Sealing inspection device

Abstract

A seal inspection device includes: a valve seat having an opening; and a lever assembly disposed on a rear side of the valve seat adjacent the opening, the lever assembly including: a lever having a first end coupled to a valve member configured to close the opening and a second end accessible from a front side of the valve seat to be contacted, the lever having a first end coupled to the valve member and a second end coupled to the valve member; wherein the lever is supported on the pivot and is movable about the pivot, said movement of the lever about the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever is operable by exerting a force on a second end of the lever from a front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and maintain the opening closed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to respiratory protection devices, and in particular to respiratory protection devices including seal check devices. Background Art

[0002] In a respiratory protective device, clean air is made available to the wearer by ensuring that air from the outside environment passes through a filter media before being inhaled by the wearer. The effectiveness of the filtration depends on maintaining a good seal between the respirator and the wearer's face. The best possible filtration is achieved when all inhaled air is drawn through the filter media. On the other hand, if air from the outside environment is allowed to enter the respirator through gaps in the respirator or gaps that exist between the respirator and the wearer's face due to a poor fit, unfiltered air is inhaled by the wearer, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the respirator.

[0003] Various seal checking devices have been proposed for testing the integrity of the seal provided by a respiratory protective device. In a respirator equipped with a positive pressure seal checking device, the exhalation valve of the respiratory protective device is blocked when the wearer exhales into the respirator, resulting in a feeling of increased internal pressure of the respirator due to the inability of air in the respirator to escape through the exhalation valve in the absence of a leak. In a respirator equipped with a negative pressure seal checking device, the filter cartridge connected to the respirator can be manually blocked when the wearer inhales, resulting in a decrease in internal pressure in the respirator, thereby generating a feeling of vacuum suction due to the inability of air to enter the respirator. If there is a leak in either case, the pressure change is less noticeable, thereby drawing the wearer's attention to possible defects or failures in the respirator seal around the wearer's face. Both methods generally rely on structural add-ons to the respirator that require the wearer to manually close the air inlet or outlet to completely seal the respirator for the seal checking process. These structural add-ons may include components mounted on both sides of the respirator and extending through the respirator through through holes formed by punched holes in the respirator frame. Such a construction has the disadvantage of compromising the seal of the respirator.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a seal check device that resides entirely within the respirator without requiring holes to be punched through the respirator body for installation purposes or requiring no movable parts and that is structurally efficient for performing a seal check procedure on the respirator. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present disclosure provides a seal inspection device, which includes a valve seat having an opening and a lever assembly arranged adjacent to the opening on the rear side of the valve seat. The lever assembly includes a lever having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a valve member configured to close the opening, and the second end being accessible from the front side of the valve seat. The lever is supported on a pivot and is movable around the pivot, the movement of the lever around the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever is operable by applying a force on the second end of the lever from the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and keep the opening closed.

[0006] The present disclosure also provides a respirator, which includes: a mask and a seal check device arranged on the inner surface of the mask. The seal check device includes a valve seat having an opening and a lever assembly arranged adjacent to the opening on the rear side of the valve seat. The lever assembly includes a lever having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a valve member configured to close the opening, and the second end being accessible from the front side of the valve seat. The lever is supported on a pivot and is movable around the pivot, the movement of the lever around the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever is operable by applying a force on the second end of the lever from the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and keep the opening closed.

[0007] The present invention is different from the known seal inspection device in that the present invention uses a lever assembly to actuate the valve member to perform the seal inspection process. In contrast to the mechanism that applies direct force on the sealing component, the mechanical advantage derived from the lever mechanism enables the valve member to operate with reduced force, or enables the valve member to travel over a greater distance. Examples of the first type of lever include a seesaw and a pair of pliers. The lever assembly also helps to align the sealing component to the opening to be sealed with high accuracy and reliability. In addition, the lever assembly helps to reduce the sequential stacking of components in the thickness direction of the respirator, so that alternatively, some components such as levers can now be arranged to the lateral side of the opening, thereby reducing the thickness of the seal inspection device. The lever assembly is also different from the in-cartridge seal inspection design, which requires the user to press the filter cartridge to perform the seal inspection process, which can artificially improve the respirator seal when the user pushes the filter cartridge and the respirator to the face, thereby causing the unintentional hiding of defects in the respirator during the seal inspection process.

