Breathing exercise device

Breathing exercise device comprising a tubular body having a mouthpiece at a proximal end thereof, a resistance opening in the tubular body, and a distal end, resistance means on the tubular body for imparting a selected resistance to air flow through said resistance opening, and selective unidirectional flap means disposed on the distal end of the tubular body for selectively blocking air flow in one direction through said distal end and admitting air flow in the other direction, including means for selecting the directions of blocking and admitting, so that said breathing exercise device can be used for either inspirational exercise therapy or expirational exercise therapy, by selecting the direction of flow of said flap valve means, in which said unidirectional flap valve means includes a flexible disc, a rotatable end cap pivotally mounted at the distal end of said tubular body and mounting said disc thereon, the end cap including first stop means to the distal side of said disc and second stop means to the proximal side of said disc for selectively blocking flexing of said disc in the distal and proximal directions, respectively.

A selective unidirectional check valve for admitting fluid flow in a selected one of proximal and distal directions and blocking flow in the other of said directions, comprising a tubular body having a longitudinal tube axis, and flap valve means rotatable about the longitudinal tube axis between first and second positions respectively for blocking fluid flow in the distal direction but admitting fluid flow in the proximal direction, and for blocking fluid flow in the proximal direction but admitting fluid flow in the distal direction.

A selective unidirectional check valve for admitting fluid flow in a selected one of said proximal and distal directions and blocking flow in the other of said directions, comprising a body tube having a distal end and flap valve means rotatable between first and second positions respectively for blocking fluid flow in the distal direction but admitting fluid flow in the proximal direction, and for blocking fluid flow in the proximal direction but admitting fluid flow in the distal direction;

• in which said flap valve means includes a flexible disc, a rotatable sleeve pivotally mounted at the distal end of said body tube and mounting said disc thereon, the sleeve including first stop means to the distal side of said disc and second stop means to the proximal side of said disc for blocking flexing of said disc in the distal and proximal directions, respectively.