Patent ID: 7658190

Claim:
A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), comprising: a PAPR housing configured to be carried by a user, the housing having inlet and discharge ports; a canister retention enclosure joined to the inlet port of the PAPR housing, the enclosure including an interior chamber, the enclosure having an external air inlet configured to receive ambient air and having a filtered air port communicating with the inlet port of the PAPR housing; a plurality of filter canisters located in the interior chamber of the enclosure, each filter canister of which includes an air intake and an air discharge, the air discharges of the each of the filter canisters being removably coupled within the enclosure to communicate with the filtered air port of the enclosure, the enclosure surrounding at least two of the filter canisters, wherein the enclosure includes a manifold joined to the inlet port of the PAPR housing, the manifold having top and bottom plates that receive corresponding ones of the filter canisters; and a blower that draws air through the air inlet of the enclosure into the interior chamber of the enclosure and through the filter canisters.