more “offensive” approach by killing the illness. Such approach may include diluting an infected subject with fresh air instead of recirculating infected air. 
       FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    depict various views of one embodiment of an apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  may include a breather apparatus. The apparatus  100  may be based upon the scientific principle of utilizing heat to kill viruses, bacteria, or other potentially harmful organisms. The apparatus  100  may include a heater, an Ultraviolet (UV) lighting device, or other disinfecting device  102  as disclosed herein. The heater or UV light device  102  may include an air intake  104 . The apparatus  100  may include a breathing tube  106 . The apparatus  100  may include a breathing mask  108 . In some embodiments, the breathing mask  108  may be wearable by a subject  110 . The subject  110  may include a human. 
     In one embodiment, the UV light device  102  may receive air via the air intake  104 . The UV lighting device  102  may expose the received air to a UV light source at a sufficient wavelength to kill viruses, bacteria, or other harmful organisms. The subject  110  may inhale the air that was exposed by the UV lighting device  102  through the breathing tube  106  and the breathing mask  108 . By doing this, the subject  110  may inhale air that is substantially free from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful organisms that cannot survive when exposed to the UV light source at predetermined wavelength. This may allow the subject  110  to breathe purified, prevent the subject  110  from becoming sick, or prevent the subject  110  from spreading disease. 
     In another embodiment, the heater  102  may receive air via the air intake  104 . The heater  102  may heat the received air to a temperature sufficient to kill viruses, bacteria, or other harmful organisms. The subject  110  may inhale the air that was heated by the heater  102  from the heater  102  through the breathing tube  106  and the breathing mask  108 . By doing this, the subject  110  may inhale air that is substantially free from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful organisms that cannot live above the heated temperature. This may allow the subject  110  to breathe purified, prevent the subject  110  from becoming sick, or prevent the subject  110  from spreading disease. 
     Further details about the apparatus  100  will now be disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  may include the heater  102 . The heater  102  may include components for receiving air from the heater&#39;s  102  surrounding environment, heating the received air to purify the air, and sending the purified air to the breathing tube  106  and breathing mask  108  to be inhaled by the subject  110 . In one embodiment, the heater  102  may include an interior space for holding air. The heater  102  may heat the air in the interior space to kill viruses, bacteria, or other potentially harmful organisms or particles. In some embodiments, the interior space of the heater  102  may include separate interior spaces: one to hold air received from the heater&#39;s  102  surrounding environment, and another to receive air exhaled from the subject  110 . In some embodiments, the heater  102  may ensure that these two types of air do not mix. 
     In some embodiments, the heater  102  may heat air inside the interior space of the heater  102 . The heater  102  may include a heat source that may perform the heating. The heat source may heat the air disposed within the interior space to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature may include approximately 162 degrees Fahrenheit (72 degrees Celsius). In some embodiments, the predetermined temperature may include some other value. The predetermined temperature may range between 100 and 220 degrees, 100 and 120 degrees, 120 and 140 degrees, 140 and 160 degrees, 160 and 180 degrees, 180 and 200 degrees, 200 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, or some other range of temperatures. The temperature may include a temperature sufficient to kill the COVID-19 virus in 1 second. The apparatus  100  may be applicable to other viruses (e.g., H1N1, SARS, MERS, Influenza, etc.). The heating temperature of the heater  102  and the amount of time that air may spend in the heater  102  may be adjustable. In one or more embodiments, the heater  102  may include an air output. The air output may include one or more components that may expel air from the heater  102 . The expelled air may include air that the subject  110  has exhaled. 
     In some embodiments, the heater  102  may heat air exhaled from the subject  110 . Heating the exhaled air may kill live viral particles from the subject  110 , which may reduce a viral load and may prevent the subject  110  from spreading an infection into the atmosphere. In some embodiments, the heater  102  may include one or more fans. The fans may provide airflow through the heater  102 . An intake fan may intake air from the air intake  104 . The fan may propel air through the interior chambers and/or through the breathing tube  106 . An exhaust fan may intake air from the breathing tube  106 . The exhaust fan may expel air from the heater  102  to an air output. 
