An Improved Respirator or Protective Device for Preventing the Inhalation of Smoke or Noxious Gases or Vapours.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Respirator or Protective Device for Preventing the
Inhalation of Smoke or Noxious Gases or Vapours.
I, CATHERINE ANNA AUGUSTA MILLER, a Citizen of the United States of
America, residing at 500 Katherine Street, Syracuse, Onondaga, New York,
United States of America, Lady, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved respirator or apparatus or devices for
preventing the inhalation of smoke, or noxious vapours, and the asphyxiation
resulting therefrom.
My object is to produce a protector against such inhalation adapted to be
used by firemen, employees of establishments operating smoke houses, by
travellers, and by private persons who are, or may be, obliged to encounter, enter
or pass through smoke either as a matter of business, or to save life, or for many
other purposes.
To that end it consists of a concaved body, somewhat like a mask, constructed
of suitable non-combustible material of such form as to suitably cover part of the
front of the head, the face, the chin, and provided with a suitable expansible and
clastic closure which fits closely, and smoke tight, across the top of the head, down
the sides of the face, and under the chin, and further provided with a suitable
opening and a transparent pane of mica or other suitable material, to permit
vision, and with a suitable cup or box holding a sponge and perforated so as to
permit the passage of air through it for breathing, and at the same time strain out
or eliminate the greater part of the noxious elements of the smoke, suitable means
being provided for holding said mask in place.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings in which―
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the device complete and in position for use.
Fig. 2, is a front elevation thereof.
Fig. 3, is a rear elevation thereof.
Fig. 4, is a vertical section thereof.
Upon a suitable frame a is fixed the body b. The said frame is made of suitable
material to properly support, stiffen and hold in shape the said body b which is
of substantially the form shown in the drawings, and is constructed of suitable
material, as asbestos, either non-combustible or absolutely impenetrable to smoke,
or impervious to, or not affected by heat.
The frame a is composed of strips which radiate from the perforated cup or
holder, and support the top, bottom, and sides of the body, as shown in Figs. 3
and 4.
In the front, in a suitable opening, a pane c of mica, or other suitable material is
mounted; and in a lower opening a sponge or other suitable device d is placed,
usually in a suitable cup or holder e having a perforated inner end, or cover,
either hinged to the bed of anid aun or fitting over or into it like a can

page_text: or gathered and having an elastic cord, or a gathering string in said edges, creating
an expansible opening k.
It is operated as follows:
A person expands said opening inserts the face into said body drawing said
shirred edge onto the top of the head, down adjacent to the ears and under the
chin, said edges making a smoke tight joint, the face. of such person being thus
enclosed within said body, the eyes being opposite said pane for vision, and the
mouth adjacent to said sponge for breathing by drawing air through the sponge, or
expelling it also through it. When drawn in, the air is purified by its passage
through the pores of the sponge.
This apparatus fits like a mask or hood over the face and with it a person can
walk through thick smoke as in a burning building, or enter a smoke house to
labor therein, and can remain in the smoke for a long time without sickness, injury,
or asphyxiation.
A strap m can be used to be passed around the back of the head to hold the
mask in place.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:―
1. In a respirator, the frame a composed of radiating strips, combined with an
enclosing body made of some material not affected by heat, the window c and the
backing made of a different material from the body and having its edges gathered,
substantially as described.
2. In a respirator, the perforated cup or holder, e, and the supporting frame a,
formed of a series of strips which radiate from the cup and form a support for the
enclosing frame b, made of some material that is not affected by heat, combined
with the frame having the backing h, which is gathered around its inner edge,
and means for securing the protector to the head, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 20th day of February 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.