Sealing inspection device and respirator

Abstract

The utility model relates to a sealing inspection device and a respirator, and the sealing inspection device comprises a valve seat which is provided with 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 respiratory protective devices, clean air is made available to the wearer by ensuring that air from the external environment passes through the filter media before being inhaled by the wearer. The effectiveness of 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 external environment is allowed to enter the respirator through gaps in the respirator or gaps 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 respiratory protective devices. In respirators equipped with positive pressure seal checking devices, the exhalation valve of the respiratory protective device is blocked as the wearer exhales into the respirator. This causes the respirator's internal pressure to increase, even if there is no leak, because air within the respirator cannot escape through the exhalation valve. In respirators equipped with negative pressure seal checking devices, the filter cartridge connected to the respirator can be manually blocked as the wearer inhales, causing the internal pressure within the respirator to decrease, thereby creating a vacuum suction sensation because air cannot enter the respirator. In either case, if a leak is present, the pressure change is less noticeable, thus drawing the wearer's attention to a possible defect or malfunction in the respirator's seal around the wearer's face. Both of these methods typically rely on structural add-ons to the respirator that require the wearer to manually close the air inlet or outlet to fully seal the respirator for the seal checking procedure. These structural add-ons may include components mounted on both sides of the respirator and extending through the respirator through holes formed by punched holes in the respirator frame. Such a construction has the disadvantage of compromising the respirator seal.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a seal check device that resides entirely within the respirator without requiring holes punched through the respirator body for installation purposes or requiring movable parts, and that is structurally efficient for performing a seal check procedure on the respirator. Utility Model Content

[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 a rear side of the valve seat. The lever assembly includes 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. The lever is supported on a pivot and is movable about the pivot, wherein the movement of the lever about the pivot causes 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 maintain 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 disclosure is different from known seal inspection devices in that the present disclosure uses a lever assembly to actuate the valve member to perform the seal inspection process. In contrast to a 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 precision and reliability. In addition, the lever assembly helps to reduce the sequential stacking of components in the thickness direction of the respirator, so that instead, some components such as levers can now be arranged on 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 respirator onto the face, thereby causing the unintentional concealment of defects in the respirator during the seal inspection process.

[0008] Since the seal check device will be located on the inside of the respirator, a technical challenge arises: how does the user operate the lever assembly residing inside the respirator? The present disclosure overcomes this problem by arranging the lever end so that it can be accessed from the front of the seal check device, ensuring that the lever assembly is easily accessible from the underside of the respirator. For example, the lever end can be located below a designated button on the respirator, so the wearer only needs to press the button to activate the lever underneath. The lever assembly does not need 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 located on both the inside and outside of the respirator, with these components having structures that extend across the respirator via punched holes for mounting to the respirator or are slidably arranged. The presence of such holes can cause air leaks, leading to unwanted false positives during the seal check. By arranging the seal check device entirely on the inside of the respirator, the need for structural elements to form holes in the mask can be avoided. The seal check device can be mounted to the respirator via a connection feature that connects to an external cover portion having an inhalation port or an exhalation port as the sole structure extending through the face seal. Furthermore, 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 disclosure, 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 disclosure are more fully shown and described in the drawings and detailed description of the present disclosure, in which like reference numerals are used to represent like parts. However, it should be understood that the drawings and description are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as unduly limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] Glossary

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

[0012] "Front side of the valve seat" means any position forward 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 and capable of moving about a 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 one 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 location behind the rear surface of the valve seat, including side, top, and bottom rear locations, which is the surface of the valve seat that faces the wearer when the valve seat is installed on the respirator;

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

[0021] "Seal check" refers to a process used to assess the overall quality of the air seal between a respirator and the wearer's face. The terms "fit check" or "fit tester" are sometimes referred to in the art to refer to a process or device used to assess the fit between a respirator and the wearer's face. As used herein, the term "seal check" encompasses not only the factors assessed during the fit check, but also all other factors that affect the air seal in a respirator, such as mounting holes through the respirator facepiece, air gaps between components, and cracks or crevices therein that can result in air leaks. Accordingly, what is referred to in the art as a "fit check" assesses 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 keeping the opening uncovered;

