System for controlling the internal temperature of a respirator

A temperature controlled respirator comprising:

• a body having a horizontal axis defining an upper and lower portion thereof, the body configured to conform to the face of a user in a substantially air-tight engagement, said body adapted to form an interior chamber defined by the body and a portion of the face of the user including the eyes, nose and mouth;
• means for securing the body to the face of the user;
• a transparent shield disposed on the body generally configured to be aligned with the eyes of the user when the respirator is in use;
• a thermoelectric module located in the lower portion of the body, the module disposed in the body configured to be generally aligned with the mouth of the user when the respirator is in use, the thermoelectric module having an interior plate with at least one surface located within the interior chamber and an external plate having at least one surface located in an outer environment;
• and
• a power unit imparting DC current to the thermoelectric module.

A method for controlling the interior temperature of a respirator comprising:

• providing a respirator having a body having a horizontal axis defining an upper and lower portion thereof, the body configured to conform to the face of a user to form an interior chamber defined by the body and the face of the user;
• providing a thermoelectric module located in the lower portion of the body, the module having a first temperature plate and a second temperature plate;
• mounting the thermoelectric module to the respirator so that the first temperature plate has at least one surface located within the interior chamber and the second temperature plate has at least one surface located in an outer environment;
• and
• supplying DC power to the thermoelectric module to selectively change the temperature of the interior chamber.