Water-activated anti-suffocation protection apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing an aperture in a breathing hose attached to a breathing mask to enable a wearer of the breathing mask to breathe ambient air through the aperture upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, the apparatus comprising blade means for cutting an aperture in the hose, means for housing said blade means, explosively actuated means for impelling said blade means into a portion of the hose to form an aperture in the hose, means responsive to the occurrence of the predetermined event for firing said explosively actuated means, and means for attaching said housing means to the hose with said blade means positioned for movement toward the portion of the hose for cutting the aperture therein in response to firing of said explosively actuated means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising anvil means for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes a collar means, a pair of parallel spaced portions on said collar means which are attached to opposite sides of said blade means housing means, and an arcuate portion for extending circumferentially about the hose from one of said parallel portions to the other of said parallel portions to partially surroundingly engage the hose whereby a portion of the hose is free of engagement by the collar means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising anvil means on said collar means arcuate portion circumferentially intermediate said parallel portions for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means, said anvil means including a thickened portion of said collar means and a metallic insert in said thickened portion for providing support for cutting of the aperture in the hose.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said blade means housing means includes chamber means for containing said blade means and positioning said blade means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the hose axis, and piston means in said chamber means for transmitting force to said blade means from said explosively activated means, said chamber means being disposed between said parallel spaced portions whereby the blade means may be impelled into the portion of hose which is free of engagement by the collar means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising anvil means on said collar means arcuate portion circumferentially intermediate said parallel portions for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising passage means in said blade means housing means for routing ambient air to the aperture.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising retainer means in said chamber means for retaining said piston means therein.

Claim 10

Apparatus for automatically providing an aperture in a breathing hose, which is attached to a breathing mask worn by a person and which is partially filled with water due to immersion in the water, followed by emergence of at least a portion of the hose adjacent the breathing mask from the water, to enable the person to breathe ambient air through the aperture, the apparatus comprising blade means, explosively actuated means for impelling said blade means into the hose to form an aperture, means responsive to emergence of the apparatus from water for firing said explosively actuated means, and means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water for activating said explosively actuated means so that it fires upon emergence of the apparatus from the water whereby the aperture is formed in the breathing hose after the apparatus is emerged from water in which it has been immersed.

Claim 11

Apparatus for automatically providing an aperture in a breathing hose, which is attached to a breathing mask worn by a person and which is partially filled with water due to immersion in the water, followed by emergence of at least a portion of the hose adjacent the breathing mask from the water, to enable the person to breathe ambient air through the aperture, the apparatus comprising blade means, explosively actuated means for impelling said blade means into the hose to form an aperture, means responsive to emergence of the apparatus from water for firing said explosively actuated means, and means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water for activating said explosively actuated means so that it fires upon emergence of the apparatus from the water whereby the aperture is formed in the breathing hose after the apparatus is emerged from water in which it has been immersed.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising anvil means for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for housing said blade means, a collar means, a pair of parallel spaced portions on said collar means which engage and are attached to opposite sides of said blade means housing, and an arcuate portion extending circumferentially about the hose from one of said parallel portions to the other of said parallel portions to partially surroundingly engage the hose whereby a portion of the hose is free of engagement by the collar means.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising anvil means on said collar means arcuate portion intermediate said parallel portions for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means, said anvil means including a thickened portion of said collar means and a metallic insert in said thickened portion for providing support for cutting of the aperture in the hose.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said blade means housing means includes chamber means for containing said blade means and positioning said blade means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the hose axis, and piston means in said chamber means for transmitting force to said blade means from said explosively activated means, said chamber means disposed between said parallel spaced portions whereby the blade means may be impelled into the portion of hose which is free of engagement by the collar means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising anvil means on said collar means arcuate portion circumferentially intermediate said parallel portions for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising passage means in said blade housing means for routing ambient air to the aperture.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising retainer means in said chamber means for retaining said piston means therein.

Claim 19

Apparatus for automatically providing an aperture in a breathing hose, which is attached to a breathing mask worn by a person and which is partially filled with water due to immersion in the water followed by emergence of a portion of the hose adjacent the breathing mask from the water, to enable the person to breathe ambient air through the aperture, the apparatus comprising blade means for cutting an aperture in the hose, housing means including chamber means for containing said blade means, collar means attached to said housing means for partially surroundingly engaging the hose to position said blade means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the hose for cutting the aperture therein, piston means in said chamber means for transmitting force to said blade means, explosively actuated means for applying force to said piston means for impelling said blade means into the hose to cut an aperture therein, means responsive to emergence of the apparatus from water for firing said explosively actuated means, and means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water for actuating said explosively actuated means so that it fires upon emergence of the apparatus from the water whereby the aperture is formed in the breathing hose after the apparatus emerges from water in which it has been immersed.

Claim 20

Apparatus for automatically providing an aperture in a breathing hose, which is attached to a breathing mask worn by a person and which is partially filled with water due to immersion in the water followed by emergence of a portion of the hose adjacent the breathing mask from the water, to enable the person to breathe ambient air through the aperture, the apparatus comprising blade means for cutting an aperture in the hose, housing means including chamber means for containing said blade means, collar means attached to said housing means for partially surroundingly engaging the hose to position said blade means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the hose for cutting the aperture therein, piston means in said chamber means for transmitting force to said blade means, explosively actuated means for applying force to said piston means for impelling said blade means into the hose to cut an aperture therein, means responsive to emergence of the apparatus from water for firing said explosively actuated means, and means responsive to immersion of the apparatus in water for actuating said explosively actuated means so that it fires upon emergence of the apparatus from the water whereby the aperture is formed in the breathing hose after the apparatus emerges from water in which it has been immersed.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising anvil means for supporting the hose for cutting thereof by said blade means.