Exhalation valve for use in a breathing device
OwnerMark Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An underwater breathing device, such as a snorkel, may include an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve is configured to produce positive end-expiratory pressure in the airway of a user of the underwater breathing device in order to reduce the overall work of underwater breathing. The exhalation valve includes a plate defining an exhalation port. The exhalation valve also includes a flexible membrane that is sealable against a surface of the plate and is sized and positioned to be capable of sealing the exhalation port. The flexible membrane is configured to have a sealed position in which the flexible membrane seals the exhalation port such that substantially no exhaled air escapes the snorkel. The flexible membrane is also configured to have an unsealed position in which exhaled air escapes the snorkel.
Claims28
An exhalation valve for use in an underwater breathing device, the exhalation valve configured to produce positive end-expiratory pressure in the airway of a user of the underwater breathing device in order to reduce the overall work of underwater breathing, the exhalation valve comprising:
- a valve plate defining at least one chamber port and an exhalation port, the at least one chamber port being positioned opposite the exhalation port;
- and
- a flexible membrane that is sealable against a surface of the valve plate and is sized and positioned to be capable of sealing the exhalation port, the flexible membrane comprising:
- a sealed position in which the flexible membrane seals the exhalation port such that substantially no air can flow between the at least one chamber port and the exhalation port;
- and
- an unsealed position in which the flexible membrane does not seal the exhalation port such that air can flow between the at least one chamber port and the exhalation port;
- wherein the valve plate is substantially rigid and substantially disk-shaped.
An underwater breathing device configured to produce positive end-expiratory pressure in the airway of a user of the underwater breathing device in order to reduce the overall work of underwater breathing, the underwater breathing device comprising:
- a chamber including first and second openings, the chamber being configured such that when air is being exhaled through the first opening into the chamber in a manner that restricts air from simultaneously escaping through the first opening, there is no unrestricted passageway out of the chamber through which air can exit the underwater breathing device and, as a result, the exhaled air creates an exhalation pressure within the chamber;
- and
- a valve for restricting airflow between the chamber and the second opening, the valve comprising:
- a valve plate defining the at least one chamber port and the exhalation port, the at least one chamber port being positioned opposite the exhalation port, the at least one chamber port and the exhalation port defining the second opening;
- and
- a flexible membrane that is sealable against a surface of the valve plate and is sized and positioned to be capable of sealing the exhalation port, the flexible membrane being configured such that an opening force, comprising any exhalation pressure within the chamber, biases the valve in a first direction and a closing force biases the valve in a second direction, the first direction being substantially opposite the second direction, the flexible membrane comprising:
- a closed position in which the flexible membrane seals the exhalation port such that substantially no air is released from the chamber through the exhalation port;
- the flexible membrane being disposed in the closed position when the opening force is less than or equal to the closing force;
- and
- an open position in which the flexible membrane does not seal the exhalation port such that air is released from the chamber through the exhalation port, the flexible membrane being disposed in the open position when the opening force exceeds the closing force.
An underwater breathing device configured to produce positive end-expiratory pressure in the airway of a user of the underwater breathing device in order to reduce the overall work of underwater breathing, the underwater breathing device comprising:
- a chamber including first and second openings, the chamber being configured such that when air is being exhaled through the first opening into the chamber in a manner that restricts air from simultaneously escaping through the first opening, there is no unrestricted passageway out of the chamber through which air can exit the underwater breathing device and, as a result, the exhaled air creates an exhalation pressure within the chamber;
- a valve for restricting airflow between the chamber and the second opening, the valve being configured such that any exhalation pressure within the chamber biases the valve in a first direction and a counter pressure biases the valve in a second direction, the first direction being substantially opposite the second direction, the valve comprising:
- a closed position in which substantially no air is released from the chamber through the second opening, the valve being disposed in the closed position when any exhalation pressure within the chamber is less than or equal to the counter pressure;
- and
- an open position in which at least some air is released from the chamber through the second opening, the valve being disposed in the open position when any exhalation pressure within the chamber exceeds the counter pressure;
- and
- an inlet that is sized and configured to allow air to flow into the chamber, the inlet being separate and distinct from the first opening in the chamber and the second opening in the chamber.
A breathing apparatus that is sized and configured to provide positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to a user, the breathing apparatus comprising:
- a chamber that is sized and configured to receive air exhaled by a user, the air within the chamber having an exhalation pressure, the chamber comprising:
- a first opening that is sized and configured to receive air exhaled by the user;
- a second opening that is sized and configured to allow air to flow out of the chamber;
- and
- an inlet that is sized and configured to allow air to flow into the chamber, the inlet being separate and distinct from the first opening in the chamber and the second opening in the chamber;
- and
- an exhalation valve that controls the flow of air out of the chamber through the second opening, the exhalation valve allowing air flow out of the chamber when an opening force on the valve is greater than a closing force on the valve;
- wherein the opening force on the valve is at least partially created by the exhalation pressure;
- wherein the closing force on the valve is at least partially created by ambient water pressure when the exhalation valve is disposed in water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.