Pouch for the blower unit of a powered air purifying respirator

A method of protecting the blower unit of a powered air-purifying respirator system against the entry into the unit of particulate or gaseous material, the blower unit being of a type comprising:

• (a) an air inlet to which a filter cartridge can be detachably-connected,
• (b) an air outlet to which a breathing tube of the respirator system can be detachably-connected, and
• (c) a blower operable to draw air into the unit through the air inlet and to deliver filtered air to the air outlet;
• the method comprising the steps of;
• (i) placing the blower unit inside a pouch,
• (ii) connecting the air inlet to the filter cartridge through an opening in the pouch,
• (iii) connecting the air outlet to the breathing tube through an opening in the pouch, and
• (iv) providing seals at the openings in the pouch to inhibit or prevent the passage of particulate or gaseous material into the pouch through the said openings.

A respirator system comprising:

• a respiratory mask,
• a blower unit having an air inlet, an air outlet and a blower operable to draw air into the unit through the air inlet and to deliver air to the air outlet,
• a pouch within which the blower unit is located,
• a filter cartridge detachably-connected to the air inlet of the blower unit through an opening in the pouch, and
• a breathing tube detachably-connected at one end to the air outlet of the blower unit through an opening in the pouch, and connected at the other end to the respiratory mask;
• wherein the openings in the pouch are provided with seals that inhibit or prevent the passage of particulate or gaseous material into the pouch through the said openings.