Apparatus for protecting at least a portion of the face

Abstract

The present application relates to a device (1) for protecting at least a portion of a user's face to prevent the airways from the spread of spatter, comprising a single flexible sheet (2) made of a material impermeable to the spread of spatter and defining a substantially rectangular or square strip (3) and at least two first straps (4A) each extending from one end of the upper edge (31) of the strip (3), the strip (3) of the sheet (2) being shaped to cover at least the nose and mouth of the user, the upper edge (31) of the strip (3) being abutting the top of the nose or the forehead, and the two first straps (4A) being joined to each other behind the user's head and positioned to pass over the user's ears.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of human protection. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a device for protecting the airway and at least a portion of the face. [Background technology]

[0002] In the medical field, medical personnel use devices to protect at least part of their airways and face from contaminating droplets originating from sick people and including germs, bacteria or viruses.

[0003] These known protective devices are traditionally surgical masks, or face shields, made of paper or cloth, that include one or more layers and are maintained on the wearer's face by cords that pass around the ears or are tied around the head.

[0004] For ease of use reasons, these masks are generally disposable and not reusable. However, especially in the case of shortages during the pandemic, staff have attempted to reuse their own masks, which represents a significant risk for the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, some of these "disposable" masks are difficult to reuse.

[0005] Furthermore, while these masks are certainly effective, they are not impermeable and suffer from the drawback of requiring manufacture in multiple operations, which lengthens manufacturing times and significantly increases the unit cost of each mask. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for protecting at least a part of an individual's airways and face from splashes, in particular for medical personnel, said device being effective, easy to implement and reusable, inexpensive and its manufacture requiring only a single operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Thus, according to the invention, a device is proposed for protecting at least a part of a user's airways and face against splashes, characterized in that it comprises a single flexible sheet made of a material impermeable to said splashes and defining a strip having a rectangular or square overall shape and at least two first straps each extending from one of the ends of the upper edge of said strip, the strip of sheet being shaped to cover at least the nose and mouth of the user, the upper edge of said strip resting against the top of the nose or the forehead, the two first straps being arranged to be joined to each other behind the user's head and at the same time to pass over the user's ears.

[0008] The sheet is advantageously made from a transparent material.

[0009] The strip is shaped so as to be transparent at least to the user's eyes when the protection device is worn by the user.

[0010] Preferably the sheet is made of polyvinyl chloride.

[0011] According to an alternative embodiment, the protection device comprises two second straps, each emerging from one of the ends or one of the side edges of the lower edge of said strip.

[0012] The sheet is advantageously cut in a single operation to define the strip and the two first straps, or to define the strip and the two first straps and the two second straps.

[0013] Preferably, the sheet includes additional generally round cutouts in the areas that are mechanically weakest and / or most stressed.

[0014] Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective device according to the present invention worn by an individual; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the protective device of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut of an alternative embodiment of a protection device according to the invention that is flat; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a protection device according to the present invention worn by an individual; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cut of a third alternative embodiment of a protection device according to the invention, which is flat; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] 1 and 2 show a device 1 for splash protection of at least a portion of a user's airway and face. The protection device 1 comprises a single sheet 2 defining a strip 3 having an overall rectangular or square shape, and at least two first straps 4A, 4B each extending from one end of an upper edge 31 of the strip 3.

[0017] Here, upper and lower refer to those portions of components or parts of the protection device according to the invention that are located at the top or bottom, respectively, of the protection device when normally worn by a user.

[0018] Of course, the strip 3 may have a shape quite different from rectangular or square without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0019] With this configuration, during normal use of the protective device 1, the strip 3 of the sheet 2 is formed to cover at least the nose and mouth of the user, with the upper edge 31 of the strip 3 abutting the top of the nose, and the two first straps 4A, 4B being joined to each other behind the user's head and simultaneously positioned to pass over the user's ears.

[0020] However, it will be appreciated that in this configuration, the lower edge 32 of the strip 3 is free and therefore the lower part of the protective device 1 is open, thereby offering better breathing to the user than known surgical masks which tend to constrict the user by impeding breathing.

[0021] The sheet 2 is made of a material that is flexible and impermeable to splashes, for example contamination splashes from a sick person, said material being advantageously and preferably a synthetic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Indeed, PVC has many advantages: -PVC is a material that can be easily cleaned, disinfected and therefore reused, - PVC is a 100% recyclable monomaterial that does not contain phthalates and complies with the European Reach Directives, and this material is already used to manufacture many products that are intended to come into contact with the user's skin, such as bank card cases or prescription holders in pharmacies. - PVC is a material resistant to tearing, but when used as a thin flexible sheet of about 0.25mm-0.75mm, it has a certain degree of elasticity, which is advantageous for holding the protective device 1 with the two first straps 4A, 4B and adapting it to the shape of the user's face regardless of its form, thus ensuring comfort of use and effective protection, and at the same time giving a certain rigidity to the bottom of the strip 3, allowing the protective device 1 to ensure the role of a protective shield that can also protect the user's neck; - Finally, PVC is a commonly used material and therefore inexpensive.