     In one embodiment, the breathing apparatus may include a power source. The power source may provide power to the heater or the UV lighting device  102  to run one or more components of the apparatus. The heater  102  may use the power to consistently heat the incoming air. The heater  102  heating the air in the heater  102  may consume less electricity than running a hairdryer. The power source may provide a constant heating of the heat source to warm the air to the required degree range. Further details regarding one or more interior components of the heater and UV lighting device  102  are provided below. 
     In certain embodiments, the heater or UV lighting device  102  may include an exterior case  112 . The exterior case  112  may surround and enclose the interior components of the heater or UV lighting device  102 . The air intake  104  may be disposed on the exterior case  112 . The breathing tube  106  may extend from the exterior case  112 . The exterior case  112  may include metal, plastic, or some other rigid material. The exterior case  112  may be lightweight to aid in the portability of the heater or UV lighting device  102 . In some embodiments, the heater or UV lighting device  102  may include a handle. The handle may disposed on the exterior case  112 , and the subject  110  may carry the heater or UV lighting device  102  by the handle. The handle may include a rigid handle, a handle that pivots to allow the handle to lie against the exterior case  112 , or some other handle. 
     In one embodiment, the heater or UV lighting device  102  may include an air intake  104 . The air intake  104  may include an aperture that may allow the heater or UV lighting device  102  to receive air from the surrounding environment. The air intake  104  may include a vent, a filter, a grate, or some other component that may allow air to pass into the heater or UV lighting device  102  but may prevent other larger objects from entering the heater or UV lighting device  102 . The air intake  104  may be disposed on a side of the UV lighting device or heater  102 , the top of the heater or UV lighting device  102 , the bottom of the UV lighting device or the heater  102 , or some other area of the heater or UV lighting device  102 . The air intake  104  may intake air in response to the subject  110  breathing in, which may create a vacuum effect and may cause the air in the heater or UV lighting device  102  to be vacuumed into the breathing tube  106  and, eventually, into the subject  110 . The air intake  104  may intake air in response to other functionality of the heater  1  or UV lighting device  02 , for example, a fan disposed in the heater  102  drawing air into the UV lighting device or heater  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may include the breathing tube  106 . The breathing tube  106  may allow air to flow from the heater or UV lighting device  102  to the breathing mask  108 . The breathing tube  106  may include a first end. The breathing tube  106  may include a second end disposed opposite the first end. The first end may be disposed at the heater or UV lighting device  102 . The second end may be disposed on the breathing mask  108 . The breathing tube  106  may include a flexible material. The flexible material may include an air-tight material. The flexible material may include a plastic (such as a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), metal, or some other material. The breathing tube  106  may include different lengths. The length of the breathing tube  106  may be adjustable. For example, a portion of the breathing tube  106  may be retractable into the heater or UV lighting device  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the breathing tube  106  may allow the air to cool before entering human lungs. In some embodiments, an interior space of the heater or UV lighting device  102  may include a cooling section or portion that may cool the purified air before propagating it through the breathing tube  106 . In other embodiments, the cooling section may be located elsewhere on the apparatus  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  may include the breathing mask  108 . The breathing mask  108  may allow the subject  110  to breath in purified air from the heater or UV lighting device  102  and may at least partially prevent the subject  110  from breathing unpurified air from the surrounding environment. The breathing mask  108  may include a mask that is selectably coupleable to the subject&#39;s  110  face and that has an aperture for receiving air from the breathing tube  106 . The breathing mask  108  may be selectably coupleable to the subject&#39;s  110  face such that the breathing mask  108  covers the subject&#39;s  110  nose or mouth. In some embodiments, the breathing mask  108  may be formable to different sizes and shapes of a human face of the subject  110 . The breathing mask  108  may seal out all incoming or outgoing air. The breathing mask  108  may include a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, a strap, a tie, or some other type of disposal mechanism. The disposal mechanism may be adjustable to adjust for different sizes, circumferences, or other portions of the subject&#39;s  110  head. In one or more embodiments, exhaled air from the subject  110  may propagate from the breathing mask  108 , through the breathing tube  106 , and to the heater or UV lighting device  102 . 
     In certain embodiments, the breathing mask  108  may include a mask that is selectively coupleable to the breathing tube  106 . The second end of the breathing tube  106  may selectably couple to the breathing mask  108 . The subject  110  or some other user may detach the breathing mask  108  from the breathing tube  106  and may attach a different breathing mask  108  to the breathing tube  106 . The coupling between the breathing mask  108  and the breathing tube  106  may include an air-tight coupling that may prevent air, viral particles, and other particles from escaping from the breathing mask  108  or the breathing tube  106  when coupled. In some embodiments, the breathing tube  106  may selectively couple to the heater or UV lighting device  102 . The subject  110  or some other user may detach the breathing tube  106  from the heater or UV lighting device  102  and may attach a different breathing tube  106 . The coupling between the breathing tube  106  and the heater or UV lighting device  102  may include an air-tight coupling. In one or more embodiments, the selectably coupleable breathing mask  108  or breathing tube  106  may allow a subjects  110  to bring their own breathing masks  108  or breathing tubes  106  to a facility or vehicle (e.g., an airplane, train, bus, boat, etc.) and plug in the breathing mask  108  or breathing tube  106  to the heater or UV lighting device  102  provided at the facility or vehicle. 
       FIG.  3    depicts one embodiment of the apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  may include the heater or UV lighting device  102 , which may include an air intake  104 . The heater or UV lighting device  102  may include an air intake channel  202 , an interior space  204 , a fan  206 , a heat source  208 , or a UV light source  208 . The interior space  204  may include a UV light chamber or heating chamber  210  and a cooling chamber  212 . The interior space  204  may include a divider  214  that may divide the two chambers  210 ,  212  and a first one-way valve  216 . The heater or UV light device  102  may include a power source  218 . The heater or UV light device  102  may include an air channel, a second one-way valve  222 , an air output channel  224 , an air exhaust port  226 , an exhaust fan  230 , or a third one-way valve  228 . 
     In some embodiments, the heater or UV light device  102  may include the air intake channel  202 . The air intake channel  202  may transfer air from the air intake  104  to the interior space  204  of the heater or UV light device  102 . The air intake channel  202  may include a channel that includes a metal, a plastic, or some other material. The air intake channel  202  may include a variety of lengths or widths. 
     In some embodiments, the interior space  204  may include an area disposed inside the heater or UV light device  102  that may hold or store air. The interior space  204  may include various sizes and capacities for air. The interior space  204  may include an insulating material that surrounds the interior space  204 . The insulating material may help prevent heat or UV light from escaping the interior space  204  and into surrounding components of the UV light device or heater  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the heater or UV light device  102  may include a fan  206 . The fan  206  may cause air disposed outside the heater or UV light device  102  to move into the interior space  204 . The fan  206  may be disposed in the air intake channel  202 , between the air intake channel  202  and the interior space  204 , near the air intake  104 , or in some other location. 
     In some embodiments, the heater  102  may include the heat source  208 . The heat source  208  may heat the air in the interior space  204  in order to kill viral particles, bacteria, or other harmful or undesired particles. The heat source  208  may include a heating coil, heat exchanger, a heating element, a fiber, graphene, or some other heat source. The heat source  208  may be disposed in various locations in the interior space  204 . For example, the interior space  204  may be divided into a heating chamber  210  and a cooling chamber  212 . The heat source  208  may be disposed in a central portion of the heating chamber  210 , near the exit of the air intake channel  202 , near the fan  206 , or in some other location. 
     In some embodiments, the UV light device  102  may include a UV light source  208 . The UV light source  208  may expose the air in the interior space  204  in order to kill viral particles, bacteria, or other harmful or undesired particles. The UV light source  208  may be disposed in various locations in the interior space  204 . For example, the interior space  204  may be divided into a UV light chamber  210  and a cooling chamber  212 . The UV light source  208  may be disposed in a central portion of the UV light chamber  210 , near the exit of the air intake channel  202 , near the fan  206 , or in some other location. 
