US4079735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emergency air breathing assembly for divers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-01-31
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Granted: 1978-03-21
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Expires: 1997-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A mouthpiece cover for covering and plugging a mouthpiece of an auxiliary breathing device while not in use and under water consisting of a generally elongated body member having a tapered, oval-shaped plug at one end, and adjacent to the plug there are two pairs of spaced arms extending outward from the body member which are adapted to engage flanges on the mouthpiece which, in use, support the mouthpiece inside the mouth of a wearer.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Gaffney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:15
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B9/00; A62B9/06; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/18; B63C11/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
An auxiliary and emergency breathing assembly comprising: a demand type air pressure regulator; supply means, including a hose attached to said regulator for supplying air to said regulator; a strap to be worn about the body, and including connection means attached to the strap for making a connection to another object; a mouthpiece coupled to said regulator, which mouthpiece includes: a generally semi-circular mouth contacting region adapted to extend around the outside of the teeth of a wearer, a centrally positioned opening through which air is supplied to a wearer from said regulator, and a pair of concentrically positioned flanges spaced from and supported by said mouth contacting region on either side of said opening, which flanges fit into the mouth and enable the mouthpiece to be gripped; a mouthpiece cover comprising: a body member having a tapered cross section in an end region slidably mounted in said opening, said end region generally tapering to a decreased cross section at an end of said body member, first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms extending outward on opposite sides of and from said body member, releasably engaged about said flanges and said body member includes means for attachment to said connecting means of said strap; whereby said tapered region of said body member would extend into and close the air opening in said mouthpiece, and said spaced arms would engage between said mouth contacting region and said flanges, effecting closure of said opening, generally blocking said cover against unintentional removal, and limiting penetration of said tapered region into said opening; and wherein, in an emergency, someone other than the wearer of said assembly could grasp said mouthpiece, causing it to be detached from said cover and thus be immediately usable for breathing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
An auxiliary and emergency breathing assembly comprising: a demand type air pressure regulator; supply means, including a hose attached to said regulator for supplying air to said regulator; a strap to be worn about the body, and including connection means attached to the strap for making a connection to another object; a mouthpiece coupled to said regulator, which mouthpiece includes: a generally semi-circular mouth contacting region adapted to extend around the outside of the teeth of a wearer, a centrally positioned opening through which air is supplied to a wearer from said regulator, and a pair of concentrically positioned flanges spaced from and supported by said mouth contacting region on either side of said opening, which flanges fit into the mouth and enable the mouthpiece to be gripped; a mouthpiece cover comprising: a body member having a tapered cross section in an end region slidably mounted in said opening, said end region generally tapering to a decreased cross section at an end of said body member, first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms extending outward on opposite sides of and from said body member, releasably engaged about said flanges and said body member includes means for attachment to said connecting means of said strap; whereby said tapered region of said body member would extend into and close the air opening in said mouthpiece, and said spaced arms would engage between said mouth contacting region and said flanges, effecting closure of said opening, generally blocking said cover against unintentional removal, and limiting penetration of said tapered region into said opening; and wherein, in an emergency, someone other than the wearer of said assembly could grasp said mouthpiece, causing it to be detached from said cover and thus be immediately usable for breathing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said tapered portion of said body member has an oval cross section; and said parallel spaced arms extending outward on opposite sides of and from said body member straddle a plane symmetrically along the major axis of the oval cross section of the body member and normal to its cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for attachment comprises an opening in said body member, and said connection means is a button.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
221 words
A cover for a diver's mouthpiece, which mouthpiece includes a generally semi-cylindrical, semi-circular mouth contacting region adapted to extend around the outside of the teeth of the diver, a centrally positioned opening through which air is supplied, and a pair of concentrically positioned flanges spaced from and supported by the mouth contacting region on either side of said opening, which flanges fit into the mouth and enable the mouthpiece to be gripped, said cover comprising: means adapted to slidably mount within said opening including a body member having a tapered, oval-shaped cross section in an end region, generally tapering to a decreased cross section at an end of said body member; and means adapted for engaging said flanges including first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms extending outward on opposite sides of and from said body member, and each said pair straddling a plane symmetrically along the major axis of the oval and cross section of the body and normal to the cross section; whereby said tapered region of said body member would extend into and close the air opening in said mouthpiece, and said spaced arms would engage between said mouth contacting region and said flanges, effecting closure of said opening, generally blocking said cover against unintentional removal, and limiting further penetration of said tapered region into said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
A cover for a diver's mouthpiece, which mouthpiece includes a generally semi-cylindrical, semi-circular mouth contacting region adapted to extend around the outside of the teeth of the diver, a centrally positioned opening through which air is supplied, and a pair of concentrically positioned flanges spaced from and supported by the mouth contacting region on either side of said opening, which flanges fit into the mouth and enable the mouthpiece to be gripped, said cover comprising: means adapted to slidably mount within said opening including a body member having a tapered, oval-shaped cross section in an end region, generally tapering to a decreased cross section at an end of said body member; and means adapted for engaging said flanges including first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms extending outward on opposite sides of and from said body member, and each said pair straddling a plane symmetrically along the major axis of the oval and cross section of the body and normal to the cross section; whereby said tapered region of said body member would extend into and close the air opening in said mouthpiece, and said spaced arms would engage between said mouth contacting region and said flanges, effecting closure of said opening, generally blocking said cover against unintentional removal, and limiting further penetration of said tapered region into said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cover as set forth in claim 4 wherein said body member is generally elongated, and includes means positioned in an end region opposite to said first-named end region for attachment of said cover to another object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cover as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for attachment comprises an opening in said body member, which said opening may be secured to a button.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cover as set forth in claim 4 wherein each pair of said first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms effect a wider cross dimension than the parallel width minor axis dimension of the adjoining oval-shaped end region of said body member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cover as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: a first arm extension interconnecting one each of said first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms, said arm so connected being on one side of said body member, and a second arm extension interconnecting the remaining arms of said first and second pairs of parallel spaced arms on the opposite side of said body member, and thereby effecting a continuous arm assembly on each side of said body member; and each said arm assembly is generally circular in configuration and is adapted to continuously engage said mouth contacting region.
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) | 1981-03-20 | 1981-09-19 | 1982-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-20 | 1985-09-19 | 1986-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-20 | 1989-09-19 | 1990-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |