BREATHING AID

Abstract

A breathing aid for enabling a person buried by an avalanche to breathe has a housing which includes an inhalation channel comprising a valve situated in the housing, which automatically opens during inhalation and automatically closes during exhalation, and an exhalation channel comprising a valve situated in the housing, which automatically closes during inhalation and automatically opens during exhalation, wherein the inhalation channel and the exhalation channel open into a mouthpiece situated on the housing, and the housing includes at least one inhalation opening into which the inhalation channel opens, wherein the housing is designed as a handle which can be gripped by a user's hand and brought to the mouth.

Claims

1. A breathing aid (5, 5) for enabling a person buried by an avalanche to breathe, comprising a housing (20) which includes an inhalation channel (21) comprising a valve (26) situated in the housing (20), which automatically opens during inhalation and automatically closes during exhalation, and an exhalation channel (23) comprising a valve (27) situated in the housing (20, 20, 20), which automatically closes during inhalation and automatically opens during exhalation, wherein the inhalation channel (21) and the exhalation channel (23) open into a mouthpiece (25, 25) situated on the housing (20, 20, 20), and the housing (20, 20, 20) includes at least one inhalation opening (30, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31) into which the inhalation channel (21) opens, wherein the housing (20, 20) is designed as a handle which can be gripped by a user's hand and brought to the mouth, characterized in that the at least one inhalation opening (30, 31, 30, 31) is situated on the same side of the housing (20, 20, 20), in particular on the underside of the housing (20, 20, 20), as the mouthpiece (25, 25, 25).

2. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a closed cover (35, 35, 35) is provided for covering the mouthpiece (25, 25, 25) and/or the at least one inhalation opening (30, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31).

3. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing (20, 20, 20) is detachably connectable to the cover (35, 35, 35).

4. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover (35) comprises a receptacle for the mouthpiece (25).

5. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece (25, 25) can be clipped into the cover (35, 35).

6. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover (35, 35, 35) comprises a fastening means (36) for fastening to a shoulder strap (3) of a carrying system (2).

7. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a filter element (40, 40) is situated in the inhalation channel (21) and/or in the area of the at least one inhalation opening (30, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31).

8. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the filter element (40) is made of hydrophobic material.

9. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the filter element (40) is made of an air-permeable and water-repellent material.

10. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the filter element (40, 40) rests against the entire surface of the wall of the inhalation channel (21) and/or is situated so as to be planar with respect to the outer side of the housing (20, 20, 20).

11. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exhalation channel (23) is connected to an air conduit (28), in particular a tube.

12. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (20, 20, 20) is connected to a triggering mechanism (50) of an avalanche rescue system.

13. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the triggering mechanism (50) can be coupled to the housing (20, 20) at different points.

14. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or more water deflectors (33), in particular lamellae, are situated in the area of the inhalation opening (30, 31), wherein the filter element (40, 40) is situated beneath the water deflectors (33).

15. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece (25) is situated so as to be rotatable through 360 degrees and lockable on the housing (20) in the 90-degree positions.

16. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover (35) does not comprise a rim encircling the mouthpiece (25).

17. The breathing aid as claimed in claim 11, wherein a counter bearing (29) is situated in the interior of the air conduit (28) in the area of the housing (20, 20, 20), so that the air conduit is clamped between the counter bearing (29) and the housing (20, 20, 20).

Description

[0042] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the schematic drawing and are described in greater detail in the description which follows.

[0043] Wherein:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a user with a triggered avalanche airbag and the breathing aid in the area of a user's mouth;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal sectional representation of a breathing aid;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional representation according to the line A-A from FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows an exploded representation of an alternative embodiment of a breathing aid;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation through a mouthpiece and a cover;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a perspective representation of the alternative embodiment of the breathing aid;

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a view from below onto an embodiment of a breathing aid; and

