Pleated Mask Filter with 3D Shaping Portions for Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional masks face challenges in balancing filter efficiency and air permeability, often resulting in increased breathing resistance and discomfort due to the thickness and density of the filter medium, which reduces air permeability and leads to deformation of pleats that further affects filtration performance.
Innovation Solution
A filtering device with a pleated layer having a larger surface area than the mask body, featuring a 3D pleated layer with shaping portions to fix pleats and prevent deformation, combined with a pleated fabric where pleats are connected to a fixing sheet to maintain structure and air permeability, enhancing filtration area and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness and density of the filter medium are increased to improve dust removal efficiency, then filter efficiency is improved, but breathing resistance is increased and air permeability is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pleated structure that transforms the flat filter medium into a three-dimensional configuration with multiple folds. This dimensional change increases the effective filtration surface area without increasing the thickness of the mask body, allowing more filter material to be utilized while maintaining breathable performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pleated structure allows the filter medium to be folded and nested within the mask body cavity. Multiple layers of filter material are arranged in a compact nested configuration, maximizing the use of filtration material within the limited space without creating a thick barrier that would impede breathing.
2Reliability
If the thickness and density of the filter medium are increased to improve dust removal efficiency, then filter efficiency is improved, but air permeability is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The pleated structure transforms the two-dimensional flat filter into a three-dimensional form with increased surface area. The folds create multiple airflow paths through the filter medium, enhancing air permeability while maintaining high filtration efficiency through the increased effective filtering surface.
3Productivity
If a pleated layer is added to increase filtration area and air permeability, then filter capacity and air permeability are improved, but the pleats may deform affecting filtration performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible support layer that conforms to the pleated structure. This thin film provides structural reinforcement to maintain pleat shape and prevent deformation during wear, while remaining flexible enough to allow the pleats to function effectively in filtering and breathing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is nested within or integrated with the pleated structure, providing internal reinforcement that stabilizes the pleats without adding significant thickness or rigidity that would compromise comfort or flexibility.
4Reliability
If the surface area of the pleated layer is made larger than the mask body to increase filtration area, then filter capacity is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pleated structure achieves increased surface area through three-dimensional folding rather than expanding the mask body dimensions. This allows the filter capacity to be enhanced while keeping the external mask size compact and simple in overall form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A filtering device is revealed. The filtering device includes a mask body and a pleated layer. The pleated layer is arranged with a plurality of pleats and is set on the mask body. The surface area of the pleated layer is larger than the surface area of the mask body. Thus the filtration area of the filtering device is increased effectively. The filter effect and the air permeability of the filtering device are further improved.