Air filtering soft face mask

Abstract

An air filtering soft face mask has a soft body formed of multiple layers of material, including at least one layer of air filtering material capable of filtering selected contaminants from air. The body has an arcuate or peaked nose engaging edge adapted to engage a nose of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend downwardly. The body has a chin underlying edge adapted to underlie a chin of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend upwardly. The remote ends of the chin underlying edge being secured to the remote ends of the nose engaging edge to form side edges. Jaw movement tensions the body, forcing the nose engaging edge into firmer engagement with the nose of the wearer, forcing the chin underlying edge into firmer engagement with the chin of the wearer and tensioning the side edges into firmer engagement with the cheeks of the wearer.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to soft masks (as opposed to hard masks) that are constructed of filter material that can filter out contaminants and that can be used in medical and industrial applications. Background technique [0002] Air filtering masks are generally soft or hard. To be effective, they must form a gas seal so that all gas flows through the filter material as it enters and exits the mask. [0003] Soft masks made of filter material have only limited adjustment properties to different face sizes and shapes, so they cannot follow the contours of the face exactly in the same way as hard masks. And the problem is exacerbated when the wearer's jaw moves. As a result of talking or coughing, the wearer's jaw moves, causing a gap to form along the rim of the mask, which breaks the gas seal. This allows air pollutants to bypass the filter material, enter and exit the mask through gaps along the rim, thereby compromising the desired respirato...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] Soft masks made of filter material have only limited adjustment properties to different face sizes and shapes, so they cannot follow the contours of the face exactly in the same way as hard masks

and the problem is exacerbated when the wearer's jaw moves

As a result of talking or coughing, the wearer's jaw moves, causing a gap to form along the edge of the mask, which breaks the gas seal

This allows air pollutants to bypass the filter material and enter and exit the mask through gaps along the rim, thereby compromising the desired respiratory protection

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