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

[0027] "Valve seat" refers to the structure with 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 a seal inspection device according to a third embodiment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0045] When describing preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, specific terminology will be used for clarity. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific terminology selected, and it should be understood that each term selected includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. The seal check device described in the following embodiments is not limited to use with any specific type of seal check process and can be used to seal the air inlet or outlet of a respirator. The embodiments described herein relating 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 7,320,722, 7,650,884, 9,517,367, 9,393,448, and 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 over the inside of a respirator. For example, the raised walls 119, 121 surrounding the openings 113 and 123 can be designed to be secured to corresponding structures 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 times its width dimension, so as to accommodate the two openings depending on 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 the opening 113. A 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 sidewall 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 disposed on the rear side of the valve seat. Figure 1) moves the valve 117 above the respirator. 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 for the second end 136 of the lever assembly to be operable even when the seal check device is located on the interior surface of the respirator, the second end is positioned so that it can be approached for contact from the front side of the valve seat (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 the wearer attempting to press the lever from the valve seat and the front side of the respirator.

[0048] Figure 3 The direction of the force applied to the second end 136 of the lever assembly 130, as indicated by arrow 150, and the direction of movement of the first end 133 of the lever assembly 130 and the connected valve member, as indicated 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. When viewed from the wearer's perspective, the force applied to the lever acts in a direction toward the wearer. This force actuates the valve member 140 to move in the opposite direction, 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 may 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 sidewall 128. A slot 129 provided in the transverse sidewall 128 enables the first end 133 of the lever to be connected to the valve member. The slot 129 is shown as being oriented horizontally in the figure. It may be configured to tilt downward at the rear so that the lever end 133 rests in the bottom of the slot 129 due to gravity, thereby allowing 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 be of any shape as long as it effectively compresses the valve 117 to prevent the valve from opening when performing the seal check 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 embodiment shown, the valve cover includes a circular frame 160 having spokes 163, similar to the spokes of a bicycle wheel, connected to a central hub 166. 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, forked arms 172 extend toward the lateral sides of the valve seat, each arm carrying 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 forked 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 a ball joint connection 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 for cleaning or replacement of wear parts of the lever assembly or valve.

[0051] A lever is supported on a pivot and is able to move about the pivot. This motion is often described as a seesaw or rocking motion. In a lever system, the position of the pivot determines the mechanical advantage and the direction of the applied force. Generally, the position of the pivot relative to the input and output forces 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 embodiments, the operating principles of the first class of levers can be advantageously used to amplify the force or increase the distance traveled by a 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 hinges between the load (i.e., the valve cover) and the applied 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 applied force and the resisting force. To increase mechanical advantage, the fulcrum is preferably positioned 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 hinges 177 can be mounted to the support frame or 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 a valve support 146 is disposed. 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 disposed therein, is also provided on the valve seat 100. The second opening 123 serves as an opening for exhaled air to exit the valve seat. The lever assembly can be disposed on either 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 is shown having three components. 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, 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. A pair of slots may be formed on the raised wall 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 in a plane that is not parallel to the plane of the opening. Figure 3 158 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 in a back-and-forth manner toward or away from the opening, wherein the movement of the valve member is orthogonal to the plane of the opening 113. This means that the plane of motion of the lever assembly is at an angle of 90° to the plane of the opening 113 as depicted by the dashed line 158. 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 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 In one embodiment, 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. Figure 9 The lever assembly is shown in greater 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 receives 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 repair or replacement of the valve or lever or any other component below the lever is required.

[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 direction of actuation 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. This suction force adds a complementary force to the valve member, reducing the corresponding force required to operate the lever.

[0059] Figure 10 An embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, in which 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 the valve member 327 and an opposite end A that pivots 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 that pivots 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 the opening 370 of the back cover 360 to couple with the valve member 327.

