Rear-Ventilated Mask Structure With Magnetic Face Guard

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing masks with air suction holes on the front surface and discharge holes on the rear surface experience increased flow resistance, power consumption, noise, and risk of dust ingress due to multiple air flow conversions, and have design flaws that affect appearance and durability.

Innovation Solution

A mask design with a suction hole outside the breathing space and a discharge hole inside, utilizing a centrifugal fan and magnetic coupling for detachable face guard, minimizing flow conversions and reducing noise and power consumption while enhancing durability and appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If air suction hole is defined in front surface and air discharge hole is defined in rear surface, then air can be introduced and discharged through mask, but flow resistance increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow pathVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional air flow path configuration by placing both suction and discharge holes on the rear surface instead of front and rear surfaces respectively. This reversal reduces the number of flow conversions required, thereby decreasing power consumption of the fan while maintaining effective air circulation through the mask

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If air suction hole is defined in front surface and air discharge hole is defined in rear surface, then air can be introduced and discharged through mask, but flow noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow pathVSAvoidflow noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional air flow path configuration by placing both suction and discharge holes on the rear surface instead of front and rear surfaces respectively. This reversal reduces the number of flow conversions required, thereby decreasing flow noise generated during air circulation through the mask

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If air suction hole is defined in front surface, then air can be introduced through mask, but dust ingress risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair suctionVSAvoiddust ingress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional hole placement by moving both suction and discharge holes to the rear surface. This inversion positions the air intake away from the front exposure area, reducing the risk of dust and debris entering through the suction hole while the mask is being worn or stored

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If air suction hole is defined in front surface, then air can be introduced through mask, but appearance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair suctionVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional hole placement by moving both suction and discharge holes to the rear surface. This inversion improves the aesthetic appearance of the front surface by eliminating visible holes, giving the mask a cleaner and more polished look while maintaining functional air circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Stability of the object's composition

If face guard is fixed to mask body, then structural stability is improved, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcleaning and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the face guard from the mask body, allowing the face guard to be a separate, detachable component. This segmentation enables easy removal of the face guard for cleaning and maintenance while the mask body remains intact, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

6Object-affected harmful factors

If suction hole cover is mounted to prevent dust ingress, then dust protection is improved, but device complexity increases and durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust protectionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the approach to dust protection by relocating the suction hole to the rear surface where it is naturally protected from external dust and debris. This eliminates the need for additional protective covers or complex sealing mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining dust protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design reduces flow resistance, power consumption, and noise, while improving durability and appearance by separating suction and discharge paths, and allowing easy cleaning and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet is mounted on a surface of the rear body; a face guard coupled to a rear surface of the rear body by magnetic force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4122548B1Mask apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4122548B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4122548B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4122548B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a mask apparatus. The mask apparatus includes a mask body which includes a rear body and a front body coupled to a front surface of the rear body and in which a suction hole and a discharge hole are defined, a face guard coupled to a rear surface of the rear body by magnetic force so as to be in close contact with user's face and having a breathing space therein, and an air cleaning module mounted on the rear body to purify external air flowing into the suction hole and supply the external air into the breathing space. The face guard includes a coupling portion configured to face the rear surface of the rear body and provided with a magnetic body, a close contact portion that is in contact with the user's face, and a connection portion configured to connect the coupling portion to the close contact portion so as to have a predetermined width in a front and rear direction. The magnetic body includes a first magnetic body disposed at a center of an upper end of a front surface of the coupling portion, and second and third magnetic bodies disposed to be spaced apart from each other at both sides based on a center of a lower end of the front surface of the coupling portion.