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a sectional representation according to the line VIII-VIII from FIG. 7.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a user 1 carrying an avalanche rescue system comprising a carrying system 2 which includes shoulder straps 3. A handle-like breathing aid 5 has been detached from a holder on the shoulder strap 3 and brought to the mouth. In so doing, a triggering mechanism was actuated, so that an avalanche airbag 6 was inflated. Air in the direct proximity of the breathing aid 5 is inhaled through the breathing aid 5, as indicated by the arrows 7, 8, and 9. Exhaled air is conveyed via the tube 10 along the shoulder strap 3 and into the avalanche rescue system, in particular, a backpack, so that the exhaled air can be discharged at the lower end of the avalanche rescue system, which is indicated by the arrow 11. The tube 10 does not extend in the hollow space/pack area of a backpack, but rather in the rear wall of the backpack and, therefore, does not come into contact with the interior space/pack area of the backpack.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional representation of a breathing aid 5. The breathing aid 5 comprises a housing 20 including an upper housing half 20a and a lower housing half 20b. An inhalation channel 21 is formed in the housing 20, wherein the path of the inhalation air is marked by the reference numeral 22. Moreover, an exhalation channel 23 is formed in the housing 20, wherein the path of the exhalation air is marked by the reference numeral 24. Both the inhalation channel 21 and the exhalation channel 23 open into a mouthpiece 25. A valve 26 is situated in the inhalation channel 21. The valve 26 is designed as a drain valve and automatically opens upon inhalation and automatically closes upon exhalation.

[0054] A valve 27, which is designed as a drain valve, is also situated in the exhalation channel 23. The valve 27 automatically closes upon inhalation and automatically opens upon exhalation. Abutting the exhalation channel 23 is an air conduit 28, in particular, the tube 10 (FIG. 10) for discharging exhaled air. An annular counter bearing 29 is situated in the air conduit 28, wherein the air conduit 28 is clamped between the counter bearing 29 and the housing 20.

[0055] The inhalation channel 21 opens into inhalation openings 30, 31. The inhalation openings 30, 31 are exposed and are situated on the same side of the housing 20 as the mouthpiece 25. In particular, the inhalation openings 30, 31 are situated on an underside or back side of the housing 20. A user can therefore grip the upper side or the upper housing half 20a without having to be afraid of covering the inhalation openings 30, 31. Therefore, a user can bring the breathing aid 5 to the mouth and, if necessary, hold the breathing aid 5 on the mouth, without covering the inhalation openings 30, 31.

[0056] A cover 35 is fastened to the carrying system 2, in particular, on the shoulder strap 3. The breathing aid 5 is held on the shoulder strap 3 via the cover 35. The cover 35 is formed as a type of slot in the area 36, in particular being open at the point 37. The breathing aid 5 can therefore be removed from the cover 35 in the arrow direction 38, whereby the mouthpiece 25 is exposed. In the position shown, the mouthpiece 25 is covered by the cover 35, so that no particles, snow, or moisture can enter the housing 20 via the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece 25 can be latched in the cover 35.

[0057] According to an embodiment which is not shown, the cover 35 can be designed in such a way that the inhalation openings 30, 31 can also be covered, so that no moisture can enter here, either.

[0058] A filter element 40, which is made, in particular, of hydrophobic material, is situated in the inhalation channel 21. The filter element 40 prevents snow, moisture, or particles from entering the housing 20 via the inhalation openings 30, 31 and prevents the inhalation channel 21 from becoming clogged, in particular preventing moisture from entering up to the valve 26 or even the valve 27. Therefore, an impairment of the function of the valves 26, 27, in particular due to freezing up, can be prevented.

