Improved Appliance for enabling Bathers to Breathe Under Water
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliance for enabling Bathers to Breathe Under Water,
I, FRIEDERICK LEOPOLD LINKHORST, of No. 38111 Abendrothstrasse, Hamburg,
in the German Empire, Technician, 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 present invention relates to an apparatus which enables the user to breathe
freely under water when bathing. The use of baths in which the head can be
immersed, which are themselves of great value for the preservation of health, has
been hitherto attended with difficulty, because there was no apparatus which enabled
the user to keep his head under water for a long time.
The accompanying drawing illustrates an apparatus designed to supply this want,
and in this drawing Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus, Figure 2 a longitudinal
section on an enlarged scale; Figures 3 and 4 are views of the nose piece seen from
above and from below respectively. Figure 5 is a cross section through the water
separator.
The improved apparatus for breathing under water in baths and the like consists
of a conical flexible rubber tube A which possesses a globular enlargement at c, which
enlargement forms the water separator e by reason of the projection of the part d
into it, forming the lower end of the said rubber tube.
In order that the said water separator when in use may be very easily kept under
water the enlargement c is weighted with small sheets of lead attached by rubber.
Upon the end which is to be kept out of the water is secured the strengthening rim f
and the suspension loop g. In the other end is inserted the nose piece B constructed
preferably of vulcanized rubber. This nose piece is formed circular at h and provided
with ribs for securing it to the tube, and is prolonged to the outside in the form of
a fork consisting of two oval branches i i¹ corresponding in shape to the nostrils of
the user.
The apparatus is operated in the following manner.
The tube A is suspended by means of the loop 9 upon a chair or the like
placed beside the bath, and the nose piece B is inserted in the nostrils of the user
by means of the branches i¹. The elasticity of the nostrils renders the arrange-
ment absolutely tight against entrance of water. The user can now place himself
completely under water in the bath, and breathe through the nose whilst keeping
the mouth closed. The condensed water given out by the lungs during breathing
is separated and retained in the water separator e so that the same cannot be
again inhaled.
By this means a regular and uniform breathing can take place as long as may be
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
An apparatus for breathing under water in baths and the like consisting
essentially of a flexible rubber tube A provided at its outer end with a suspension

page_text: loop, which tube is provided for the purpose of retaining the condensed vapour
exhaled on breathing with an apparatus in the form of a globular water separator e,
and is provided at its other end with a nose piece B, having two branches i 2¹
adjustable to the nostrils of the user.
Dated this 18th day of February 1898
A
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.