Gas mask nose occluder
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to face or gas masks and more specifically to face or gas masks that are adapted to allow the valsalva manoeuvre to be performed. 
     The valsalva manoeuvre is used to equilibrate the internal air pressure in the sinus cavities and ears with the atmospheric pressure. This is done by blocking or occluding the nose and then attempting to exhale through it. This manoeuvre is essential in aircrew applications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is particularly adapted for use with gas masks, however, it can be readily used with many types of face masks in situations where the valsalva manoeuvre must be performed, such as in firefighting in a high rise building. 
     Very few gas masks are adapted to allow valsalva. Some have mechanisms to pinch the nose while others have an area where pitching can be done through the facepiece rubber directly by the fingers. Unfortunately, these methods of carrying out valsalva are not adaptable to many gas mask designs. 
     The present invention provides an inexpensive and indirect means of allowing the valsalva manoeuvre to be performed through a gas mask without affecting the protection afforded by it. It is readily adaptable to many mask designs, such as the XC4 gas mask in which there is no way to directly access one&#39;s nose. 
     Specifically, this invention provides for an improvement to a face mask which has two eyepieces, a pliable full face covering, breathing means and sealing and securing means for sealing the mask securely to the head of a wearer. The improvement comprises nose occluder means which include a pair of prong members which are each made of a rigid material. These members are each adjustably attached at one end thereof to a lower rim portion of a respective eyepiece at an angle with respect thereto so as to be directed inwardly toward the nose of the wearer. 
     This invention also provides a method of nose occlusion utilizing the above-described face mask which includes the step of pushing the eyepieces toward the face and thereby causing the prong members to press against the nose and close the nostrils. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A specific embodiment of the invention is now described in further detail with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an embodiment of the invention showing its method of operation; and 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the inside of an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, part of the gas mask 2 of the preferred embodiment is shown to basically comprise two eyepieces 6 which are each held in place in the mask by rims 8. The sealing and securing means and breathing means are not shown. The face covering is made of rubber and the part which covers the nose 4 of the wearer is designated as 10. Nose occluding prong members 12 are shown to be at an angle with respect to the eyepieces 6 so that they are directed toward the nose 4. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, eyepieces 6 and rims 8 are shown in elvation from the inside of mask 2. The rubber of the facepiece 10 is shown as are the sealing means 16, securing means 18 and breathing means 20. The attachment means 14 of the prong members 12 to the rims 8 is also visible. The prong members 12 are in the shape of a bent cylinder, and each has a hole at one end for pivotable attachment to a lug (not shown) on the lower part of the rims 8 by the attachment means 14, such as a screw. The face ends are rounded so that they do not cause discomfort when the prong members are used to occlude the nose 4 of the wearer. The prong members 12 are adjustable so that they can be adjusted to properly occlude the noses of all sizes of personnel. 
     The nose occlusion procedure is performed as shown in FIG. 1. The wearer pushes the eyepieces toward the face. This pushing action brings the vertical portions of the prong members 12 into contact with the sides of the nose 4. Nose occlusion occurs when sufficient pressure is applied by the prong members 12 against the nose 4 to close the nostrils.