There are plenty of designs for breathing apparatus - for toxic atmospheres, dust, etc.

The same is true of filter masks.

Filter masks have a limited life and often don't stop odours. Breathing apparatus usually requires a supply of compressed air.

For domestic and light industrial use, BorgCo now offer the vacuum mask.

It consists of a lightweight full-face mask, a long length of conjoined lightweight tubing, and a connector/valve assembly. Additional lengths of twin pipe can be easilly plugged in.

To use, attach the pipe labelled OUT to the inlet of a domestic vacuum cleaner.

Turn on the cleaner and don the mask.

The cleaner sucks a continuous supply of air through the inlet pipe, past the wearer's face, and back through the return pipe, where it is discharged through the cleaner to atmosphere.

A leak valve at the suction end of the outlet pipe bleeds in air to ensure that the mask is only just below atmospheric pressure, enough to draw a sufficient amount of air through the inlet tube, but not enough to suck the user's lungs out through their nose.
-- 8th of 7, Jul 15 2014

Where is the inlet?
-- pocmloc, Jul 15 2014


Close to the connection to the vacuum cleaner, but not actually right next to it.
-- 8th of 7, Jul 15 2014


Whilst I can see how this would prevent noxious items from entering the lungs, I can also see it preventing oxygen from doing so as well.

Admittedly the link between oxygen inhalation and cancer is irrefutable, but...
-- not_morrison_rm, Jul 15 2014


I think [8th] failed to fully specify the layout of the inlet pipe. I assume that inlet pipe goes outside the room to some location where there is fresh air available. So basically, the vacuum is sucking fresh air past the user's face. There isn't much restriction in the tube, so the pressure isn't much lower in the mask.
-- scad mientist, Jul 15 2014


What you've done is invented a supplied air respirator, except replaced the purpose-built motor with a household vacuum. These are WKTE for painters, sand-blasters, and BSL4 workers. If you want something for dirty domestic jobs that filters smells try a military gas mask. They're surprisingly cheap on eBay.
-- DIYMatt, Jul 15 2014


Right, so... instead one hose and couple flapper valves, two hoses and a vacuum cleaner.
-- FlyingToaster, Jul 15 2014


//to suck the user's lungs out through their nose. ?//

Your right to avoid that. Could bring the product liability police.

----

Since you already have a vacuum at the job site, why not use it.
-- popbottle, Jul 16 2014


Use concentric hoses so that there appears to be only one.

I can't help but imagine the cheapo version from some enterprising nation, where to reduce material cost, the inlet pipe is replaced by an opening on the side of the mask, completely negating the whole thing....but hey, it looks good.
-- Ling, Jul 16 2014


Yes, what [scad_mientist] said.

// replaced the purpose-built motor with a household vacuum //

Durrr, yes ? Purpose-built air handler == expensive, whereas most homes have a vacuum cleaner.

Filter masks have a limited effective life. Conventional supplied air respirators are expensive. This product is "cheap and cheerful", low purchase cost and low cost of ownership. We estimate that the basic model (without the anti-lungs-being- sucked-through-the-nose valve) would retail at about USD$30.
-- 8th of 7, Jul 16 2014


I could use this title to invent a new kind of face lift!
-- xandram, Jul 16 2014



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