From the internets:
The Toilet Snorkel Could Save Your Life
William O. Holmes filed for a U.S. patent in February, 1981, writing:
The recent rash of fires in high-rise hotels and deaths occasioned thereby has given rise to the need for a breathing device and method for supplying a hotel guest and/or fireman with fresh air until he can be rescued. The device and method of this invention provide for the insertion of a breathing tube through the water trap of a toilet to expose an open end thereof to fresh air from a vent pipe connected to a sewer line of the toilet, to enable the user to breathe fresh air through the tube.
U.S. Patent 4,320,756 was issued in March, 1982.
We live in an age of wonders!
The toilet snorkel hose has a soft elastomeric (rubber or plastic) snorkel-type mouthpiece "having a teeth-engaging bite ring [18] formed integrally therewith", thus enabling the user to "bite-down onto the mouthpiece to hold it in sealed communication with one of his respiratory intake passages (mouth)." Well, yes, that will be your mouth, unless you are one of those rare individuals with teeth in your nostrils.
As he says: "It is well known that upon flushing of the toilet, a water trap will form in the toilet bowl to block sewer gases from entering the bathroom proper. Conversely, the water trap functions to prevent toxic smoke in the bathroom from passing thereby."
So, the device provides the lesser of two evils: you can breathe sewer gases instead of toxic fumes.
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Almost sorry to spring this on you, but not quite. After all, it is trash day.
Hmmm, tough choice - die from smoke inhalation or sewer gas inhalation....
Wow, and I get criticized for my OT posts.......
Just to keep it interesting, remember that methane is explosive.
Let's say we're having some casual friday fun - thanks, Ralph
There was a serious fire on the 11th floor of a high rise apt bldg in Santa Monica last week, and the 54 year old building did not have sprinklers, as they were made mandatory two years later. A lot of firemen stood around scratching, as there was nothing they could do.
Above the 7th floor, people are gonna' die.
Over on Craiglist rants&raves they have Fishnet Friday.
So, you inhale the sewer gases and then exhale and Boom! The methane explodes.
Norm
If you live on the 11th floor you better go out and buy yourself a good 150 foot rope. Never know if you might need it. That's a long jump down.
Makes one wonder if you could have jumped from the World Trade Towers with a chute and have enough distance to survive the landing.
I just tried it, its not bad, kind of a nutty robust almond fecal bouquet. Reminds me of some air I breathed in some of the third world sh*tholes I visited in my travels.
The thought of backwash comes to mind.
You guys are sick!!! I'll take the air from my manifold heater any day over that.
I wonder if they are using those in the Whitehouse!
Sorry I need to learn better self control!