Portable breathing apparatus

Claim 1

A portable breathing apparatus providing for an emergency supply of an oxygen-rich gas; comprising: (a) a closed canister having a top closure portion and a circumferential side wall and containing a quantity of said oxygen-rich gas in a pressurized condition; a dispensing orifice for said gas on said canister; and externally-actuatable valve means in said canister for maintaining said dispensing orifice in a normally-closed condition; (b) a face mask of a substantially transparent, plastic material adapted to receive the mouth, nose and eyes of a user; connector means on said face mask for fastening said face mask to said canister proximate the location of said discharge orifice; and flow passageway means extending through said connector means to communicate the interior of said face mask with the discharge orifice on said canister, whereby actuation by a user of said valve means will dispense a flow of said oxygen-rich gas from said canister into said face mask during the period of valve-actuation; and (c) said canister further containing a water admixed with said oxygen-rich gas, whereby actuation of said valve means causes a spray of water and gas to be ejected into said facemask through said dispensing orifice for moistening the mouth and nose of a user, and wherein a porous sponge is located in the lower interior portion of said facemask adapted to cover the mouth and nose of a user, said sponge encompassing the dispensing orifice on said canister, said sponge being permeable to said water and gas spray by inhibiting water from contacting the eyes of the user.