     In some embodiments, the interior space  204  may include a divider  214  that may divide the heating chamber  210  from the cooling chamber  212 . In some embodiments, the heating chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212  may be formed from two different and separate interior spaces  204 . The heating chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212  may be in fluid communication. In some embodiments, a one-way valve  216  may be disposed between the heating chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212 . The one-way valve  216  may allow air to flow from the heating chamber  210  to the cooling chamber  212 , but not from the cooling chamber  212  to the heating chamber  210 . The heating chamber  210  may hold heated air, and the cooling chamber  212  may allow the heated air that flows into the cooling chamber  212  to reach a safe temperature for inhalation by the subject  110 . In some embodiments, the cooling chamber  212  may include a cooling element to cool the air within the cooling chamber  212 . 
     In some embodiments, the interior space  204  may include a divider  214  that may divide the UV light chamber  210  from a cooling chamber  212 . In some embodiments, the UV light chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212  may be formed from two different and separate interior spaces  204 . The UV light chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212  may be in fluid communication. In some embodiments, a one-way valve  216  may be disposed between the UV light chamber  210  and the cooling chamber  212 . The one-way valve  216  may allow air to flow from the UV light chamber  210  to the cooling chamber  212 , but not from the cooling chamber  212  to the UV light chamber  210 . The UV light chamber  210  may hold air exposed to UV light, and the cooling chamber  212  may allow the expose air that flows into the cooling chamber  212  to reach a safe temperature for inhalation by the subject  110 . In some embodiments, the cooling chamber  212  may include a cooling element to cool the air within the cooling chamber  212 . 
     In some embodiments, the heater or UV light device  102  may include a power source  218 . The power source  218  may provide power to the heat or UV light source  208 , the fan  206 , a cooling element, or other components of the heater or UV light device  102 . The power source  218  may include a battery. The battery may include a rechargeable battery. The battery may include a lithium ion, lithium polymer, or metal hydride battery. The power source  218  may include an electric cord, a solar panel, a hand crank, or some other type of power source. The power source  218  may be rechargeable or swappable. 
     In one embodiment, the heater or UV light device  102  may include an integrated circuit, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other circuitry (not shown in  FIG.  3   ). The circuitry may receive power from the power source  218 . The circuitry may receive input from one or more sensors disposed on the heater or UV light device  102 , process the input, and, based on that processing, perform one or more operations that may control one or more functions of the hardware of the heater or UV light device  102 . For example, the heating chamber  210  may include a temperature sensor electronically connected to the circuitry. The circuitry may receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor that may indicate the temperature of the heating chamber  210 . In response to the temperature of the heating chamber  210  being below a threshold temperature (e.g., 162 degrees Fahrenheit, as discussed above), the circuitry may activate the heat source  208 . In response to the temperature sensor indicating the heating chamber  210  has reached a temperature above a threshold temperature, the circuitry may deactivate the heat source  208 . 
     By way of further example, a UV light chamber  210  may include a UV light sensor electronically connected to the circuitry. The circuitry may receive a reading from the light sensor that may indicate the wavelength of the UV light chamber  210 . In response to the wavelength reading, the circuitry may adjust the UV light source  208 . 
     In one embodiment, the heater or UV light device  102  may include an air channel  220 . The air channel  220  may be disposed between the interior space  204  (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  3   , the UV light chamber  210  or the cooling chamber  212 ) and the breathing tube  106  such that the interior space  204  and the breathing tube  106  are in fluid communication. In response to the subject  110  breathing in, a vacuum effect may be created and the air may flow from the interior space  204 , through the air channel  220 , into the breathing tube  106 , and out through the breathing mask  108 . In some embodiments, the heater or UV light device  102  may include a second one-way valve  222 . The second one-way valve  222  may allow air to travel from the air channel  220  through the second one-way valve  222  and into the breathing tube  106 , but may prevent air from traveling from the breathing tube  106  into the air channel  220  (and, thus, into the interior space  204 ). The first end of the breathing tube  106  may be selectably coupleable to the cooling chamber  212  via the air channel  220 . 