[0008] Since the seal check device will be arranged on the inside of the respirator, the technical problem that arises is how the user operates the lever assembly residing in the respirator. The present invention overcomes this problem in the following manner, that is, by arranging the end of the lever to be accessible from the front side of the seal check device to ensure that the lever assembly can be easily operated under the respirator. For example, the end of the lever can be arranged below the designated button position on the respirator, so the wearer only needs to press the respirator at the button position to actuate the lever under the respirator. There is no need for the lever assembly to extend through the respirator for access, thus avoiding the need to cut access holes in the respirator. As mentioned above, some known seal check devices require components to be arranged on both the inside and outside of the respirator, and the components have structures extending across the respirator via punched holes so that these structures are mounted to the respirator or slidably arranged. The presence of such holes can cause air leakage, thereby causing unwanted false positives during the seal check. By arranging the seal check device completely on the inside of the respirator, the structural elements that need to form holes on the mask can be avoided. The seal check device may be mounted to the respirator via a connection feature that is connected to an external cover portion having an inhalation port or an exhalation port as the only structure extending through the face seal. In addition, known seal check devices are typically designed to have a high degree of structural integration with the respirator body and cannot be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. In contrast, in the present invention, the seal check device is designed to be modular and can be easily removed and replaced without affecting the function of the respirator.

[0009] These and other advantages of the present invention are more fully shown and described in the drawings and detailed description of the present invention, in which like reference numerals are used to represent similar parts. However, it should be understood that the drawings and descriptions are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as undue limitations on the scope of the present invention.

[0010] Glossary

[0011] The terms set out below shall have the meanings defined below:

[0012] "Front side of valve seat" means any position in front of the front surface of the valve seat, including side front, top front, and bottom front positions, the front surface of the valve seat being the surface facing away from the wearer when the valve seat is installed on the respirator;

[0013] A "lever" is any structure supported on a pivot and capable of moving about the pivot;

[0014] “Lever assembly” means a structure consisting of one or more parts assembled together and including a lever supported on a pivot and capable of movement about the pivot;

[0015] "Pivot" refers to the point or axis about which a lever rotates or pivots. Although the term "pivot" is used in the singular, it means a single pivot as well as two, three, or more pivots.

[0016] A plurality of pivot implementation schemes of a pivot;

[0017] "Main opening" means an orifice formed in the body of the valve seat;

[0018] “Proximity” means close or in close proximity by physical proximity;

[0019] "Rear side of the valve seat" means any position behind the rear surface of the valve seat, including side rear, top rear, and bottom rear positions, the rear surface of the valve seat being the surface facing the wearer when the valve seat is installed on the respirator;

[0020] “Respirator” means a device worn by a person over at least the breathing passages (nose and mouth) for the purpose of supplying clean air to the person for breathing;

[0021] "Seal check" refers to a process used to evaluate the overall quality of the air seal between a respirator and the wearer's face. The terms "fit check" or "fit tester" sometimes referred to in the art refer to a process or device used to evaluate the fit between a respirator and the wearer's face. As used herein, the term "seal check" encompasses not only the factors evaluated during the fit check, but also all other factors that affect the air seal in a respirator, such as mounting holes through the respirator mask, air gaps between components, and cracks or splits therein that can result in air leaks. Accordingly, a "fit check" referred to in the art evaluates facial fit, but does not necessarily provide the broader assessment considered in the "seal check" process as contemplated herein;

[0022] "Seal check device" means a device used in conjunction with a respirator to enable the wearer to

[0023] Device for checking the sealing of the device;

[0024] "Auxiliary opening" means an orifice formed in the rear cover of the valve seat (if any);

[0025] “valve” means a device that controls the flow of air through an opening by covering the opening or by leaving the opening uncovered;

[0026] "Valve member" means a structure used to close the opening in the valve seat;

[0027] "Valve seat" refers to the structure having the main opening through which air flows and is controlled by the valve.

[0028] The Figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present disclosure may be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0030] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the seal inspection device according to the first embodiment.

[0031] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the seal inspection device according to the first embodiment.

