Patent ID: 7628153

Claim:
An alarm apparatus for use with a breathing apparatus that provides a source of breathing gas to a user, said alarm apparatus comprising: a tactile signal generator that is mechanically coupled to a mouthpiece of the breathing apparatus and that is selectively energized in response to a first signal representing at least one parameter corresponding to the breathing apparatus status to generate a tactile signal that, in the event that the mouthpiece is in the mouth of the user, (i) is capable of being felt by the user via the mouthpiece, and (ii) couples via the mouthpiece into the bone structure of the user to stimulate the user's auditory system such that the tactile signal is heard by the user; an elongated housing having an interior cavity and proximal and a distal end, each end having an opening to said interior cavity, wherein said tactile signal generator is mounted to said housing and disposed within said interior cavity toward said distal end and comprises a motor that rotates an eccentric weight; an optical window sealably mounted to enclose, and provide a water-tight seal of, the proximal opening; at least one light emitting device disposed within said interior cavity toward said proximal end, said at least one light emitting device being selectively energized in response to a second signal representing at least one parameter corresponding to the breathing apparatus status, such that the at least one light emitting device selectively emits tight that passes through said optical window; and a water-tight sealable fitting cooperative with the distal end to sealably enclose the distal end opening and sealably couple a conduit into said interior cavity from the exterior of said elongated housing, wherein said first and second signals are coupled via said conduit.