Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A breathing assembly of the type used for underwater diving and comprising; breathing chamber means for storing breathing gas, fresh gas supply means for feeding fresh breathing gas into said breathing chamber means to replace breathing gas that has been consumed and exhausted to the ambient medium, breathing passage means for conveying breathing gas from said breathing chamber means to a consumer and returning consumed gas to said breathing chamber means, and a normally-opened exhaust valve means in communication with said breathing chamber means for exhausting breathing gas from said breathing chamber means to the ambient medium in response to each breathing cycle, and including control means operable upon said exhaust valve means for allowing said exhaust valve means to open only in response to the occurrence of a plurality of breathing cycles while allowing said valve means to open during each breathing cycle only upon the inoperation of said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A breathing assembly of the type used for underwater diving and comprising; breathing chamber means for storing breathing gas, fresh gas supply means for feeding fresh breathing gas into said breathing chamber means to replace breathing gas that has been consumed and exhausted to the ambient medium, breathing passage means for conveying breathing gas from said breathing chamber means to a consumer and returning consumed gas to said breathing chamber means, and a normally-opened exhaust valve means in communication with said breathing chamber means for exhausting breathing gas from said breathing chamber means to the ambient medium in response to each breathing cycle, and including control means operable upon said exhaust valve means for allowing said exhaust valve means to open only in response to the occurrence of a plurality of breathing cycles while allowing said valve means to open during each breathing cycle only upon the inoperation of said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exhaust valve means includes a valve seat and a valve member operable with said seat and biasing means urging said valve member against said valve seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve member moves against the biasing action of said biasing means in response to a predetermined positive pressure within said breathing chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means includes an electromagnetic means cooperable with said valve member for maintaining said valve member closed during said plurality of breathing cycles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said control means includes electrical switching means responsive to said breathing cycles for energizing said electromagnetic means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes diaphragm means responsive to the breathing gas and ambient medium for actuating said switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means includes a replaceable battery connected to said switching means for energizing said electromagnetic means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said switching means includes a circuit means for producing a signal for de-energizing said electromagnetic means for allowing said valve member to open upon every other breathing cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said breathing chamber means is expandable and contractable for varying the volume thereof in response to the ambient medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said breathing passage means includes a mouthpiece and said fresh air supply means is adapted for connection to a source of pressurized breathing gas through a pressure regulator.