     In some embodiments, the heater or UV light device  102  may include an air output channel  224 . The air output channel  224  may be disposed between the breathing tube  106  and an air exhaust port  226  such that the breathing tube  106  and the air exhaust port  226  are in fluid communication. In response to the subject  110  breathing out, the air exhaled from the subject  110  may flow from the breathing tube  106  through the air output channel  224  and out of the heater or UV light device  102  through the air exhaust port  226 . The air exhaust port may include an exhaust fan  230 . A third one-way valve  228  may allow air to travel from the breathing tube  106  through the third one-way valve  228  and into the air output channel  224 , but may prevent air from traveling from the air output channel  224  into the breathing tube  106 . 
       FIG.  4 A  and  FIG.  4 B  depict another embodiment of the apparatus  100 . In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  may include a vest  402 . The vest  402  may include a lightweight utility vest. The subject  110  may wear the vest  402 . As depicted in  FIG.  4 A , the front side of the vest  402  may include a display  404 . The display  404  may show information about the apparatus  100 , such as a current temperature or wavelength of light in the interior space  204  of the heating chamber or UV light chamber  210 , or the cooling chamber  212 , a desired environment for the interior space  204 , the heating chamber or UV light chamber  210 , or the cooling chamber  212 , an amount of charge remaining in the power source  218 , or other information. The display  404  may include a screen, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a segment display, a touchscreen, or some other type of display. The display  404  may be in electric or electronic communication with the power source  218 . The display  404  may be mounted on the vest  402 . The display  404  may be separate from the vest  402  but may be electrically connected to the vest  402  (e.g., via one or more wires of the vest  402 , such as electrical wires supplying power to the display  404  via the power source  218 ). In other embodiments, the display  404  may include a wireless display in data communication with a circuitry of the vest  402 . The display  404  may include the display of a smartphone or other computing device in wired or wireless data communication with the circuitry. 
     In one or more embodiments, the vest  402  may include a light  406 . The light  406  may include a LED or some other type of light. The light  406  may include a red-green-blue (RGB) light. The light  406  may display a certain color, a certain brightness level, or a certain blinking pattern in order to convey information about the apparatus  100 . For example, the light  406  may display green in response to the heater or UV lighting device  102  working properly or in response to the power source  218  having a charge above a threshold charge. The light  406  may display yellow in response to the heater or UV lighting device  102  encountering an error or in response to the power source  218  having a charge below a threshold charge (e.g., below 30% power). The light  406  may display red in response to the heater or UV lighting device  102  not being able to function or in response to the power source  218  having below a second threshold charge (e.g., below 10% power). In some embodiments, the display  404  or the light  406  may be included in other embodiments of the apparatus  100 , such as embodiments shown and discussed above in relation to  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , the back side of the vest  402  may include certain components of the heater or the UV light device  102 . For example, the vest  402  may include the heat chamber or the UV light chamber  210  disposed on the vest  402 , the cooling chamber  212  may be disposed on the vest  402 , the air intake  104 , or the power source  218  may be disposed on the vest  402 . The vest  402  may include other components of the apparatus  100  discussed above in relation to  FIGS.  1 - 3   . As can be seen in  FIGS.  4 A-B , the breathing tube  106  may couple to the UV light chamber  210  or the cooling chamber  212  and may wrap around the vest  402  to the breathing mask  108 . Certain portions of the breathing tube  106  may couple to the vest  402  in order to not obstruct the subject  110 . For example, the vest  402  may include loops, adhesives, hooks, or other components that may secure portions of the breathing tube  106  to the vest  402 . 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  may include a filter. The filter may kill the infectious agent. The filter may include peroxide, disinfectant, bleach, or some other type of filter. The filter may be disposed in the heater or the UV lighting device  102  (e.g., in the air intake channel  202 , in the air channel  220 , or in the air output channel  224 ), in the breathing tube  106 , in the breathing mask  108 , or at some other location on the apparatus  100 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the apparatus  100  may include a user interface. The user interface may receive input from the subject  110  or another user of the apparatus  100 , and in response, the apparatus  100  may perform one or more functions based on the input. In some embodiments, the user interface may electronically connect to the circuitry of the heater or the UV lighting device  102 . In one embodiment, the user interface may include one or more buttons, knobs, dials, touchscreens, or other user input components. These user input components may adjust the temperature to which the heat source  208  heats the air in the interior space  204  or adjust the wavelength to which the UV light source  208  exposes the air in the interior space  204 . 