[0059] It is clear from the representation in FIG. 3 that inhalation openings 30, 31 are situated so as to be distributed essentially across the entire underside of the housing 20, thereby creating an inhalation surface which is as large as possible. Moreover, it is clear from FIG. 3 that a part 50 of a triggering mechanism for the avalanche rescue system is situated on the breathing aid 5. Therefore, by pulling on the breathing aid 5, in particular when the breathing aid 5 is detached from the cover 35 in the arrow direction 38, an avalanche rescue system, in particular, an avalanche airbag, can be simultaneously triggered. Therefore, multiple functions are combined on the breathing aid 5. The mouthpiece 25 can be made of soft and resilient material, in order to improve a user's comfort. In addition, the diaphragms of the valves 26, 27 can be made of silicone.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an exploded representation of an alternative embodiment of a breathing aid 5. The breathing aid 5 also comprises an upper housing half 20a and a lower housing half 20b. The lower housing half 20b comprises inhalation openings 30, 31. Filter elements 40, which can be formed from textile material, in particular, cloth, are provided in the area of the inhalation openings 30, 31. The filter elements 40 are supported by support structures 51 in the area of the inhalation openings 30, 31. The support structures 51 can be designed to be grid-like. The support structures 51 can clamp the filter elements 40 in an edge area of the inhalation openings 30, 31, so that the filter elements 40 are always taut. In particular, the support structures 51 can be proportioned in such a way that they position the filter elements 40 in the area of the inhalation openings 30, 31 in such a way that the inhalation openings 30, 31 are planar with a surface of the housing 20, in particular, the lower housing half 20b.

[0061] Support elements 52, against which the support structures 51 can abut, can be provided in the upper housing half 20a. By joining the housing halves 20a, 20b, the support structures 51 and the filter elements 40 are therefore clamped between the housing halves 20a, 20b and, therefore, are fixedly positioned.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation through a mouthpiece 25 and a cover 35. The cover 35 comprises a part 35a made of a harder material and a part 35b made of a comparatively softer material. The softer material 35b can move out of the way of the mouthpiece 25 when the mouthpiece 25 is brought together with the cover 35. Therefore, the mouthpiece 25 can be clipped to the cover 35. In addition, the cover 35 can comprise a projection 35c which has a thickened portion and engages through an element 25a of the mouthpiece 25 having an expandable opening.

[0063] Therefore, the mouthpiece 25 is also detachably held on the cover 35 via the projection 25c.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a perspective representation of the breathing aid 5. The cover 35 is connected to the mouthpiece 25.

[0065] Moreover, it is apparent from FIG. 6 that the breathing aid 5 comprises a coupling point 55 for coupling to a part of a triggering mechanism. The coupling point 55 can be designed as a recess. Such a coupling point 55 can also be provided on the opposite side of the breathing aid 5, which is not visible here. A thickened end of a triggering mechanism can be placed into the recess of the coupling point 55 and fixed there with the aid of a fixing element 56. The fixing element 56 can be designed as a bayonet mount. A securing element 57 can be provided, in turn, for securing the fixing element 56. The securing element 57 can prevent the fixing element 56 from inadvertently detaching, in particular, inadvertently rotated back and exposing the part of the triggering mechanism.

[0066] On the other hand, the fixing element 56 can be intentionally detached in order to decouple the triggering mechanism on the one side of the breathing aid 5 and to couple the triggering mechanism on the opposite side of the breathing aid 5. This can be helpful, in particular, when the breathing aid 5 is to be moved from the left shoulder strap to the right shoulder strap, or vice versa.

[0067] It is apparent from FIG. 7, on the one hand, that water deflectors 33 designed as lamellae are provided in the area of the inhalation openings 30 and 31, which reduce the water pressure and prevent water from entering the area of the filter element and, therefore, prevent the filter element from icing up. In addition, the lamellae allow for larger breathing openings in the filter element.

[0068] Moreover, it is apparent from FIG. 7 that a fastening means 36 is provided on the cover 35 for fastening to a shoulder strap. The fastening means 36 is designed to be cross-like and comprises projections 36a-36d.

[0069] Therefore, the fastening means 36 comprising the opposing projections 36a, 36c or 36b, 36d can be fastened to adjacent loops provided on a shoulder strap. The cover 36 can therefore be fastened to a shoulder strap in positions offset by 90 degrees.

[0070] It is apparent from the sectional representation from FIG. 8 that the cover 35 does not circumferentially enclose the mouthpiece 25 and does not comprise a rim suitable therefor. The mouthpiece 25 can be sealed with respect to the cover 35, for example, via a seal 39. The mouthpiece 25 can be swivellable with respect to the housing 20. In particular, the mouthpiece 25 can be swivellable between two end positions offset by 90 degrees, wherein the mouthpiece 25 can be latched in the end positions. Therefore, the mouthpiece 25 can be adapted to different fastening positions of the cover 35.