[0022] It can thus be seen that the use of PVC makes it possible to overcome the main drawbacks of paper or cloth surgical masks, namely permeability, disposability, lack of comfort and non-reusability.

[0023] With reference to figure 2, the sheet 2 is cut in a single operation to define the strip 3 and the two first straps 4A, 4B in the shape of an L. This mode of operation does not require the addition of material, any welding or gluing between the two components or parts of the components, and is particularly simple and quick and therefore not very costly.

[0024] In order to avoid the risk of undesirable tearing, especially in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas, such as the acute angles between the strip 3 and the two first straps 4A, 4B, an additional, generally rounded cutout 21 is advantageously formed in the sheet 2 in said areas. For the same reason, it is also possible to provide all acute angles with curvatures, not shown.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment, the protection device 1' is similar to the protection device 1 described above and comprises a shatter-impermeable flexible sheet 2', a cutout of which is shown in flat state in Figure 3 and defines a strip 3' having a rectangular or square overall shape and two first straps 4A', 4B' each extending from one of the ends of the upper edge 31' of said strip 3'. However, the protection device 1' further comprises two second straps 5A', 5B' each extending from one of the ends of the lower edge 32' of said strip 3'.

[0026] With this configuration, during normal use of the protective device 1', the strip 3' of the sheet 2' is configured to cover at least the nose and mouth of the user, the upper edge 31' of the strip 3' abuts against the top of the nose, the two first straps 4A', 4B' are arranged to be joined to each other behind the user's head and at the same time pass over the user's ears, and the two second straps 5A', 5B' are arranged to be joined to each other behind the user's neck.

[0027] However, it is also understood that in this configuration of the protection device 1', the two second straps 5A', 5B' can be joined under the chin of the user, which allows for a better application of the protection device 1' on the face of the user and limits splash ingress, particularly at the top of the protection device 1' and at the cheeks of the user.

[0028] Likewise, in order to avoid the risk of undesirable tearing in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas, such as the acute angles between the strip 3' and the two first straps 4A', 4B' and the second straps 5A', 5B', an additional generally rounded cutout 21' is advantageously made in said areas in the sheet 2'. For the same reason, it is also possible to provide all corners with curvatures that are not shown.

[0029] To avoid the risk of undesirable tearing in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas, the additional cutouts 21, 21' can be replaced by weld points. However, this arrangement requires additional operations in the manufacture of the protection device 1, 1' and therefore increases its unit cost.

[0030] A person skilled in the art would have no difficulty in determining the dimensions of the seats 2, 2' in order to adapt the protection device 1, 1' to various morphologies of adults or children.

[0031] According to a second alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the protective device 11 is similar to the protective device 1 described above and comprises a flexible shatter-impermeable sheet 12 defining a strip 13 having a rectangular or square overall shape and two first straps 14 each extending from one of the ends of the upper edge 131 of said strip 13.

[0032] However, protection device 11 differs from protection device 1 in that during normal use, strip 13 of sheet 12 is shaped to cover at least the user's nose and mouth and most of the user's face, such that an upper edge 131 of said strip 13 abuts the user's forehead, and two first straps 14 are joined to each other behind the user's head while at the same time being positioned to pass over the user's ears.

[0033] It is indeed understood that in this configuration, which also covers the eyes of the user, the strip 13 of the protection device 11 is shaped so as to be transparent at least in front of the eyes of the user when said protection device 11 is worn by the user. For reasons of ease of manufacture, the sheet 12 is preferably made of a transparent material such as polyvinyl chloride for the same reasons as above, so that the strip 13 of the protection device 11 is completely transparent.

[0034] Similar to the protective devices 1, 1' described above, the sheet 12 is cut in a single operation to define the strip 13 and the two first straps 14, for example L-shaped. This mode of operation does not require any additional material, any welding or gluing between the two components or parts of the components, and is particularly simple and quick and therefore less costly.

[0035] In order to avoid the risk of undesirable tearing, especially in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas, such as the acute angles between the strip 13 and the two first straps 14, additional, generally rounded cutouts are advantageously made in said areas in the sheet 12. For the same reasons, it is also possible to provide all acute angles with curvatures, not shown.