     The apparatus  100  disclosed herein provides several advantages over the prior attempted solutions. For example, in some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may be lightweight, comfortable, weather-resistant, compact, inexpensive, or easily sanitized. The apparatus  100  may not restrict vision, hearing, nor the ability to work, drive, or sleep. In some embodiments, the heater or the UV lighting device  102  may be portable, for example, within a backpack or side bag (e.g., a messenger bag or purse) or worn on a vest  402 . The heater or the UV lighting device  102  may be able to be wheeled about on a cart or other wheeled device. In some embodiments, one or more components of the apparatus  100  may be heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, lightweight, waterproof, or impermeable to viral particle transmission. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may provide the option for those deemed at greater risk at becoming infected (e.g., doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, nursing home workers, assisted living centers, workers with large groups in confined surroundings, schools/colleges, etc.) to protect themselves from such infection. The breathing mask  108  may only cover the subject&#39;s  110  nose and mouth, which may provide more comfort, vision, or other advantages over full-face shields or masks. 
     The power source  218  may be in the form of a battery and may also provide advantages over solutions with power cords, such as improved mobility and range and the absence of cables that can obstruct or entangle. Additionally, the apparatus  100  may be modular. Certain components of the apparatus  100  may be coupleable to other components, allowing for easy replacement of these components. Such modular components may include the breathing mask  108 , the breathing tube  106 , the power source  218 , the interior space  204 , the heating chamber or the UV light chamber  210 , the cooling chamber  212 , the heating element or the UV light source  208 , or other components. 
       FIG.  5    depicts one embodiment of the apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  may include the UV lighting device  502 , which may include an air intake  503 . The UV lighting device  502  may include an air intake channel  504 , an interior space  505 , a fan  506 , and a UV light source  508 . The interior space  505  may include a UV light chamber  510 . The interior space  505  may include a divider  514  that may divide two chambers  510 ,  512  and a first one-way valve  516 . The UV lighting device  502  may include a power source  518 . The UV lighting device  502  may include an air channel  520 , a second one-way valve  522 , an air output channel  524 , an air exhaust port  526 , or a third one-way valve  528 . 
     In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include the air intake channel  504 . The air intake channel  504  may transfer air from the air intake  503  to the interior space  505  of the UV lighting device  502 . The air intake channel  504  may include a channel that includes a metal, a plastic, or some other material. The air intake channel  504  may include a variety of lengths or widths. 
     In some embodiments, the interior space  505  may include an area disposed inside the UV lighting device  502  that may hold or store air. The interior space  505  may include various sizes and capacities for air. The interior space  505  may include an insulating material that surrounds the interior space  505 . The insulating material may help prevent UV light from escaping the interior space  505  and into surrounding components of the UV lighting device  502 . 
     In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include a fan  506 . The fan  506  may cause air disposed outside the UV lighting device  502  to move into the interior space  505 . The fan  506  may be disposed in the air intake channel  504 , between the air intake channel  504  and the interior space  505 , near the air intake  503 , or in some other location. 
     In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include the UV light source  508 . The UV light source  508  may expose air in the UV light chamber  510  or may expose the air in the interior space  505  in order to kill viral particles, bacteria, or other harmful or undesired particles. The UV light source  508  may include a light-emitting diode source or some other light source. The UV light source  508  may be disposed in various locations in the interior space  505 . For example, the interior space  505  may be divided into a UV light chamber  510  and other chambers  512 . The UV light source  508  may be disposed in a central portion of the UV light chamber  510 , near the exit of the air intake channel  504 , near the fan  506 , or in some other location. 
