Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means for supplying respiratory gas under positive pressure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-06-19
Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Means for supplying respiratory gas under positive pressure
C128S205240, C128S201250, C128S201230, C128S205270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247471
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
The invention is in the field of smoke hoods which have a self-contained oxygen source, and more particularly, relates to a smoke hood that can receive oxygen from a plumbed source and which is switchable to a self-contained oxygen source, by virtue of a new oxygen valve developed for use in the hood.
2. Related Art
Oxygen supply devices are desirable for emergency situations, particularly by crew or passengers in aircraft. Various types of emergency oxygen supply devices are known in the art. A commonly known device consists of a cup-form mask, referred to as a “DIXIE” cup presumably for geometric similarity to a commercial cup so identified under this mark, attached to an oxygen supply tube fixedly connected to a plumbed source of oxygen, such as discussed in Jumpertz U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,665. Such attached devices are restraining, however, because they do not allow a user the freedom to pursue safety or escape. In a life-threatening emergency, it is critical for a user to have the ability to pursue freedom with a portable supply of breathable oxygen that shall last for at least a predetermined amount of time. Devices in the current art for the most part do not address this problem.
Oxygen supply devices in the related art that allow switching from a plumbed source to an independent source of oxygen require two or more distinct steps to switch the source of oxygen. Performing multiple steps in proper sequence, however, is cumbersome and potentially dangerous in a time-critical emergency situation.
Mask type emergency oxygen supply devices are also known in the art, such as Lester U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,204. They usually comprise a mask that covers a user's face, but they do not contain a portable oxygen source. These devices, therefore, typically do not allow two sources of oxygen with a switching mechanism between them. A user is therefore limited to the oxygen available from one oxygen source.
The related art devices have a further drawback of bulkiness. Space on military and civilian aircraft is precious and limited for permanent emergency supplies. On aircraft, especially, there is always a need for dependable emergency equipment comprising lesser volume. Because an emergency oxygen supply device is needed for each passenger, total volume reduction becomes significant when multiplied by the number of passengers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. This invention relates to an emergency breathing device for providing a user with breathable oxygen and protection before and during premises evacuation in an emergency. The device comprises a hood that has a use configuration and a storage configuration. The hood can be compactly wrapped with an oxygen control device for the storage configuration and is unwrappable for the use configuration.
The hood is capable of being worn upon the user's head when in use configuration. The hood is at least partially formed of collapsible, flexible material which is substantially airtight, and which in use configuration substantially surrounds a user's head continuously extending around and over the user's head while defining an interior breathing space about the user's head.
The hood also forms a surface beneath the head, including an opening lined with elastic material. The elastic material forms a seal about the user's neck at the opening when the user dons the hood through the opening.
The oxygen control device connected exteriorly of the hood includes a valve body, an actuator, and an oxygen bottle mated to the valve body which contains breathable oxygen. The valve body provides airflow communication with the interior breathing space of the hood, and can also be used to connect to a drop-down face mask.
A plumbed breathable oxygen supply means is connected to the oxygen control device through a plumbed source disconnect mechanism removably connected to the valve body. When connected, the plumbed source disconnect mechanism permits airflow from the plumbed breathing oxygen supply means and the valve body to the interior breathing space of the hood.
A piercing mechanism within the valve body causes airflow to commence from the oxygen bottle in response to operation of the actuator. A cam within the valve body rotates in response to operation of the actuator for engaging the piercing mechanism, causing oxygen to flow from the oxygen bottle to the interior breathing space of the hood, and forcing the plumbed source disconnect means to disconnect from the valve body.
Therefore, the user may don the hood in the use configuration to receive breathable oxygen initially from the plumbed source and then from the oxygen bottle upon operation of the actuator.
It may be appreciated that the various advantages of this invention include a compact storable device for emergency use. Another advantage is that the invention protects a user from smoke and chemicals that may be present in the ambient atmosphere during use. Yet another advantage is that the user is provided an initial supply of breathable oxygen from a plumbed source, and he can selectively switch to an auxiliary portable source of breathable oxygen in order to fully detach from the plumbed source and be free to pursue escape. Yet another advantage is that the switchover of breathable oxygen supply occurs simultaneously in one action, and has means to reasonably indicate a completed switchover.
Accordingly, in view of the above advantages and goals, the invention is, briefly, an emergency breathing device for providing a user with breathable oxygen and protection. The device has a hood disposed in premises proximate to an oxygen control device. The oxygen control device is connected exteriorly of the hood and includes a valve body, an actuator, and an oxygen bottle mated to the valve body. The valve body provides airflow communication with an interior of the hood. The oxygen control device of the invention is connected to a plumbed breathable oxygen supply through a plumbed source disconnect mechanism which is removably connected to the valve body, and which when connected permits airflow from the plumbed breathable oxygen supply and valve body to the interior of the hood. A piercing mechanism is positioned within the valve body for causing airflow to commence from the oxygen bottle in response to operation of the actuator. A cam within the valve body is rotatable in response to operation of the actuator. The cam is disposed to engage the piercing mechanism when rotated, thereby causing penetration of the bottle and permitting oxygen to flow from the oxygen bottle to the interior of the hood and forcing the plumbed source disconnect mechanism to disconnect from the valve body. The user may therefore don the hood to receive breathable oxygen initially from the plumbed source and thereafter from the oxygen bottle upon operation of the actuator, or from the oxygen bottle alone.
These and other above advantages and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinbelow.
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Bosquet Lawrence B.
Bower James W.
Hurley Timothy J.
Phinney M. Russel
Blackwell Sanders Peper & Martin
Essex PB&R Corporation
Lewis Aaron J.
Srivastava V.
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