Specification of Charles Nightingale : respirator.

  • Nightingale, Charles.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Charles Nightingale : respirator. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Nightingale's Improved Respirator. throat, and lungs against cold or damp air, fog, or other noxious or unpleasant influences from which many persons suffer so severely. My improved mouthpiece is designed to obviate the necessity of the incon¬ venient and unsightly respirators now ordinarily worn, and as when used it is completely hidden by the lips of the wearer I call it an “ invisible 5 mouth protector55 or “invisible respirator.55 Description op the Drawing. Figure 1 is a front view of my improved mouth protector; Figure 2 is a top view of the same; Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the said mouth protector. 10 Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 are similar views illustrating a modification in the form of the said mouth protector. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing. The said mouth protector or respirator consists of a single thin piece or plate a preferably made of gold or silver, though I may use vulcanite 15 or other materials suitable for the purpose. In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, the said plate is shaped to fit comfortably and conveniently outside the teeth between the same and the lips, and when worn covers so much of the teeth and gums as would he visible with the mouth about half way open. But the shape of the said mouthpiece may be modified as shown 20 in Figure 5, 6, 7, 8. In this modification the part a} of the plate fits between the top and bottom teeth, and a small portion a2 is turned down to fit over the latter. While preventing altogether any inhalation through the mouth it is necessary that means should be provided for permitting exhalation 25 thereby, otherwise the wearer would be troubled by an accumulation of saliva and other inconveniences after using the protector a short time. For this purpose I form in the plate valves b which permit exhalation but not inhalation through the mouth. These valves are small tongues formed on the plate by punching or cutting the same in such a manner 30 that the said tongues permit the egress but not the ingress of air, or the said tongues may be soldered upon the plate over suitable apertures formed therein. In Figures 5 to 8 I have shown the plates perforated with small holes d which serve instead of the valves b. 35