     In some embodiments, the interior space  505  may include a divider  514  that may divide the UV light chamber  510  from another chamber  512 . In some embodiments, the UV light chamber  510  and another chamber  512  may be formed from two different and separate interior spaces  505 . The UV light chamber  510  and another chamber  512  may be in fluid communication. In some embodiments, a one-way valve  516  may be disposed between the UV light chamber  510  and another chamber  512 . The one-way valve  516  may allow air to flow from the UV light chamber  510  to the air channel  520 . The UV light chamber  510  may hold light-expose air. 
     In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include a power source  518 . The power source  518  may provide power to the UV light source  508 , the fan  506 , or other components of the UV lighting device  502 . The power source  518  may include a battery. The battery may include a rechargeable battery. The battery may include a lithium ion, lithium polymer, or metal hydride battery. The power source  518  may include an electric cord, a solar panel, a hand crank, or some other type of power source. The power source  518  may be rechargeable or swappable. 
     In one embodiment, the UV lighting device  502  may include an integrated circuit, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other circuitry (not shown in  FIG.  5   ). The circuitry may receive power from the power source  518 . The circuitry may receive input from one or more sensors disposed on the UV lighting device  502 , process the input, and, based on that processing, perform one or more operations that may control one or more functions of the hardware of the UV lighting device  502 . For example, the UV light chamber  510  may include a light sensor electronically connected to the circuitry. The circuitry may receive a reading from the light sensor that may indicate the wavelength of the UV light chamber  510 . In response to the wavelength of the UV light chamber  510  being below a threshold amount (e.g., 100 nanometers, as discussed above), the circuitry may activate the UV light source  508 . In response to the light sensor indicating the UV light chamber  510  has reached a wavelength above a threshold (e.g., 300 nanometers, as discussed above), the circuitry may deactivate the UV light source  508 . 
     In one embodiment, the UV lighting device  502  may include an air channel  520 . The air channel  520  may be disposed between the interior space  505  (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  5   ) and the breathing tube  106  such that the interior space  505  and the breathing tube  106  are in fluid communication. In response to the subject  110  breathing in, a vacuum effect may be created and the air may flow from the interior space  505 , through the air channel  520 , into the breathing tube  106 , and out through the breathing mask  108 . Likewise, in response to the subject  110  breathing in, a vacuum effect may be created and the air may flow from the UV light chamber  510 , through the air channel  520 , into the breathing tube  106 , and out through the breathing mask  108 . In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include a second one-way valve  522 . The second one-way valve  522  may allow air to travel from the air channel  520  through the second one-way valve  522  and into the breathing tube  106 , but may prevent air from traveling from the breathing tube  106  into the air channel  520  (and, thus, into the interior space  505 ). The first end of the breathing tube  106  may be selectably coupleable to another chamber  512  via the air channel  520 . 
     In some embodiments, the UV lighting device  502  may include an air output channel  524 . The air output channel  524  may be disposed between the breathing tube  106  and an air exhaust port  526  such that the breathing tube  106  and the air exhaust port  526  are in fluid communication. In response to the subject  110  breathing out, the air exhaled from the subject  110  may flow from the breathing tube  106  through the air output channel  524  and out of the UV lighting device  502  through the air exhaust port  526 . A third one-way valve  528  may allow air to travel from the breathing tube  106  through the third one-way valve  528  and into the air output channel  524 , but may prevent air from traveling from the air output channel  524  into the breathing tube  106 . In yet another embodiment, a second UV light chamber  532  may be disposed along an air output channel  524  to expose exhaust air to a second UV light source  534  in order to kill viral particles, bacteria, or other harmful or undesired particles. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present disclosure of a new and useful BREATHING APPARATUS TO ELIMINATE AIRBORNE INFECTIONS, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure.