Face mask with back-up smoke inhalation protection and method of operation

• US 5,964,218 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifepro Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lifepro Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Dennis, Morton, Frances G., Nelson, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/652,664
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 128/202.22, 128/201.25, 128/205.27, 128/206.17, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 128/201.25
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/088 Devices for indicating filter saturation
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/02 for respirators
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/00 Devices for storing or holding or carrying respiratory or breathing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/00 Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence

Abstract

A self-contained breathing apparatus for emergency response personnel has face mask with a first port connected by a hose to a tank of compressed air. Back-up smoke inhalation protection is provided for imminent life-threatening situations by configuring a face mask with a canister containing a filter medium, an inlet opening through which air enters and an outlet coupling for attachment to a second port of the face mask. In normal situations the mask is supplied with air from the tank, but should the tank supply become depleted, the canister can be activated. A use-evidencing mechanism is operatively connected to the canister to indicate use of the air filtering system. This mechanism may be a non-reusable cover applied over the inlet opening and/or a valve in the second port of the face mask with a portion that breaks away upon opening of the valve. Such mechanisms provide an indication of previous use of the filtering system and inhibit a fire fighter from using the system in an unauthorized manner, in less than an imminent life-threatening situation.

Claims

1. A self-contained breathing apparatus for smoke inhalation protection for emergency response personnel in imminently life-threatening situations and for encouraging its limited use to imminently life-threatening situations, said apparatus comprising:

a mask to be worn over the face of a fire fighter, and having a first port connected to a hose through which breathable air is supplied to the mask and having a second port;

a personal air filtering device for smoke inhalation protection in imminent life-threatening situations upon depletion or failure of breathable air being supplied through the hose, said personal air filtering device comprising a canister having an inlet opening through which air enters and an outlet opening communicating with the second port of said mask, and a filter medium within said canister and through which air flows between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; and

a first use-evidencing mechanism closing one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening of said canister, and operatively coupled to the one of said canister and said mask to indicate use of the personal air filtering device.

2. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first use-evidencing mechanism comprises a removable cover applied over the inlet opening in a manner which inhibits said cover from being reapplied after removal.

3. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first use-evidencing mechanism comprises a valve member releasably closing the second port of said face mask.

4. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said use-evidencing mechanism comprises a tab extending from the valve member and breakable therefrom upon use of the personal air filtering device.

5. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second use-evidencing mechanism closing the other of the inlet opening and the outlet opening of said canister, and operatively coupled to the other of said canister and said mask to indicate use of the personal air filtering device.

6. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said second use-evidencing mechanism comprises a valve member releasably closing the second port of said face mask.

7. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said mask further comprises:

an exhalation port with a valve mechanism having a first state when air is supplied to the mask through the first port and a second state when air is supplied to the mask through the second port; and

another use-evidencing mechanism which indicates if the valve mechanism of the exhalation port has been placed into the second state.

8. A self-contained breathing apparatus for smoke inhalation protection for emergency response personnel in imminently life-threatening situations and for encouraging its limited use to imminently life-threatening situations, said apparatus comprising:

a mask to be worn over the face of an emergency response person, and having a first port connected to a hose through which breathable air is supplied to the mask and a second port;

a personal air filtering device for smoke inhalation protection in imminent life-threatening situations upon depletion or failure of breathable air being supplied through the hose, said personal air filtering device comprising a canister having an inlet opening through which air enters and an outlet opening communicating with the second port of said mask, and a filter medium within said canister and through which air flows between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; and

a first use-evidencing mechanism sealing the inlet opening of said canister and operatively coupled to the canister to indicate use of the personal air filtering device.

9. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said first use-evidencing mechanism comprises a removable cover applied over the inlet opening in a manner which inhibits said cover from being reapplied after removal.

10. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising a valve member releasably sealing the second port of said face mask.

11. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a second use-evidencing mechanism operatively coupled to the valve member to indicate use of the personal air filtering device.

12. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said second use-evidencing mechanism comprises a tab extending from the valve member and breakable therefrom upon use of the personal air filtering device.

13. The self-contained breathing apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said mask further comprises:

an exhalation port with a valve mechanism having a first state when air is supplied to the mask through the first port and a second state when air is supplied to the mask through the second port; and

another use-evidencing mechanism which indicates if the valve mechanism of the exhalation port has been placed into the second state.

14. A method for storing and preparing a self-contained breathing apparatus for smoke inhalation protection for emergency response personnel in imminently life-threatening situations and for encouraging its limited use to imminently life-threatening situations, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring a smoke filter in a use-evidencing manner so that employment of the smoke filter for breathing is permanently indicated;

attaching a conduit between a first port of a face mask of the apparatus and a tank of breathable air;

attaching the smoke filter to a second port of the face mask to filter air breathed by the fire fighter when the tank of breathable air is depleted.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of attaching the smoke filter comprises releasably sealing the second port with a use-evidencing mechanism operatively coupled to the second port to indicate use of the smoke filter.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the step of attaching the smoke filter further comprises placing a releasable cover over an inlet opening of the smoke filter wherein the releasable cover includes a use-evidencing mechanism operatively coupled to indicate use of the smoke filter.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of attaching the smoke filter comprises placing a releasable cover over an inlet opening of the smoke filter wherein the releasable cover includes a use-evidencing mechanism operatively coupled to indicate use of the smoke filter.

18. A method for storing and preparing a personal air filtering device for smoke inhalation protection for a fire fighter in imminently life-threatening situations and for encouraging its limited use by the fire fighter to the imminently life-threatening situations, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring a smoke filter with a use-evidencing mechanism so that use of the smoke filter for breathing is permanently indicated;

providing the fire fighter with a self-contained breathing apparatus including a face mask having a first port connected by conduit to a tank of breathable air for primary use during exposure to a non-breathable environment, and a second port to which the smoke filter in connected to filter air breathed by the fire fighter when the tank of breathable air is depleted;

said fire fighter, when in a non-breathable environment, primarily using said self-contained breathing apparatus to breathe air from said tank;

said fire fighter, upon depletion of air in the tank, activating the smoke filter as a source of breathable air wherein the activating involves breaching said use-evidencing mechanism to access said smoke filter, whereby use of said smoke filter is evidenced;

after exiting the non-breathable environment, a third party inspecting the use-evidencing mechanism; and

said fire fighter accounting for use of said smoke filter.