[0036] According to a third alternative embodiment, the protection device 11' is similar to the protection device 11 described above and comprises a shatter-impermeable flexible sheet 12', a cutout of which is shown in flat state in Fig. 5, defining a strip 13' having a partially transparent rectangular or square overall shape and two first straps 14A', 14B' each extending from one of the ends of the upper edge 13' of said strip 13'. However, the protection device 11' further comprises two second straps 15A', 15B' each extending from one of the side edges of the strip 13', said side edges connecting together a lower edge 132' and an upper edge 131' of said strip 13'.

[0037] Without going beyond the context of the present invention, two second straps 15A', 15B' may each extend from one of the ends of the lower edge 132' of said strip 13'.

[0038] With this configuration, during normal use of the protective device 11', the strip 13' of the sheet 12' is formed to cover at least the user's nose and mouth and most of the user's face, the upper edge 131' of the strip 13' abuts the user's forehead, the two first straps 14A', 14B' are arranged to be joined to each other behind the user's head and at the same time pass over the user's ears, and the two second straps 15A', 15B' are arranged to be joined to each other behind the user's neck.

[0039] Likewise, in order to avoid the risk of undesirable tearing in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas, such as the acute angles between the strip 13' and the two first straps 14A', 14B' and the second straps 15A', 15B', an additional generally rounded cutout 121' is advantageously made in said areas in the sheet 12'. For the same reason, it is also possible to provide all corners with curvatures, not shown.

[0040] In a four-strap configuration of the protective device 1' or 11', each first strap 4A', 14A', 4B', 14B' can be joined around one of the user's ears with a second strap 5A', 15A', 5B', 15B' located near the same side edge of the strip 3', 13'.

[0041] Without going beyond the context of the present invention, the two first straps 4A, 4B, 4A', 4B', 14, 14A', 14B' of the protection device 1, 1', 11, 11' may each extend from one of the side edges of the strip 3, 3', 13, 13'.

[0042] Moreover, it goes without saying that the protection device 1, 1', like the protection device 11, 11', can also comprise a sheet 2, 2' made of a transparent material without going beyond the context of the present invention.

[0043] Finally, it is seen that the configuration of the protective device 1, 1', 11, 11' according to the invention with two or four straps makes it possible to adapt said protective device 1, 1', 11, 11' to the morphology of the user's face while at the same time ensuring perfect positioning on said face.

[0044] The protective device 1, 1', 11, 11' according to the invention is intended in particular for medical personnel against splashes, particularly liquids and / or solids, of sick people, but may also be used by emergency personnel, firefighters or law enforcement forces. Likewise, the protective device 1, 1', 11, 11' may be usefully used by firefighters and medical personnel as an "overmask" acting as a first protective barrier to block liquid splashes (pollution splashes, blood, etc.) and thus making it possible to extend the life of the filter mask worn directly underneath.

[0045] Finally, it goes without saying that the above-described embodiments of the protection device 1, 1', 11, 11' according to the invention are merely concrete examples and do not limit the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A protective device (1, 1', 11, 11') for protecting the airways and at least a part of the face of a user from splashes, comprising: a single flexible sheet (2, 2', 12, 12') made of a material impermeable to said splashes and defining a strip (3, 3', 13, 13') having a rectangular or square overall shape and at least two first straps (4A, 4B, 4A', 4B', 14, 14A', 14B') each extending from one of the ends of an upper edge (31, 31', 131, 131') of said strip (3, 3', 13, 13'); said strips (3,3',13,13') of flexible sheet (2,2',12,12') being shaped to cover at least the nose and mouth of said user; the upper edge (31, 31', 131, 131') of said strip (3, 3', 13, 13') rests against the top of the nose or the forehead of the user; the two first straps (4A, 4B, 4A', 4B', 14, 14A', 14B') are joined to each other behind the user's head and are positioned to pass over the user's ears; A protection device comprising:

2. Protection device (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible sheet (2, 2') is made of a transparent material.

3. 2. A protection device (11, 11') according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (13, 13') is shaped so as to be transparent at least in front of the eyes of the user when the protection device (11, 11') is worn by the user.

4. Protection device (1, 1', 11, 11') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flexible sheet (2, 2', 12, 12') is made of polyvinyl chloride.

5. A protection device (1', 11') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises two second straps (5A', 5B', 15A', 15B') respectively extending from one of the ends or one of the side edges of the lower edge (32', 132') of the strip (3', 13').

6. A protection device (1, 1', 11, 11') according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flexible sheet (2, 2', 12, 12') is cut in a single operation to define the strip (3, 13) and the two first straps (4A, 4B, 14) or to define the strip (3', 13') and the two first straps (4A', 4B', 14A', 14B') and the two second straps (5A', 5B', 15A', 15B').

7. 7. A protection device (1, 1', 11, 11') according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible sheet (2, 2', 12, 12') comprises additional generally round cut-outs (21, 21', 121') in the mechanically weakest and / or most stressed areas.

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