[0032] Figure 3 is a side plan view of the seal inspection device according to the first embodiment.

[0033] Figure 4 is a rear plan view of the lever assembly according to the first embodiment.

[0034] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a valve seat according to a first embodiment.

[0035] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the components of a 3-component lever assembly.

[0036] Figure 7 is a side plan view of a seal inspection device according to a second embodiment.

[0037] Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the seal inspection device according to the third embodiment.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of a lever assembly according to a third embodiment.

[0039] Fig.10 is a rear perspective view of a seal inspection device according to a fourth embodiment.

[0040] Fig.11 is a rear perspective view of a lever assembly according to a fourth embodiment.

[0041] Fig.12 is a front perspective view of a seal inspection device with a biasing element according to a first embodiment.

[0042] Fig.13 is a rear perspective view of a modular seal inspection device according to a fifth embodiment.

[0043] Fig.14 is a rear perspective view of a respirator incorporating a seal inspection device.

[0044] Fig.15 It is a rear perspective view of the front cover of the respirator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention, specific terms will be used for clarity. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific terms selected, and it should be understood that each term selected includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. The seal check device as described in the following embodiments is not limited to use in any specific type of seal check process, and can be used to seal the air inlet or outlet of the respirator. The embodiments described herein related to negative pressure or positive pressure seal check processes are purely exemplary in nature.

[0046] Figures 1 to 3 A seal check device 100 is shown that can be used with a reusable respirator that can utilize a single filter cartridge or a dual filter cartridge. Examples of single filter cartridge respirators or dual filter cartridge respirators are described in U.S. Patents US 7,320,722, US 7,650,884, US 9,517,367, US 9,393,448, and US 11,305,134. Figure 1 , a seal check device 100 is shown, which includes a valve seat 110 having an opening 113 for air flow defined thereon and extending through the valve seat. The front side 116 of the valve seat is configured to face and fit inside the respirator. For example, the raised walls 119, 121 surrounding the openings 113 and 123 can be designed to be fixed to a corresponding structure on the inside of the respirator, such as a silicone face seal or a molded plastic mask. The valve seat 110 is configured as an elongated structure, wherein the length dimension is optionally 1.5 times, 2 times, 3 times or more of its width dimension, so as to accommodate the two openings according to the shape of the raised walls 119, 121 surrounding the openings, which can be circular, oval or square. Due to its complex construction, the valve seat 110 is preferably a molded structure comprising a durable, high-strength polymer material.

[0047] Figure 2 The rear side 125 of the valve seat 110 is shown with the lever assembly 130 disposed adjacent to the opening 113. The first end 133 of the lever assembly 130 is attached to the valve member 140 via a connection 149 mounted through a slot formed in a lateral side wall 128 of the valve seat. Actuation of the lever assembly 130 causes the valve member 140 to move toward or away from the opening 113 ( Figure 1) above the valve 117. When the wearer performs the seal check procedure, the wearer manually applies a force on the second end 136 of the lever assembly from the front side of the respirator. The lever assembly is configured so that the force acts in an inward direction, thereby moving toward the wearer of the respirator. In doing so, the first end of the lever assembly pivots in the opposite direction, moving outward and away from the wearer, thereby causing the valve member to move toward the valve 117, sealing it against the opening. In order to make the second end 136 of the lever assembly operable even when the seal check device is located on the inner surface of the respirator, the second end is positioned so that it can be approached from the front side of the valve seat for contact (although it is below the respirator). This means that, in one embodiment, the second end of the lever assembly is configured to extend beyond the edge of the valve seat in the length direction so that it can be approached for contact by a wearer attempting to press the lever from the front side of the valve seat and the respirator.

[0048] Figure 3 The direction of the force to be applied to the second end 136 of the lever assembly 130 as shown by arrow 150, and the direction of movement of the first end 133 of the lever assembly 130 and the connected valve member as shown by arrow 153 are shown. The force applied to the second end of the lever acts in a direction from the front side of the valve seat toward the lever movement. When viewed from the wearer's perspective, the force applied to the lever acts in a direction toward the wearer's movement. This force actuates the valve member 140 to move in an opposite direction, which is directed outward and away from the wearer of the respirator. In this embodiment, the pivot 177 of the lever assembly is located between the first end 133 and the second end 136 of the lever assembly 130. The pivot can include a hinge joint 177 formed between the lever assembly and the valve seat, or a pivot contact point 137 between the lever assembly and the raised side wall 128. A slot 129 disposed in the lateral side wall 128 enables the first end 133 of the lever to be connected to the valve member. The slot 129 is shown as being horizontally oriented in the figure. It may be configured to slope downward at the rear so that the lever end 133 rests in the bottom of the slot 129 due to gravity, thereby enabling the lever assembly to stay in the open position by default.

[0049] Figure 2 The embodiment shown in depicts the valve member 140 as a valve cover 141 for compressing the valve 117. It is arranged at the opening 113 on the rear side of the valve seat 110. The valve 117 can be pressed against the valve support 146 located in the opening by the valve cover 141. The valve 117 may include any suitable valve used in the respirator, such as a flexible valve flap type diaphragm valve centrally attached to the valve support 146, which allows air to flow through the opening in one direction and prevents air from flowing in the opposite direction. The valve cover can take any shape as long as it effectively compresses the valve 117 to prevent the valve from opening when performing the sealing inspection process. For example, the valve cover may include a Figure 2The depicted circular frame matches the outer shape of the circular diaphragm valve at the opening of the valve seat. Alternatively, the valve cover may include an oval, square or rectangular shape. Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the valve cover includes a circular frame 160 having spokes 163 connected to a central hub 166, similar to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. The second end 136 of the lever assembly 130 may include a contact area and may be depressed from the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member 140 toward the opening.

[0050] The lever assembly may include a lever having an arcuate shape, a first end of the lever including a pair of bifurcated arms, and a second end of the lever including a contact area for actuating the lever. Figure 4 At the first end of the lever 170, the bifurcated arms 172 extend toward the lateral side of the valve seat, and each arm carries an orifice to accommodate a support shaft 178 extending outward from the valve cover 160 to mount the valve cover 160 to the lever arm. At the second end of the lever, around the middle of the lever where the bifurcated arms intersect, a push tab 174 is configured to provide a contact area for actuating the lever. Each of the lever arms forms a connection to the valve member so that the lever can actuate the valve member. In one embodiment, a hub-shaft connection is provided. Other connections such as ball joint connections may also be used. In a preferred embodiment, the connection is releasable so that the valve cover can be released from the lever. This helps to facilitate disassembly of the seal inspection device in order to clean or replace wear parts of the lever assembly or valve.

[0051] A lever is supported on a pivot and is able to move about the pivot. The motion is often described as a seesaw or rocking motion. In a lever system, the location of the pivot determines the mechanical advantage and the direction of the applied force. Generally, the location of the pivot relative to the input force and the output force determines the class. In a first class of levers, the pivot is located between the applied force and the load. In a second class of levers, the pivot is located at one end, the input force is applied at the other end, and the output force is applied at the pivot. In a third class of levers, the pivot is located at one end, the input force is applied at the pivot, and the output force is applied at the other end. In an embodiment, the operating principles of the first class of levers can be advantageously used to amplify the force or increase the distance traveled by the load. In one embodiment, the pivot includes a hinge connection. In Figure 4, a pair of hinges 177 are arranged between the first and second ends of the lever. The location of the hinge between the load (i.e., the valve cover) and the force (i.e., the contact area 174 where the force is applied) makes the lever a Class 1 lever, where the fulcrum is located between the force and the resistance. To increase the mechanical advantage, the fulcrum is preferably located closer to the load, i.e., closer to the first end 133. In other words, the distance between the first end of the lever assembly and the fulcrum is preferably shorter than the distance between the second end of the lever assembly and the fulcrum. The hinge 177 can be mounted to the support frame, or mounted to the valve seat.

[0052] Figure 5 The valve seat 100 is shown without the lever assembly. The valve seat has an elongated structure with a first opening 113, in which the valve support 146 is arranged. The first opening 113 serves as an opening for inhaled air to enter the valve seat. A second opening 123 with a valve support 156 arranged in the opening is also provided on the valve seat 100. The second opening 123 serves as an opening for exhaled air to leave the valve seat. The lever assembly can be arranged on the first opening 113 or the second opening 123 to provide a seal check device for performing a negative pressure seal check by closing the opening for inhaled air, or a positive pressure seal check by closing the opening for exhaled air.

[0053] Figure 6 An embodiment of a lever assembly 190 having three components is shown. The three components are a support frame 180, a lever 181, and a valve cover 182. Both the support frame 180 and the lever 181 are similarly arcuate in shape. The support frame 180 includes a forked guide arm 180A and a recess 180B, on which a hinge 181A of the lever 181 is mounted. A pair of slots 180C are defined on the support frame 180 to accommodate each connection between the pair of forked guide arms 180A of the lever and the valve cover 182. The slots 180C define a track within which each connection between the pair of forked guide arms and the valve cover is allowed to move when the lever is actuated. The three components of the lever, the support frame, and the valve cover can be assembled together and then secured to the valve seat. The valve cover 182 has a pair of support shafts 182A that are arranged to be received in the slots 180C and the hub 181B to form a shaft-hub connection. In Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment, Figure 6 The support frame is formed integrally with the valve seat, without the need for a separate support frame. The support frame is formed as a raised wall 128 that at least partially surrounds the opening. On the raised wall, a pair of slots may be formed to accommodate each connection between a pair of bifurcated arms and the valve cover, the slots defining a track within which each connection is allowed to move when the lever is actuated, similar to Figure 6 The situation in the braced frame described in .

[0054] Generally speaking, the lever assembly is capable of moving in a plane that is not parallel to the plane of the opening. In other words, the movement of the lever assembly is located in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the opening. Figure 3 In any plane that intersects the plane of the opening 113 depicted by the dashed line 158 in FIG. In a preferred embodiment, the lever assembly can be moved toward or away from the opening in a back-and-forth manner, wherein the movement of the valve member is orthogonal to the plane of the opening 113. This means that the angle of incidence of the plane of motion of the lever assembly with the plane of the opening 113 as depicted by the dashed line 158 is 90°. Alternatively, the plane of motion of the lever assembly can also be tilted relative to the plane of the opening, set to an angle of incidence of 80°, 70°, 60° or less with the plane of the opening.

[0055] In another embodiment, the valve member includes a valve cover configured to actuate toward the opening and cover the opening without contacting the diaphragm valve. Figure 7 , the valve cover 140 is constructed as a continuous plate or cup having a forwardly projecting lip 169 around the periphery of the valve cover, so that when the lever assembly is operated during the seal check process, the lip 169 of the valve cover 140 contacts and forms a seal with the valve seat around the opening 113 and around the periphery of the valve 117 without directly contacting the valve 117. In this embodiment, continuous contact with the valve 117, which may be made of a soft material, is avoided, thereby reducing wear and cracking caused by repeated seal checks.

[0056] In certain embodiments, the lever assembly is directly connected to the valve seat via a hinge. Figure 8 , a seal check device 200 is shown comprising a lever assembly 210 comprising a lever having a hinge connection 213 formed directly with a valve seat. This allows the wearer to perform a seal check procedure by pressing the second end 250 of the lever to actuate the valve cover towards the valve to close the opening. Fig. 9 The lever assembly is shown in more detail. In this embodiment, the lever assembly 210 includes a pair of bifurcated arms 220 that are coupled to the valve cover 240 from the inside via, for example, a shaft-hub connection. In this case, a shaft 223 extends from the bifurcated arms 220, and a corresponding hub 243 that accommodates the shaft 223 is formed on the valve cover 240. Advantageously, this allows the arms of the lever to be clamped together to release the arms from the valve cover 240 when the valve or the lever or any other component below the lever needs to be repaired or replaced.

[0057] When designed as a negative pressure seal tester, the valve is arranged at the inspiratory opening. It is conceivable that the device can also be operated as a positive pressure seal tester, wherein the valve is arranged at the expiratory opening and other modifications are made.

[0058] Although the above embodiments describe a lever mechanism that actuates the valve member in an outward direction away from the wearer, it is possible to implement a lever mechanism in which, when actuated, the valve member moves in an inward direction toward the wearer. The actuation direction of the valve member can change the force required to operate the lever assembly during the seal check process. For a negative pressure seal check device in which the valve is mounted at the inhalation opening, the advantage of reversing the actuation direction of the valve member (i.e., by moving the valve member toward the wearer) is that the inhalation suction force will help pull the valve closed at the inhalation opening. The suction force adds a complementary force to the valve member, so that the corresponding force required to operate the lever is reduced.

[0059] Fig.10 An embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the seal inspection device 300 includes a lever assembly that actuates the valve member in an inward direction (i.e., toward the wearer). The lever assembly 320 includes a first end of a first lever arm 325 connected to a valve member 327 and an opposite end A pivoted on a first hinge. The lever assembly also includes a second lever arm 322 having a second end, and the second end can be approached by a user from the front side of the valve seat to be pressed. The second lever arm has an opposite end B pivoted on a second hinge, and end A and end B engage with each other in a gear-tooth engagement manner. In this way, the force applied to the second lever arm 322 is converted into a force that actuates the first lever arm 325, which in turn actuates the valve member. The first lever arm 325 is bifurcated and connected to the valve member 327 via a central retainer 329. The first end of the first lever arm extends into an opening 370 of a rear cover 360 to couple with the valve member 327.

[0060] To describe in more detail Fig.10 implementation plan, Fig.11 A second lever arm 322 is shown pivoting on a second hinge 343, while a first lever arm 325 pivots on a first hinge 353. The two hinges 343, 353 connect the lever directly to the valve seat. The second lever arm 322 includes an end A1 and an end A2, wherein end A1 is accessible to the wearer to be actuated, and the first lever arm 325 includes an end B1 and an end B2, wherein end B1 is connected to the valve member. End A2 of the second lever arm and end B2 of the first lever arm are engaged together in a counter-rotating gear-tooth connection, so that the pivotal movement of the second lever arm 322 is converted into a force that causes the first lever arm 325 to pivot in the opposite direction. This enables the first lever arm 325 to actuate the valve member 327 in an inward direction toward the rear cover 360, which has an auxiliary opening 370 defined thereon. The main opening 113 ( Figure 1 ) is located on the main body of the valve seat, opposite to the auxiliary opening. The valve member 327 is arranged between the main opening 113 and the auxiliary opening 370 ( Fig.10 ). Back cover 360 ( Fig.10 ) and valve seat 310( Fig.10 ) forms an openable closure for closing the valve member 327, wherein the auxiliary opening 370 of the valve seat is defined on the rear cover. Therefore, the auxiliary opening 370 is a passage for guiding the air flow, and it is sealed by the seal check device instead of the main opening 113 ( Figure 1 ) to perform the seal check process. The releasable rear cover 360 encloses the valve member and can be opened to replace the valve member. In this embodiment, the valve member includes a flexible diaphragm valve arranged at an auxiliary opening 370 on the inner side of the rear cover 360 ( Fig.10 ), and is configured to actuate toward the opening of the rear cover to cover the opening when the lever is operated, thereby preventing air from flowing from the front side of the valve seat into the opening.

[0061] In order to ensure that the lever assembly does not inadvertently cover the opening of the valve seat and thereby affect the wearer's breathing, it may be desirable to implement a safety mechanism that by default holds the lever assembly in the open position. This feature is optional and is not necessary if the lever assembly is modified to remain in the open position. Therefore, in one embodiment, the device further comprises a biasing member arranged to by default bias the valve member away from the opening. Fig.12 In the embodiment of the present invention, the device 400 includes a lever assembly 410 engaged with a biasing member including a leaf spring 420. When stationary, the leaf spring 420 abuts the bifurcated arm of the lever, thereby maintaining the bifurcated arm in a position where the valve member (not shown) is spaced apart from the opening 430. When the lever is actuated by the wearer to close the opening of the valve seat to perform a seal check, a force is applied to the lever assembly to compress the leaf spring when the valve member is actuated toward the opening, and thereafter the valve member is maintained in position to keep the opening closed, thereby performing a seal check process by the wearer. Once the wearer completes the seal check process, the lever is released, and the tension in the leaf spring pushes the lever assembly back to its default position, thereby maintaining the valve member separated from the opening of the valve seat, and allowing air to flow through the opening of the valve seat. Any suitable biasing device can be used to replace the leaf spring. In different embodiments, the biasing member can include a central compression spring that biases the valve member away from the opening.

[0062] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a respirator including a seal check device. The respirator includes a mask and a seal check device arranged on the inner surface of the mask, the seal check device including: a valve seat having an opening; and a lever assembly, the lever assembly is arranged adjacent to the opening on the rear side of the valve seat, the lever assembly including: a lever having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a valve member configured to close the opening, the second end being accessible from the front side of the valve seat to be contacted, wherein the lever is supported on a pivot and can move around the pivot, the movement of the lever around the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever can be operated by applying a force on the second end of the lever from the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and keep the opening closed.

[0063] Fig.13 A rear perspective view of a respirator 600 is shown, which includes a seal check device 620 mounted on the inside of a mask 610. The mask 610 is a composite structure and includes: a face seal portion 611, which is configured to contact and form a seal with the wearer's face; and a body portion 612, which is coupled to the face seal and provides a frontal section of the body portion 612, and an outer cover 630 is arranged on the outer surface of the mask 610 on the frontal section. The seal check device 620 is arranged on the inside of the mask 610 and connected to the cover 630. The face seal 611 can include a silicone material, while the body portion 612 can be semi-rigid and include a polymer material. For example, an example of a mask is described in U.S. Patent 8,820,326.

[0064] exist Fig.14 and Fig.15 6, the cover 630 includes a port 633 defined by a connection 635 for receiving a filter cartridge. Although depicted as a threaded connection, any other suitable filter cartridge connection may be used. Port 633 is aligned with the seal check device opening located at the rear of the mask 610. In this figure, port 633 can be used as an inhalation port, and using the seal check device 100 as an example, Figure 1 The first opening 113 in the cover is aligned with the port 633. The cover also includes a second port 643 spaced apart from the first port 633. The second port 643 can be used as an exhalation port. Figure 1 Taking the sealing inspection device 100 as an example, Figure 1The second opening 123 in the cap 630 is aligned with the exhalation port 643. A threaded connector or any other suitable type of connector may be provided on the connection portion 635 surrounding the port 633 to enable connection of a suitable accessory. Examples of accessories that may be used include a filter cartridge containing a nonwoven filter material and an adsorbent for adsorbing organic vapors. The port 633 of the cap 630 may be connected to a filter cartridge to filter the inhaled air. Fig.14 In one embodiment, the inhalation port 633 is aligned with the opening on the valve seat of the seal check device. In other embodiments, the seal check device can be applied to the exhalation port. To implement a negative pressure seal check, the seal check device can be attached to a chemical or particulate filter cartridge and modified as needed for a respirator with a dual inhalation filter cartridge. To implement a positive pressure seal check, the seal check device can be arranged at the exhalation port 643.

[0065] Fig.15 The orifice 639 may be disposed adjacent to the suction port on the cover 630 to accommodate Fig.14 Depicted push button 640. Push button 640 is aligned with a location of the second end of the lever assembly beneath the face seal such that when push button 640 is depressed, the push button actuates the second end of the lever assembly to enable a seal check procedure to be performed.

[0066] Advantageously, a respirator having a seal check device configured in this manner allows Fig.13 The punch-through of holes in the mask 610 in the embodiment of the present invention is minimized, thereby reducing sources of undesirable air leaks. The seal check device as described herein may also be releasably assembled to enable the wearer to remove the seal check device for cleaning and replace components of the seal check device when the seal check device is damaged. This can be achieved by providing any suitable connection feature such as a snap-on latch to attach the seal check device to the inside of the mask.

[0067] Various other modifications and adaptations of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications and adaptations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sealing inspection device, comprising: A valve seat having an opening and a lever assembly disposed adjacent to the opening on a rear side of the valve seat, the lever assembly comprising: A lever having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a valve member configured to close the opening, the second end being accessible from a front side of the valve seat for contact, wherein the lever is supported on a pivot and is movable about the pivot, the movement of the lever about the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever being operable by applying a force on the second end of the lever from a front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and keep the opening closed. 2 . The seal inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is movable in a plane intersecting the opening. 3 . The sealing inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve seat includes a valve arranged at the opening on the rear side of the valve seat.

4. The sealing inspection device according to claim 3, wherein the valve member includes a valve cover, which is configured to abut against a flexible valve flap when the lever is operated so that the flexible valve flap covers the opening and prevents air from flowing from the front side of the valve seat into the opening.

5. The sealing inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a flexible valve flap, which is arranged at the opening on the front side of the valve seat to allow air to flow out of the opening from the rear side of the valve seat in one direction. 6 . The seal check device of claim 5 , wherein the valve member comprises a valve cover configured to be actuated toward the opening to cover the opening without contacting the flexible valve flap, thereby preventing air from flowing through the opening.

7. A seal check device according to claim 6, wherein the first end of the lever includes a pair of bifurcated arms, each arm forming a connection to the valve member, and the second end of the lever includes a contact area for actuating the lever.

8. The seal check device according to claim 7, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on a support frame via a hinge connection formed with the support frame, and the support frame is mounted on the rear side of the valve seat.

9. A seal inspection device according to claim 8, wherein the support frame includes a pair of narrow slots, each narrow slot accommodating a connection portion between the bifurcated arm and the valve member, and the narrow slots define a track, and each connection portion is allowed to move within the track when the lever is operated.

10. The seal check device of claim 7, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on the valve seat via a hinge connection formed with the valve seat.

11. A sealing inspection device according to claim 10, wherein the rear side of the valve seat includes a raised wall arranged between the forked arm and the valve member, the raised wall having a pair of narrow grooves defined therein, each narrow groove accommodating a connection portion between the forked arm and the valve cover, the narrow groove defining a track, and each connection portion is allowed to move within the track when the lever is operated. 12 . The sealing inspection device according to claim 7 , wherein a connection between the bifurcated arm and the valve cover is configured to be releasable.

13. The seal inspection device according to claim 10, wherein the lever comprises: a first lever arm comprising said first end coupled to the valve member and an opposite end A pivoted on a first hinge, A second lever arm comprising the second end accessible from the front side of the valve seat and an opposite end B pivoted on a second hinge, wherein end A and end B are engaged with each other in a gear-tooth engagement. 14 . The sealing inspection device according to claim 13 , further comprising a rear cover, the rear cover and the valve seat forming an openable closure for closing the valve member, wherein the opening of the valve seat is defined on the rear cover.

15. A sealing inspection device according to claim 14, wherein the valve member includes a flexible valve flap, which is arranged at the opening on the inner side of the rear cover and is configured to actuate toward the opening of the rear cover to cover the opening when the lever is operated, thereby preventing air from flowing into the opening from the front side of the valve seat. 16 . The seal check device according to claim 15 , wherein the first end portion of the first lever arm extends into the opening of the rear cover to connect with the flexible valve flap.

17. The seal check device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a biasing member arranged to bias the valve member away from the opening by default.

18. The seal check device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve seat has a first opening including an inhalation port and a second opening including an exhalation port.

19. The seal inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lever extends over an edge of the valve seat.

20. A respirator, comprising: A face mask and a seal inspection device arranged on an inner surface of the face mask, the seal inspection device comprising: A valve seat having an opening and a lever assembly disposed adjacent to the opening on a rear side of the valve seat, the lever assembly comprising: A lever having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a valve member configured to close the opening, the second end being accessible from a front side of the valve seat for contact, wherein the lever is supported on a pivot and is movable about the pivot, the movement of the lever about the pivot causing the valve member to move toward or away from the valve seat, and the lever being operable by applying a force on the second end of the lever from a front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and keep the opening closed.

21. The respirator of claim 20, wherein the mask includes an elastomeric face seal and a cover disposed on an outer surface of the face seal and connected to the seal check device, the cover including an inhalation port aligned with the opening on the valve seat of the seal check device.

22. The respirator of claim 21, wherein the inhalation port is connected to a filter cartridge.

23. The respirator of claim 21 or 22, wherein the cover includes a button adjacent the inhalation port, the button being aligned with a position of the second end of the lever assembly below the face seal, and the button being pressed to actuate the lever assembly.

24. The respirator of claims 21 or 22, wherein the lever assembly is disposed entirely beneath the face seal, with no portion thereof extending through the face seal.

25. A respirator according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the seal check device is releasably mounted to the respirator.

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