Collapsible respiratory exerciser

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The collapsible respiratory exerciser of the present invention is designed to meet the recommendation that the patient's lungs be slowly and fully expanded; and fill the need for a compact, lightweight and inexpensive unit.
To accomplish this, a tubular bellows is attached at one end to the undersurface of a rigid upper plate.
A flexible inhalation tube communicates with the bellows through an orifice in the upper plate.
The bellows is normally expanded to its fully extended condition prior to each use by a lower plate attached to the bottom end of the bellows; the lower plate acting as a weight.
During use the bellows is effectively sealed from outside air by the upper and lower plates so that only the air contained within the bellows is withdrawn by the user.
By the very nature of a bellows, as air is withdrawn the bellows will contract and the weighted bottom will rise vertically in proportion to the volume of air withdrawn.
A measuring means with calibrated indicia attached to the upper plate gives a visual indication of the volume of air inhaled.
At the end of inhalation, the bellows may be maintained in its contracted position by preventing air from re-entering the bellows or by temporarily mechanically restraining the bellows, allowing the user ample time to detemine the volume of air inhaled.
Although primarily intended for post-operative use, the invention can be used by singers and athletes or any other individuals interested in improving their respiratory expansion.
The device will enhance proper breathing and increase lung capacity providing for better air exchange.
The device also will be useful to persons suffering from emphysema.