[0060] To describe in more detail Figure 10 implementation plan, Figure 11 343, 353 directly connects the lever 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 for actuation, and the first lever arm 325 includes an end B1 and an end B2, wherein end B1 is coupled 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 motion 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 ( Figure 10 ). Back cover 360 ( Figure 10 ) and valve seat 310( Figure 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 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 comprises a flexible diaphragm valve arranged at an auxiliary opening 370 on the inside of the rear cover 360 ( Figure 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 that is arranged to by default bias the valve member away from the opening. Figure 12 In the embodiment of the present invention, 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, 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 disclosure relates to a respirator including a seal check device. The respirator includes a facepiece and a seal check device disposed on an inner surface of the facepiece, the seal check 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 coupled to a valve member configured to close the opening, the second end accessible from a front side of the valve seat, wherein the lever is supported on a pivot and movable about the pivot, 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 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 maintain the opening closed.

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

[0064] exist Figure 14 and Figure 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. The port 633 aligns with the seal check device opening located on the rear of the mask 610. In this figure, the port 633 may 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. Figure 14 In the embodiment of the present invention, the inspiratory port 633 is aligned with the opening in the valve seat of the seal check device. In other embodiments, the seal check device can be applied to the expiratory 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 respirators with dual inspiratory filter cartridges. To implement a positive pressure seal check, the seal check device can be placed at the expiratory port 643.

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

[0066] Advantageously, a respirator having a seal check device constructed in this manner allows Figure 13 The punching out of holes in the mask 610 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 to replace components of the seal check device if the seal check device becomes damaged. This may 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 disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and all such modifications and adaptations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sealing inspection device, characterized in that: The sealing inspection device comprises: 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, 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 the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and hold the opening closed.

2. The sealing inspection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lever is movable in a plane that intersects the opening.

3. The sealing inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 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, characterized in that: The valve member includes a valve cover configured to abut 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, characterized in that: The seal inspection device further includes a flexible valve flap disposed 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 sealing inspection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The valve member includes a valve cover configured to actuate toward the opening to cover the opening without contacting the flexible flap, thereby preventing air from flowing through the opening.

7. The sealing inspection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: 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 sealing inspection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lever is pivotally mounted on a support frame via a hinge connection thereto, and the support frame is mounted on the rear side of the valve seat.

9. The sealing inspection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The support frame includes a pair of slots, each slot accommodating a connection between the bifurcated arm and the valve member, the slots defining a track within which each connection is permitted to move when the lever is operated.

10. The sealing inspection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lever is pivotally mounted on the valve seat via a hinge connection formed with the valve seat.

11. The sealing inspection device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The rear side of the valve seat includes a raised wall disposed between the bifurcated arm and the valve member, the raised wall having a pair of slots defined therein, each slot accommodating a connection between the bifurcated arm and the valve cover, the slots defining a track within which each connection is permitted to move when the lever is operated.

12. The sealing inspection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connection between the bifurcated arm and the valve cover is configured to be releasable.

13. The sealing inspection device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The levers include: 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 comprises a second end portion accessible from a front side of the valve seat and an opposite end portion B pivoted on a second hinge, wherein end portion A and end portion B are engaged with each other in a gear-tooth engagement.

14. The sealing inspection device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The sealing inspection device further includes a rear cover, wherein the rear cover and the valve seat form an openable closure member for closing the valve member, wherein the opening of the valve seat is defined on the rear cover.

15. The sealing inspection device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The valve member includes a flexible valve flap that is arranged at the opening inside 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 from the front side of the valve seat into the opening.

16. The sealing inspection device according to claim 15, characterized in that: 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 sealing inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The seal check device further comprises a biasing member arranged to bias the valve member away from the opening by default.

18. The sealing inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The valve seat has a first opening including an inhalation port and a second opening including an exhalation port.

19. The sealing inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The lever extends over an edge of the valve seat.

20. A respirator comprising: A face mask and a sealing inspection device arranged on the inner surface of the face mask, characterized in that the sealing inspection device comprises: 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, 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 the front side of the valve seat to actuate the valve member toward the opening and hold 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 suction port is connected to a filter cartridge.

23. A respirator according to claim 21 or 22, wherein: The cover includes a button adjacent the inhalation port, the button being aligned with a location 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 according to claim 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, characterised in that The seal check device is releasably mounted to the respirator.

Images