Breathing apparatus

Claim 1

A lightweight streamlined breath-warming apparatus designed in particular for use under conditions where high respiration rates are encountered, which comprises: (a) a flexible lightweight outer casing in the shape of a curved, generally symmetrical horn of expanding cross-sectional dimension which is adapted to extend from the region of the mouth of the user when in use rearwardly around and in close proximity to the lower portion of both sides of the face, the peripheral edges of said outer casing defining two exit ports each having a cross-sectional area of from about 2 to 6 square inches for the intake and outflow of a large volume of air by the user; (b) an inner tubular casing within said outer casing extending from the mouthpiece within said outer casing and having a generally increasing cross-sectional dimension from the region adjacent to the mouth of the user when in place to the region adjacent to the peripheral edges of said outer casing where it is joined with said peripheral edges and together with said peripheral edges defines said exit ports, the outer surface of said inner casing and the inner surface of said outer casing defining an insulating chamber, the inner surface of said inner tubular casing defining an inner cavity within which is disposed a high surface area heat conductive material which is capable of retaining heat and moisture from exhaled air of the user and which in turn is capable of transferring at least a portion of said heat and moisture to air being inhaled by said user through said exit ports; (c) a mouthpiece which is adapted to fit comfortably in the human mouth and which is capable of minimizing resistance to airflow to and from the oral cavity, the interior walls of said mouthpiece defining a passageway for the transfer of air to and from the oral cavity of the user to said inner cavity and ultimately to said exit port.