BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to personal devices for treating breathing air and, more specifically, to a Cool Air Breathing Apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
There are a variety of prior personal air treatment devices that are intended to solve a variety of articulated problems related to personal respiratory issues. A very relevant design is disclosed by Carrier, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. US09/0229609. Carrier depicts a “Portable, Disposable Cool Air Inhaler,” purportedly to be used to treat the user's throat and mouth area with cool air. While the device of Carrier appears to be a reasonable attempt at providing the user with cool breathing air, it does so at a substantial cost. The Carrier “inhaler” incorporates a complex internal plumbing design, as well as an integrated bellows; these features result in making the product cost-prohibitive for everyday use, despite its touted recyclability.
Several other references relate to providing the user with cool air to breathe, but are even less suitable to solving the problem solved by the instant invention than was Carrier. F. M. Gleockler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,590 discloses an air-conditioning facemask. The Gleockler device, while apparently functional, is bulky and requires that a full face mask be worn in order to obtain breathing relief. Pasternack, U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,947 is also designed to provide its users with a portable cooling source, but requires that the user strap the device over his or her back. Finally, Horn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,413 also discloses a “Personal Cooling Apparatus.” Like Pasternack, Horn requires that the user strap the device over his or her back, such that an internal cooling pack rests against the kidney. Furthermore, like Gleockler, Horn has a facemask that the user must wear.
As discussed individually above, each of these prior devices marginally provides the benefits of providing a portable cool breathing air source to the user. The problem with all of them, however, is that they are simply too complex and/or bulky (and expensive) for them to be economically feasible for everyday use by the general population. What is needed is a cool air breathing apparatus that provides this portable cool air source, but is convenient and inexpensive enough for it to be used by virtually anyone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Cool Air Breathing Apparatus. The apparatus should provide a low-cost, comfortably-sized, convenient source of cool breathing air to a use. The apparatus should be attachable to a standard-sized water bottle container, such as is used for bicycles and exercising in general. The user should simply be able to fill the water bottle container with a cooling material, and then breathe through a mouthpiece in order to receive cooling air. The cooling material could be cold liquid, ice cubes or chips, or even a solid frozen block. There should be a folding mouthpiece so that the user can seal the container when it is not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cool air breathing apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, further displaying the internal elements of the design;
FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3; and
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Cool Air Breathing Apparatus.
The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cool air breathing apparatus of the present invention. The cool air breathing apparatus 10 is shaped much like a conventional sport beverage bottle, at least from outward appearances. It is the internal features that distinguish the apparatus 10 from those conventional drinking bottles. The head assembly 12 threadedly engages the top opening formed on the cool air breathing apparatus 10. The assembly 12 has a tubular mouthpiece 18 that can be flipped up and down in the direction of the arrow shown. When flipped up as shown in this FIG. 1, the outer port 15 is exposed so that the user can place his or her mouth upon it. The lower housing 14 is shaped essentially the same as many conventional sport bottles such as those designed for use with bicycles. FIG. 2 provides additional features related to this novel design.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, further displaying the internal elements of the design. The head assembly as shown in this view comprises an upper housing 16 to which the mouthpiece 18 attaches. Here the mouthpiece 18 has been flipped down into the stowed position, and as can be seen, the inner port 20 is exposed. There are one or more air intake apertures 28 formed in the top of the upper housing 16. These intake apertures are sealed when the mouthpiece 18 is folded down into this position shown.
Within the lower housing 14, there is a U-shaped draw tube 24 that connects to the head assembly 12 on its bottom side, such that the inner port 20 is in fluid communication with the interior of the draw tube 24 when the mouthpiece 18 is flipped up in the position shown in FIG. 1. At the distal end of the draw tube 24 is located an air intake port 26. The air intake port is located such that when the cool air breathing apparatus 10 is assembled, the intake port 26 will be located near the top edge of the lower housing 14 so that it remains above any liquid that might reside within the coolant chamber 22. It should be appreciated if cool liquid and/or ice or other cold materials are placed within the coolant chamber 22 to surround the draw tube 24, the user need simply flip up the mouthpiece 18 as shown in FIG. 1 and begin to breathe in, sucking air through the draw tube 24 and the mouthpiece 18. As the air flows through the draw tube 24, it should be clear that the incoming air will be cooled measurably thereby providing the user with a refreshing, cooling air source that is particularly effective at cooling down the individual's core in circumstances when the user has become overheated due to exercise or environmental conditions. We will now turn to FIG. 3 to continue to examine the features of this device.
FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this view the draw tube 24 can be seen as comprising a distal tube portion 34 and a proximal tube portion 36. The distal tube portion 34 and proximal tube portion 36 are interconnected by elbow 38. Distal tube portion 34 terminates at its distal end at air intake port 26. Similarly proximal tube portion 36 terminates at its upper end at housing interface port 40. By its name we can see that the housing interface port 40 is configured to insert into the upper housing 16 such that the interior of the mouthpiece 18 is in fluid communication with the interface port 40. The mouthpiece 18 is actually a separate element that preferably snaps into a pair of recesses formed in the top of the upper housing 16. The mouthpiece 18 is permitted to rotate around a pair of axle prongs 30 extending from opposite sides of the mouthpiece 18. As discussed previously, one or more air intake apertures 28 are formed in the recessed area within which the mouthpiece 18 resides when flipped down and these apertures 28 permit air to enter into the coolant chamber through the upper housing so that when the user is sucking on the mouthpiece 18, air will be permitted to enter the coolant chamber 22 and consequently into the air intake point 26. FIG. 4 gives another view of this device from another angle.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3. As shown here, the upper housing 16 has a mouthpiece cavity 42 formed in its top. Within the mouthpiece cavity 42 are the air intake apertures 28 and furthermore a pair of axle slots 43 configured to accept the axle prongs 30 therein. The draw tube 24 in this version is designed so that upper end of the proximal tube portion is actually co-linear with the distal tube portion 34. The curves making up the various sections of the draw tube 24 are designed to provide as little restriction to airflow as possible so that when the user draws on the mouthpiece 18, he or she does not experience discomfort or restrictions to their breathing. The draw tube 24 is detachable from the upper housing 16 for manufacturing and/or for cleaning. Other designs and configurations of the draw tube 24 may be provided including spiral versions or other configurations of tubing. What is critical is that cool air breathing apparatus 10 is designed to be much less expensive than the prior art systems and very convenient for use so that it is handy and available whenever a potential user becomes overheated. The fact that it can be designed to match the outer dimensions of a conventional sports water bottle means that it will be very easily adopted by a wide range of users.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus 10A of the present invention. This version is for use when crushed or cubed ice is placed within the lower housing. Essentially, in this version, there is no elbow or distal tube portion; there is only a proximal tube portion 36 making up the draw tube 24. Although not shown here, it is expected that in many versions, there will be a plurality of slits or apertures formed through the walls of the draw tube 24, which will allow air to be drawn in through the sides of the draw tube 24 when the user sucks on the mouthpiece 18. The incoming air will pass through the surrounding ice before entering the tube 24, and will thereby be cooled nicely.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Patent Application
20120125335
