Patent ID: 8251244

Claim:
A respirator comprising: two container shells joining each other at front surfaces; a closing device for holding together said container shells, said closing device comprising: a tightening strap enclosing part of a container shell outer surface, said part of said container shell outer surface being located at right angles to the front surfaces; a first holding element provided with a first recess and formed at a first free end of said tightening strap; a second holding element provided with a second recess and formed at a second free end of said tightening strap; a U-shaped closing element with a first leg and with a second leg, said first leg engaging said first recess of said first holding element and said second leg engaging said second recess of said second holding element, wherein said first leg and second leg of said closing element can be pulled out of said recesses of said first holding element and said second holding element in a pull out direction to take off said tightening strap, said pull out direction being perpendicular to a force holding said container second free end and said first free end together; a cover movably mounted to one of said two container shells such that said cover moves from at least a closed position to an open position in a direction perpendicular to a plane of said tightening straps, said closing element being connected to said cover, wherein said closing element moves from a first position to a second position in said pull out direction when said cover moves from said closed position to said open position; a holding device comprising a first holding device recess and a second holding device recess, said holding device being connected to at least one of said two container shells, said legs of said closing element being dimensioned such that said legs project beyond side edges of said recess formed in said holding elements, wherein said first holding device recess receives at least a portion of said first leg and said second holding device recess receives at least a portion of said second leg with said cover in said closed position and said closing element in said first position, said legs of said closing element being located at a spaced location from said first holding device recess and said second holding device recess with said closing element in said second position and said cover in said open position.