US3762604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Survival support device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-10
•
Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for providing a breathable gas to an individual in an emergency situation is provided in practice of this invention. The apparatus contains a breathable mixture of gas for a prolonged period and, when actuated, provides about 10 minutes of gas to the user. The gas is contained at high pressure in a lightweight long tube coiled about a combined fill valve, pressure regulator, flow control, pressure gauge, and actuation mechanism. This assembly is in a canister and actuated by perforating a pressure containing diaphragm between the gas storage reservoir and the pressure regulator. The canister is connected to the back of a plastic hood that is fittable over a user''s head so that the canister is arranged during use at the nape of the user''s neck so as not to interfere with any emergency operations and, for example, to permit the user to wear a helmet or the like. Gas from the canister passes into the hood at a substantially constant rate and is vented as required through a check valve. An elastic band around the person''s neck limits leakage.
Inventors
- 👤 D Shonerd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:10
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B7/00; A62B7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A breathable gas supply comprising; a hollow coil of pressure resistant tubing in the form of a rectangular parallelpiped for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; and means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A breathable gas supply comprising; a hollow coil of pressure resistant tubing in the form of a rectangular parallelpiped for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; and means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; and means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply comprising a diaphragm between the coil of tubing and the regulator means, capable of failure under gas pressure before any other pressurized portion of the breathable gas supply; and means for perforating the diaphragm at a selected instant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; and means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply comprising a diaphragm between the coil of tubing and the regulator means, capable of failure under gas pressure before any other pressurized portion of the breathable gas supply; and means for perforating the diaphragm at a selected instant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for perforating the diaphragm comprises: a plunger having a piercing tip for perforating the diaphragm; means for biasing the plunger towards the diaphragm; and a pull pin engaging the plunger for restraining it away from the diaphragm when engaged and for permitting the plunger to advance towards the diaphragm when disengaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; actuator means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply; a pressure gauge in communication with the coil of tubing for indicating the pressure of gas therein and readable from an end of the coil of tubing; means for filling the coil of tubing with pressurized gas from an end of the coil of tubing; and a pull pin connected to the actuator means extending at least partly beyond an end of the coil of tubing for starting flow of gas from the breathable gas supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; regulator means fixed within the hollow of the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of lower pressure gas from the tubing; actuator means mounted within the hollow of the coil and accessible from the end of the coil for substantially instantly actuating the gas supply; a pressure gauge in communication with the coil of tubing for indicating the pressure of gas therein and readable from an end of the coil of tubing; means for filling the coil of tubing with pressurized gas from an end of the coil of tubing; and a pull pin connected to the actuator means extending at least partly beyond an end of the coil of tubing for starting flow of gas from the breathable gas supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A gas control mechanism comprising: a housing with a first pressurized chamber and a second unpressurized chamber; a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the first chamber; a rupturable diaphragm separating the first chamber from the second chamber; a plunger in the second chamber having a perforating tip adjacent the diaphragm for perforating the diaphragm; means for passing gas through the perforating tip; means for mounting the plunger for movement towards the diaphragm a sufficient distance that the perforating tip can penetrate the diaphragm; means for biasing the plunger towards the diaphragm; a removable retaining pin for temporarily holding the plunger away from the diaphragm; and means in fluid communication with the second chamber for maintaining a substantially constant outlet flow rate over a broad range of inlet pressures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A gas control mechanism comprising: a housing with a first pressurized chamber and a second unpressurized chamber; a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the first chamber; a rupturable diaphragm separating the first chamber from the second chamber; a plunger in the second chamber having a perforating tip adjacent the diaphragm for perforating the diaphragm; means for passing gas through the perforating tip; means for mounting the plunger for movement towards the diaphragm a sufficient distance that the perforating tip can penetrate the diaphragm; means for biasing the plunger towards the diaphragm; a removable retaining pin for temporarily holding the plunger away from the diaphragm; and means in fluid communication with the second chamber for maintaining a substantially constant outlet flow rate over a broad range of inlet pressures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 5 wherein the perforating tip comprises: a sharp adjacent one side edge of the tip; a diagonal face extending from the point in a direction away from the diaphragm; and wherein the means for passing gas comprises a slot extending between the face and a side edge of the tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 6 wherein the regulator means comprises: a post; a knife edge around one end of the post; a piston around the post; means for biasing the piston away from the post; a sealing surface in the piston opposed to the knife edge; a first chamber between the post and piston; a second chamber between the post and piston, said knife edge and sealing surface separating the first and second chambers; means for admitting high pressure gas from the diaphragm to the first chamber; a third chamber on the outside of one end of the piston; means for passing gas from the second chamber to the third chamber; and a flow restriction orifice for limiting flow of gas from the third chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; rEgulator means connected to the tubing and positioned within the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of gas from the tubing; a diaphragm between the coil of tubing and the regulator means, said diaphragm being capable of failure under gas pressure before any other pressurized portion of the breathable gas supply; a plunger having a piercing tip for perforating the diaphragm; means for passing gas through the piercing tip; means for biasing the plunger towards the diaphragm; and means for restraining the plunger away from the diaphragm when engaged and for permitting the plunger to advance towards the diaphragm when disengaged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
A breathable gas supply comprising: a hollow quadrilateral coil of pressure resistant tubing for containing a breathable gas at high pressure; rEgulator means connected to the tubing and positioned within the coil for providing a substantially constant flow of gas from the tubing; a diaphragm between the coil of tubing and the regulator means, said diaphragm being capable of failure under gas pressure before any other pressurized portion of the breathable gas supply; a plunger having a piercing tip for perforating the diaphragm; means for passing gas through the piercing tip; means for biasing the plunger towards the diaphragm; and means for restraining the plunger away from the diaphragm when engaged and for permitting the plunger to advance towards the diaphragm when disengaged.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 8 wherein the piercing tip comprises: a sharp point adjacent one side edge of the tip; and a diagonal face extending from the point in a direction away from the diaphragm; and wherein the means for passing gas comprises a slot extending between the face and a side edge of the tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 9 wherein the regulator means comprises: a post; a knife edge around one end of the post; a piston around the post; means for biasing the piston away from the post; a sealing surface in the piston opposed to the knife edge; a first chamber between the post and the piston; a second chamber between the post and piston, said knife edge and sealing surface separating the first and second chambers; means for admitting high pressure gas from the diaphragm to the first chamber; a third chamber on the outside of one end of the piston; means for passing gas from the second chamber to the third chamber; and a flow restriction orifice for limiting flow of gas from the third chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 8 wherein the regulator means comprises: a post; a knife edge around one end of the post; a piston around the post; means for biasing the piston away from the post; a sealing surface in the piston opposed to the knife edge; a first chamber between the post and piston; a second chamber between the post and piston, said knife edge and sealing surface separating the first and second chambers; means for admitting high pressure gas from the diaphragm to the first chamber; a third chamber on the outside of one end of the piston; means for passing gas from the second chamber to the third chamber; and a flow restriction orifice for limiting flow of gas from the third chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A breathable gas supply as defined in claim 3 wherein the piercing tip comprises: a sharp point adjacent one side edge of the tip; and a diagonal face extending from the point in a direction away from the diaphragm; and wherein the means for passing gas comprises a slot extending between the face and a side edge of the tip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |