Maintenance-free respirator that has concave portions on opposing sides of mask top section

Abstract

A maintenance-free respirator 10 that includes a mask harness and a mask body 11. The mask body 11 has at least one layer of filter media 56 and has a perimeter 32 that includes an upper segment 34. The upper segment 34 includes first and second concave segments 36, 38 that are located, respectively, on first and second sides of a central plane 40, when viewing the mask body from a top view. A maintenance-free respirator 10 of this configuration is comfortable to wear and can provide a snug fit to a wearer's face, particularly beneath each of the wearer's eyes, while at the same time having an ability to improve compatibility with various protective eyewear.

Description

[0001]The present invention pertains to a maintenance-free respirator that has a perimeter that includes first and second concave segments that are located on the top section of the mask body. The concave segments are disposed on opposing sides of a central plane that bisects the mask body.BACKGROUND[0002]Maintenance-free respirators (sometimes referred to as “filtering face masks” or “filtering face pieces”) are worn over the breathing passages of a person for two common purposes: (1) to prevent impurities or contaminants from entering the wearer's breathing track; and (2) to protect other persons or things from being exposed to pathogens and other contaminants exhaled by the wearer. In the first situation, the maintenance-free respirator is worn in an environment where the air contains particles that are harmful to the wearer, for example, in an auto body shop. In the second situation, the respirator is worn in an environment where there is risk of contamination to others persons ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention is directed to improving the compatibility between maintenance-free respirators and protective eyewear while still achieving a snug fit over the wearer's nose and eyes. The inventive maintenance-free respirator comprises a mask body that includes at least one layer of filter media. The mask body also has a perimeter that includes an upper segment that has first and second concave segments located, respectively, on first and second sides of a central plane when viewing the mask body from a top view. A harness is secured to the mask body so that it can be supported on a wearer's face.

[0009]The present invention differs from conventional respirators in that the mask body is sculpted along the upper segment of the perimeter. The mask body includes first and second concave segments that are located on opposing sides of a central plane that bisects a top view of the mask. The concave segments resemble “dips” or “cut-outs” in the path traced by the mask body perimeter when viewed through a plane projected onto the top of the mask body (see FIG. 5a). In conventional maintenance-free respirators, the perimeter primarily exhibited only a generally straight line or perhaps a constant arc when viewed through such a plane. By reconfiguring the mask body over the nose region and beneath the eyes, the inventors discovered that a good, comfortable, snug fit may be achieved while also preventing fogging of the wearer's eyewear and improving the compatibility between a maintenance-free respirator and the protective eyewear.Glossary

[0027]“nose foam” means a foam-type material that is adapted for placement on the interior of a mask body to improve fit and / or wearer comfort over the nose when the respirator is being worn by a person;

Problems solved by technology

In the nose region, however, there is a complex change in contour, which makes a snug fit more challenging to achieve, particularly over the nose and beneath each eye of the wearer.

Failure to obtain a snug fit on this part of a wearer's face can allow air to enter or exit the respirator interior without passing through the filter media.

If such an event were to occur, contaminants could possibly enter the wearer's breathing track or other persons or things could be exposed to contaminants exhaled by the wearer.

In addition, the wearer's eyewear may become fogged, which, of course, makes visibility more troublesome to the wearer and creates unsafe conditions for the user and others.

When wearing a respirator in conjunction with protective eyewear, there sometimes can be conflicts between these two personal safety articles.

The respirator may, for example, hinder the eyewear from properly resting on the wearer's face.

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