Respirator

A respirator for enabling a wearer to inhale filtered air through the wearer's nostrils, the respirator comprising:

• an elongate breathing tube with a first distal end, a second distal end separate and distinct from the first distal end, and a body portion comprising a first branch that terminates in the first distal end of the elongate breathing tube, a second branch that terminates in the second distal end of the elongate breathing tube, and a proximal portion;
• a first air-purifying element disposed adjacent to the first distal end of the elongate breathing tube and in fluidic engagement with the first branch of the elongate breathing tube for purifying air that is drawn through the first air-purifying element;
• a second air-purifying element disposed adjacent to the second distal end of the elongate breathing tube and in fluidic engagement with the second branch of the elongate breathing tube for purifying air that is drawn through the second air-purifying element;
• first and second nasal inserts disposed in fluidic engagement with the proximal portion of the elongate breathing tube and with the first and second air-purifying elements wherein the first nasal insert is disposed in close proximity to the second nasal insert and wherein each of the first and second nasal inserts includes a means for fluidically engaging a wearer's nostril;
• whereby a wearer can simultaneously engage each of the means for fluidically engaging the wearer's nostril with the wearer's nostrils and whereby the wearer can inhale purified air into the wearer's nostrils through the nasal inserts from the elongate breathing tube after the air has been purified by being drawn through the first and second air-purifying elements.

A respirator for enabling a wearer to inhale filtered air through the wearer's nostrils, the respirator comprising:

• an elongate breathing tube with a first distal end, a second distal end separate and distinct from the first distal end, and a body portion comprising a first branch that terminates in the first distal end of the elongate breathing tube, a second branch that terminates in the second distal end of the elongate breathing tube, and a proximal portion;
• a first air-purifying element fluidically coupled to the first distal end of the first branch of the elongate breathing tube for purifying air that is drawn through the first air-purifying element;
• a second air-purifying element fluidically coupled to the second distal end of the second branch of the elongate breathing tube for purifying air that is drawn through the second air-purifying element;
• first and second nasal inserts disposed in fluidic engagement with the proximal portion of the elongate breathing tube and with the first and second air-purifying elements wherein the first nasal insert is disposed in close proximity to the second nasal insert, wherein each of the first and second nasal inserts includes a nose plug extending from the nasal insert for fluidically engaging a wearer's nostril whereby a wearer can simultaneously engage each of the means for fluidically engaging the wearer's nostril with the wearer's nostrils and whereby the wearer can inhale purified air into the wearer's nostrils through the nasal inserts from the elongate breathing tube after the air has been purified by being drawn through the first and second air-purifying elements, wherein the first and second nasal inserts are rotatably retained relative to the elongate tube, and wherein the nose plugs are eccentrically disposed relative to the first and second nasal inserts whereby an effective distance between the first and second nose plugs can be selectively adjusted by a rotation of one or both of the first and second nasal inserts;
• at least a first one-way exhaust valve in fluidic association with the first and second nasal inserts whereby air can be exhaled from the wearer's nostrils and through at least the first exhaust valve and whereby unfiltered air is prevented from entering the breathing tube;
• and
• a means for rendering the body portion of the elongate tube capable of exhibiting plastically deformable shape retention whereby the relative shape and orientation of the elongate tube and location and orientation of the first and second air-purifying elements can be selectively adjusted.