The toilet snorkel was patented in 1982. The invention allowed a trapped individual in a burning high-rise to use the snorkel to breathe until rescue. Below is more info from the patent application:

"The recent rash of fires in high-rise hotels has resulted in the death of numerous people due to toxic smoke inhalation. Although the various fire departments involved expedited recovery efforts to save such people from impending death, the various toxic gases intermixed with the smoke, resulting from the burning of plastic furniture materials and the like, proved lethal within a very short time period. It has thus proven critical to provide the entrapped hotel guest with a source of fresh air or oxygen until the guest is rescued. Furthermore, experience has shown that the entrapped guest should remain in his or her hotel room, rather than attempt to proceed to the roof or any other floor of the hotel, to facilitate the rescue operation.

A tireman, in pertorming tirefighting and rescue operations of the above type, normally carries a canister of oxygen with him for breathing purposes. On occasion, the fireman will deplete his supply of oxygen to thus also subject himself to toxic smoke inhalation. Therefore, it would prove desirable to provide not only a hotel guest with a supply of fresh air, when needed, but to also provide such air to a fireman who may encounter the above type of emergency situation."