Breathing Mask Translucent Oronasal Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breathing masks with lighting systems that direct light towards the wearer's eyes can be distracting and alarming, especially in emergency situations, due to their brightness and direct illumination.
Innovation Solution
A mask with a translucent oronasal mask and illuminating means, such as a multi-color LED, positioned to illuminate the oronasal area, providing diffuse illumination that is easily visible to the wearer without being distracting, while also maximizing face visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If lighting system directs light towards the wearer's eyes, then information conveyance to the wearer is improved, but the wearer becomes distracted and alarmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the translucent oronasal mask material - between the light source and the wearer's eyes. The illuminating means illuminates the translucent mask material, which then diffuses the light before it reaches the wearer's eyes. This intermediary diffusion process preserves information conveyance through visible illumination while eliminating the harmful direct brightness that causes distraction and alarm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multi-color LED illuminating means that can change colors to convey different information states to the wearer. By using color changes in the translucent mask material, the system communicates various operational statuses or alarm conditions without requiring direct bright light into the wearer's eyes, thus maintaining information conveyance while avoiding distraction.
2Strength
If oronasal mask is made opaque, then structure integrity is maintained, but wearer's face visibility is reduced and appearance becomes more alarming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the oronasal mask material from opaque to translucent, enabling light transmission. This allows the mask to maintain structural integrity while becoming illuminated from behind, creating a visible but not alarming appearance. The translucent material permits light diffusion that makes the wearer's face partially visible, reducing the alarming effect while preserving mask strength.
3Illumination intensity
If lighting is made bright enough to be clearly seen, then information visibility is improved, but the wearer becomes distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent oronasal mask material serves as an intermediary that diffuses the light from the illuminating means. This diffusion process reduces the intensity of light reaching the wearer's eyes while maintaining sufficient visibility for information conveyance. The light is scattered across a larger area of the translucent mask, creating a softer, less distracting illumination that remains clearly visible.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for non-distracting and easily discernible information conveyance to the wearer, reducing alarm and enhancing visibility of the wearer's face, making the mask less alarming in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
Illuminating means in optical communication with the oronasal mask such that said illuminating means illuminates said oronasal mask
Implementation Method 2
the illumination of the oronasal mask can be achieved in a more diffuse manner than the direct illumination of the eye
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4~5c
AI summary
A mask (10) for breathing apparatus has a seal (13) for sealing against and around the face of a user. The mask further includes a mask inlet (15) adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a supply of air, and a mask outlet (16) through which a user's exhaled breath is emitted, the mask outlet (16) including a one-way exhalation valve (22) including a valve closure member (23) mounted on a valve seat (25). An oronasal mask (14) in fluid communication with the mask inlet (15) and mask outlet (16) and positioned to engage, in use, over the nose and mouth of the wearer. The oronasal mask (14) is at least partially formed of material which is at least partially translucent, and an Illuminating LED (42) is in optical communication with the oronasal mask (14) so as to illuminate said oronasal mask (14).