Vacuum Integrity Indicator for Packaged Filtration Masks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filtration masks can become contaminated or degraded due to loss of vacuum during storage, which is often undetectable until use, compromising their protective effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a vacuum integrity indicator that changes configuration based on the presence or absence of vacuum within the packaging, providing tactile, audible, or visual feedback for easy detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filtration mask is vacuum packed in a container, then the mask is protected from contamination and degradation by ambient gas, but the vacuum integrity becomes difficult to detect until the package is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator changes color from blue to red when vacuum is lost, providing a visual signal that can be detected without opening the package. This resolves the contradiction by making vacuum integrity easily detectable while maintaining protection during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
An indicator mechanism acts as an intermediary between the vacuum-sealed environment and the user, translating the internal vacuum state into an externally observable signal. This allows detection of vacuum loss without compromising the sealed protection.
2Ease of operation
If the container is made tearable for easy opening, then the mask can be quickly accessed when needed, but the container becomes more susceptible to accidental damage and vacuum loss
Solution Approach 1:
A tear strip is pre-formed in the container to guide and facilitate easy opening when needed. This preliminary structural feature enables quick access without requiring forceful tearing that could damage the seal, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of opening and seal integrity.
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
Ensures timely replacement of contaminated masks by allowing users to identify vacuum loss without opening the package, maintaining mask integrity and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
the vacuum or partial vacuum within the vacuum bag protects the filtration mask from contamination and/or degradation caused by ambient gas
Implementation Method 2
the filtration medium can filter one or more potentially harmful substances from the ambient gas, to protect the person wearing the filtration mask from inhaling the one or more potentially harmful substances
Implementation Method 3
Such moisture may be adsorbed by the filtration media in the filter of the filtration mask, for example activated carbon
Implementation Method 4
During storage the filtration mask is generally folded and vacuum sealed in a vacuum bag, to minimise the size of the filtration mask and to prevent degradation of the materials of the filtration mask caused by ambient gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A packaged filtration mask comprising a filtration mask packaged in a container in a vacuum or a partial vacuum, wherein the packaged filtration mask comprises an indicator configured to indicate the presence of a vacuum or a partial vacuum in the container, or configured to indicate the lack of a vacuum or a partial vacuum in the container.