Improvements in Respirators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
Improvements in Respirators.
I, MORRISON COATES NELL of 1007 St. Bernard Place in the City and
County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, Real Estate Broker, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective form of respirator
or inhaler intended more particularly for the use of bicycle riders, runners, or
athletes, whereby air may be drawn into the lungs through the mouth as well as
through the nose, thus insuring full inflation of the lungs without the objections
incident to breathing through the open mouth.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a respirator or
inhaler constructed in accordance with my invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same;
Figure 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3, Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4, Figure 3.
The respirator consists of a block A preferably of rubber or other elastic or
semi-elastic material, the upper and lower faces of this block being convex
longitudinally or tapered at the ends as shown in Figure 2, and concave
transversely as shown in Figure 4, so that it can be readily held between the lips
in such position that the lips will fit closely over the same, accidental displacement
being prevented by reason of the transverse concavity of the upper and lower faces
of the block, and if desired also by holding the inner portion of the block lightly
between the teeth.
Running through the block from front to rear are passages a a which are curved
or otherwise deflected as shown in Figure 3, for instance, so as to prevent direct
flow of air therethrough into the mouth, thereby preventing a forcible inrush of
cold air either in natural breathing or when the user of the respirator is riding,
running, or walking against a head wind, the irregular passage also providing for
the warming or tempering of the air by the heat of the block before the said air
enters the month.
By the use of the respirator described, bicycle riders, runners, or other persons.
engaged in violent physical exercise can fully inflate the lungs without any of the
ill effects attendant upon breathing rapidly through the open mouth, hence they
are enabled to continue violent exercise with comfort for a longer period than
would be possible if the respirator was not used.
I preferably connect in any suitable way to one end of the block A a cord b
which may be attached to a button, button-hole, or other available portion of a
garment of the wearer so that the respirator may be simply dropped from the
mouth when it is desired to discontinue its use, the cord then supporting the
respirator so that it is within convenient reach when its use is again desired.
I have shown my respirator as provided with two air passages, but it will be
evident that it may have more than this number, or but a single passage, if desired,
without departing from my invention.
I am aware that it has been proposed to make a respirator in the form of a stem
to pass between the lips, the said stem having at the inner end a broad flexible
flange to be held between the lips and teeth and thereby close the mouth against.

page_text: the inflow of air, but in my respirator such flange is rendered unnecessary by the
oblong tapering form of the block, which is held between the lips, for by this
means the lips can fit so closely upon the block as to effectually prevent any inflow
of air except through the passages of the said block.
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. A respirator consisting of an oblong tapering block having one or more
passages extending through the same from front to rear, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. A respirator consisting of an oblong tapering block having one or more
passages extending through the same from front to rear, and transversely
concave upper and lower surfaces, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. A respirator consisting of a block adapted to be held between the lips and
having one or more curved or deflected air passages extending through the same
from front to rear, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1897.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.