U.S. Patent No. 4,320,756 · 281 words posted 08/05/2004 05:07 PM

Toilet Snorkel

From the application for United States Patent 4,320,756:

This invention provides an economical device and method for ensuring a life-saving supply of fresh air to a person entrapped in a burning hotel room or the like, when the person is subjected to toxic smoke inhalation.

The fresh-air breathing device comprises breathing means for being held in communication with a respiratory intake passage (mouth and/or nose) of the user and conduit means for communicating fresh air to such respiratory intake, including a first end connected to the breathing means and an open second end having sufficient flexibility and length for insertion through a water trap of a toilet. Carrying forth the method of this invention, such insertion of the conduit means or breathing tube through the water trap will expose the open end thereof to fresh air from a vent pipe connected to a sewer line of the toilet. The user may then proceed to breathe fresh air for life-saving purposes, until rescued…

The user can then start inhaling fresh air and oxygen through the device and exhale through his nose. The user can maintain this breathing procedure for hours and until he is rescued. A fireman who has depleted his bottled supply of oxygen can follow the same method to breathe fresh air. Even though the user may breathe-in a small amount of sewer gas, it is obvious that this small inconvenience is insignificant in comparison to the saving of the user’s life.

(I spotted this device in an ad for Enerjy Software Tools running in the current Java Developer’s Journal. Apparently it has made a couple prior appearances on the web. See here for the images accompanying the patent application.)

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1. On Aug 5, 10:02 PM JesterXL said:
“We just saved your rear… now pay the licensing fee, sucka!” #

2. On Aug 6, 09:41 AM Yudel said:
Interesting idea. I don’t know enough patent law to figure out whether a tube without a toilet attached would be infringing.

However, that doesn’t matter—the patent is from ‘82, so it has expired, if you want to build one yourself. #

3. On Aug 6, 10:28 AM since1968 said:
Jester: I like your marketing savvy.

Yudel: It’s all yours, man. Take it and run with it. #