Cold weather breathing apparatus

Claim 1

An air heater mask for a wearer, said mask comprising: a hood of air permeable flexible material with an inner and an outer surface and having a closed upper end and an open lower end adapted to fit over the wearer's head; and a breathing apparatus secured within said hood and comprising: a nose piece adapted to enclose the forward part of the wearer's nose, including the nostrils; air intake means coupled to said nose piece comprising: an air intake tube with an inward facing side and an outward facing side, said intake tube being secured within said hood such that said outward facing side contacts said inner surface of said hood between said closed end and said open end, said inward facing side of said intake tube is adapted to extend rearwardly in contact with and along the wearer's head beneath the ear; and air intake means at the rearward end of said intake tube, said intake means being shaped and configured to receive air from the surface of the wearer's head at the warm location behind the ear and having openings in said intake means adapted to be positioned to face and lie closely adjacent the wearer's head; air exhaust tube means having one end coupled to said nose piece and defining an outlet at the opposite end thereof spaced from said nose piece; said hood having aperture means for said outlet, said exhaust tube means extending therethrough; said exhaust tube means between said exhaust outlet and said nose piece surrounding said intake tube to warm incoming air; and flow directional means providing one way flow through said intake means into said nose piece and through said exhaust tube means from said nose piece.