Untitled record

Application filed Juno 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

/ Be it known that I, David Genese, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented new and 5 useful Improvements in Respirators, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to that class of respirators or inhalers which are adapted to be secured over the mouth or nostrils, or both; and io my improvements consist in such a respirator or inhaler having two perforated plates or sections inclosing a chamber between them, within which may be placed some absorbing material, the inner plate or section having an exterior 15 cushioned rim of soft rubber, and in other details, more particularly hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the respirator or inhaler; Fig. 2, detail perspectives of the 2o two plates or sections. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the entire inhaler. Fig. 4 is a face view of a modification, and Fig. 5 a perspective view showing the inhaler constructed without a nose portion.

The letter A indicates the lower section or plate, which is to be placed against the mouth and nostrils; and B, the upper or exterior section, which is to be presented to the outside atmosphere. The two sections A and Β, I pre30 fer to make of vulcanized rubber; but I do not limit myself to this material, as it is evident that they may be made of many other materials, such as celluloid, metal, &c. The plate A is provided with a cushioned rim, c, of soft 35 rubber all around its edge, against the mouth and nose when the inhaler is in use, so as to prevent irritation. This rim is made integral with the plate A. The plate B is constructed with walls or rims d and e, so as to form cham40 bers/ and //between the plates A and B when they are joined together.

H is the absorbing material in the chambers /and g.

i i are perforations in the under plate, A, 45 small enough to exclude dust or foreign substances, and J j are similar perforations in the upper plate, B. The said perforations are oblique, the perforations i i slanting in an oppositedirection to the perforations j j, so that the air will not be inhaled directly through 50 the inhaler into the mouth and nostrils, but it will be slightly retarded and obstructed in its course and have time to take up the medicinal properties in the absorbent material II before passing into the mouth and nostrils. 55

K K are loops of elastic which pass through holes I in the two plates, holding them together, and which are also adapted for securing the inhaler to the face.

The inhaler is preferably made of a form 60 adapted to fit closely over the mouth and nostrils; but the portion to fit over the nose may be omitted, if desired.

. Instead of making the mouth and nose portions all in one piece, they may be made in two 65 pieces, as in Fig. 4, the nose portion 0 having pins m m, to fit into corresponding holes, nn, in the wall or rim d of the outer plate, B. With this modified form the mouth portion may be used with or without the nose portion, if de- 70 sired. ^z

My respirator and inhaler is more particularly adapted for the inhalation of the vapors of drugs prescribed by physicians for the cure of diseases of the throat and lungs, requiring 75 the constant application of a medicine without injuring the tissues or the skin outside of the mouth by direct contact with said drugs or their vapors.

One of the features of the apparatus is that 80 the material is non-absorbent, yet plastic and light in weight, and can be adapted to any desired curve by simply steeping it in hot oil, and it will always retain the position given to it. The material is the same in both sections 85 of the apparatus.

The whole apparatus, with the fibrous filling of the interior, forms an impenetrable barrier for cold or foul air to enter the mouth until warmed, purified, and medicated. It may be 90 used as a protection against inflammation of the throat by any one coming from a hot room.

I prefer to make my apparatus of vulcanite, because it does not absorb the exhalations from the lungs, it is not acted upon by acids 95 and is easily cleaned, and it will stand the action of steam of a temperature of 315° Fahrenheit without injuring the material.

301,111 •2

The inhaler may be constructed, as described, without the nose portion, as shown in Fig. 5, and be within thescopeofmyinvention.

I do not broadly claim perforated respira5 tors or inhalers, nor such devices made of vulcanite, nor constructed of two plates with a chamber between, said plates being held together by a securing-cord, for these have been used before.