Mask Apparatus Air Duct Coupling for Airtightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional masks often experience uncomfortable breathing due to air leakage through gaps between the face cover and wearing portion, and the incorporation of fans and filters can increase the mask's size and weight, compromising airtightness.
Innovation Solution
A mask apparatus with a mask body and cover featuring air ducts, fan modules, and a coupling mechanism that minimizes gaps through a cover coupling groove and sealing bracket, ensuring airtightness and reducing weight by laser processing for secure surface contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the suction fan and air passage are accommodated inside the face cover, then the mask can provide active air circulation, but the mask increases in size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The mask is divided into two main components: the face cover containing the suction fan and air passage, and the separate wearing portion with filter. This segmentation allows the heavy components to be concentrated in the face cover while the wearing portion remains lightweight, addressing the weight concern while maintaining air circulation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Air ducts serve as intermediaries connecting the suction fan in the face cover to the wearing portion. These ducts efficiently transport circulated air from the fan to the user's breathing area, enabling active air circulation without requiring the fan to be directly integrated into the wearing portion, thus managing weight distribution.
2Device complexity
If the wearing portion is directly coupled to the face cover, then the mask structure is simplified, but gaps are formed when not properly coupled, allowing external air introduction
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing bracket is provided that preliminarily prevents air leakage by sealing the connection interface between the face cover and wearing portion. This sealing structure proactively counteracts the potential harm of air gaps before they can compromise airtightness, while maintaining a relatively simple coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing bracket acts as an intermediary component between the face cover and wearing portion. It mediates the connection by providing both structural coupling and sealing functions, ensuring airtightness without requiring complex direct coupling mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a sealing structure is added to prevent gaps, then airtightness is improved, but the mask structure becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the coupling structure through the sealing bracket. This single component simultaneously provides both structural connection and sealing capabilities, improving airtightness without adding separate complex sealing mechanisms, thus avoiding excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing bracket performs multiple functions: it couples the wearing portion to the face cover, seals the connection interface to prevent air leakage, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality improves airtightness without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mask apparatus includes a mask body and a mask body cover coupled to the mask body. The mask body includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a pair of air ducts disposed at left and right sides of the front surface. The mask body is configured to mount a pair of fan modules at suction sides of the pair of air ducts. The mask body cover covers the pair of air ducts and the pair of fan modules. The mask body defines a cover coupling groove along an edge of the mask body, and the cover coupling groove is coupled to an edge of the mask body cover.