Respirator with stretch-panels

Abstract

A disposable respirator made from a filter body having at least one stretch-panel incorporated therein. The stretch-panel allows the respirator to better conform to the wearer's face during movement due to talking, coughing, or general head or neck movement. There may be one or more stretch-panels located underneath the chin or over the cheeks of the wearer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to filter masks which isolate both the mouth and nostrils of a wearer from the surrounding environment. More particularly, the invention relates to a conforming, collapsible filter mask which requires only a headband to secure the filter mask to the wearer's head.[0002]There are many situations today where it is necessary to filter the air which is inhaled and exhaled. Such filtration is primarily concerned with removal of small particulate matter, such as dirt or bacteria, as opposed to gases or liquids, from the air. Perhaps the most common instance in which a filter mask is used is in the medical arts. However, the same filter masks which have application in the medical arts are also, in many cases, well suited for use in industrial and domestic applications.[0003]In the medical arts, filter masks are often used to prevent substances exhaled by the wearer from entering the surrounding environment. The same mask may also be us...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0067]Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. The mask may be configured as any number of conventional masks. For example, the mask may be formed as a traditional molded cup or cone-shaped mask. Various configurations and shapes of masks are well known to those skilled in the art and any and all such conventional masks are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

Often construction or agricultural workers will be working in a “dirty” environment in which the air would be harmful to breathe if it were not filtered.

Unfortunately, many workers will simply go without a protective mask if they deem it too uncomfortable.

Regardless of the application, the full benefits of the filter mask will not be realized if inhaled or exhaled air is allowed to leak around the edges of the mask when held against the wearer's face.

However, it is challenging to construct a mask that will fit the facial configuration of all wearers without constructing the mask specifically for each individual face.

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