Stiffened filter mask

a filter mask and mask technology, applied in the field of face masks, can solve the problems of airborne dust particles, a known hazard on the job site, and the person wearing the filter mask may have a more difficult time breathing, and the manufacture of such filters can be quite complex

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-06-03
OCCHIUTI ROHLICECK & TSAO LLP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The design enhances filtration efficiency, reduces breathing resistance, and prevents mask collapse, maintaining comfort and structure without additional material costs, while allowing for easy storage and use.

Problems solved by technology

For example, air borne dust particles are a known hazard commonly on work sites.
However, this often has the undesirable effect of increasing the air resistance through the filter mask and may cause several problems.
For example, a person wearing the filter mask may have a more difficult time breathing due to the increased air resistance.
Manufacture of such filter masks, however, can be quite complex.
For example, increasing the filter area can cause various portions of the filter layer to overlap or can be costly to construct.
Overlap can effectively increase the thickness of the filter layer, thus causing the same air resistance problem as discussed above.
Additionally, since a person wearing the mask while performing manual labor must typically breathe heavier, the filter layer(s) is more likely to flex and eventually collapse around the face.
This collapse may cause portions of the face mask to contact and irritate the face of the person wearing the face mask, as well as cause discomfort.
However, adding additional material to the face mask adds complexity to the production process and increases cost.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0033]In illustrative embodiments of the invention, portions of an air filtration mask (hereinafter “filter mask” or “mask”) are stiffened without adding additional material to the mask. This stiffening aids in preventing the mask from collapsing around the face, and also tends to keep the mask in a desired form. The filter mask may advantageously have an increased filtration area by incorporating two pleats, which may be triangular in shape, into its filter layer. Moreover, manufacturing is simplified because, among other things, much of the process of manufacturing the filter mask may be completed while the filter layer is laid flat. Details of illustrative embodiments are discussed below.

[0034]FIG. 1a schematically shows an exemplary filter mask 10 constructed in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the invention. Specifically, the filter mask 10 includes a specially constructed filter layer 12 that is capable of opening to form a concave area for receiving, and forming a ...

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Abstract

A flat-folding mask includes a filter layer forming a rim. The filter layer has first and second side panels extending from the rim. A substantially centrally located front panel bridges the first and second side panels, the front panel being substantially flat. The filter layer further includes a fused portion that is seamless and spaced from the rim. Triangular pleats may add support to the side walls and increase the effective filtration area of the mask.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 423,382, filed Apr. 25, 2003, entitled “Face Mask and Method of Manufacturing the Same,” which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 386,297, filed Jun. 5, 2002. Each of the above-mentioned applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to face masks and, more particularly, the invention relates to face masks used to filter air breathed by people wearing such face masks.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Air filtration masks (referred to herein as “filter masks”) are widely used to protect people from air borne contaminants and gasses. For example, air borne dust particles are a known hazard commonly on work sites. Consequently, workers normally wear filter masks to avoid inhaling the dust particles. To that end, filter masks used in this application are manufactured with a filter mate...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A62B7/10B23P17/04A41D13/11
CPCA41D13/1123Y10T29/49826A62B23/025A41D13/1138
InventorGERSON, RONALD L.BRUNELL, ROBERT A.CUPICHA, MICHAEL
OwnerOCCHIUTI ROHLICECK & TSAO LLP