Abstract: A self-contained portable personal breathing apparatus that has a casing housing a canister containing an oxygen evolving chemical. The casing is disposed inside a cover which is disposed inside a bag. The cover and the casing form a thermal insulating pocket between them, and with the cover material and the casing material, also made of thermally insulating material, a triple layer of thermal insulation is formed around the canister to protect oxygen produced therein from the heat of reaction of the chemical in the canister. A heat exchanger is situated atop the canister to further cool oxygen before inhalation, and breathing tube extends from the bag to the user for channeling exhaled breath and oxygen.

Abstract: A novel respirator including a chemical cartridge for reacting with moisture and carbon dioxide in exhaled breath to produce oxygen. The oxygen is stored in a breathing sac. The breathing sac communicates with the chemical cartridge through supporting pipes and a channel formed between the outer wall of the chemical cartridge and the inner wall of an associated container. The cartridge and its associated container are positioned on the bottom of the respirator such that the user has ready access to a spent cartridge so that it can be removed quickly and easily and replaced with a fresh cartridge.

Abstract: A ring-shape connecting member is disposed in an opening in the bottom of a breathing bag, where it is encircled and tightly engaged by an elastic sleeve secured to the bag around its opening and projecting downwardly out of the bag. A chemical cartridge is provided with an upwardly extending ring-shape flange projecting up into the elastic sleeve in sealing engagement with it, and the top of the cartridge within said flange is provided with an opening communicating with the connecting member.

Abstract: Exposed components, including an exhalation valve, of a respirator mask are protected from extremely cold temperatures by a bag containing them, with its open end held in sealing engagement with the portion of the mask adjacent the components by means of a flexible collar. The bag is provided with an air inlet and with air outlets isolated from the inlet for escape of exhaled air from the bag. When one of the mask components in the bag is a filter, its inlet side is covered by an air-permeable base portion of the bag, and the rest of the bag is made of air-impermeable material, with the junction of the two parts of the bag sealed against the filter.

Abstract: One of two parts of a protective covering for a person has an opening therein facing the other part, and one edge of an elastic band secured to the one part around that opening extends away from it and around a portion of the other part. The free edge of the band is thickened and provided with a continuous groove in its inner surface extending around the thickened portion and receiving one of a plurality of laterally spaced ribs encircling the surrounded portion of the other part of the protective covering to hold the two parts of the covering together.

Abstract: A respirator canister provided with openings for flow of air therethrough is filled with a chemical that removes water vapor and carbon dioxide from the air and liberates oxygen into it. A breathing tube communicates with one of the canister openings, and an expandable breathing bag or equivalent has an opening communicating with the other canister opening. A spring or the like resists expansion of the bag during exhalation through the breathing tube and canister in order to maintain the air in the respirator under positive pressure to prevent toxic air from leaking into the respirator.

Abstract: A container for holding tubular glass equipment, such as glass tubes having breakable closed ends or ampoules.