Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B9/00—Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus
  • A62B9/06—Mouthpieces; Nose-clips
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
  • A62B18/02—Masks
  • A62B18/025—Halfmasks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
  • A62B18/08—Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices
  • A62B18/084—Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B7/00—Respiratory apparatus
  • A62B7/10—Respiratory apparatus with filter elements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B17/00—Protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes
  • A62B17/006—Protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes against contamination from chemicals, toxic or hostile environments; ABC suits

Definitions

• Protective suits or hoods may be work in hazardous environments to protect a user from breathing hazardous air and from contacting hazardous material with their skin and clothes.
• Protective suits and hoods may provide safe breathable air for the user within the suit.
• a suit may be pressurized with air.
• aspects of the disclosure may include embodiments of a method for placing a mask onto a user's face while the user is wearing a protective suit, the method comprising attaching a filtering mask to the interior of a protective suit, wherein a facepiece of the mask is located within a hood of the suit, and wherein the mask is held in place by a loop on the interior of the suit; donning the suit, wherein the facepiece is placed to the side of the user's head within the hood of the suit, before entering a hazardous area; before doffing the suit, placing the mask onto the user's face by grasping the mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth; doffing the suit, keeping the mask held against the user's face to protect the user from hazardous air; and removing the mask when the user has left all hazardous areas.
• attaching the mask to the interior of the suit comprises attaching a loop around a portion of the mask.
• doffing comprises removing the attachment with the loop.
• placing the facepiece on the user's face comprises adjusting the position of the facepiece using the user's neck and shoulders.
• the method may further comprise, before doffing the suit, if the suit is compromised while in the hazardous area, placing the mask onto the user's face by grasping a mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth.
• the method may further comprise completing work wearing the protective suit, wherein the facepiece of the mask remains within the hood.
• the method may further comprise attaching an oral intake portion of the mask to a filter portion of the mask.
• Additional aspects of the disclosure may include embodiments of a method for placing a mask onto a user's face while the user is wearing a protective hood, the method comprising attaching a filtering mask to the interior of a protective hood, wherein at least a facepiece of the mask is located within the hood, and wherein the mask is held in place by a loop on the interior of the hood; donning the hood, wherein the facepiece is placed to the side of the user's head within the hood, before entering a hazardous area; before doffing the hood, placing the mask onto the user's face by grasping the mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth; doffing the hood, keeping the mask held against the user's face to protect the user from hazardous air; and removing the mask when the user has left all hazardous areas.
• the hood is attached to a protective suit.
• the method may further comprise, before doffing the hood, if the hood is compromised while in the hazardous area, placing the mask onto the user's face by grasping a mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth.
• attaching the mask to the interior of the hood comprises attaching a loop around a portion of the mask.
• doffing comprises removing the attachment with the loop.
• the method may further comprise completing work wearing the protective hood, wherein the facepiece of the mask remains within the hood.
• the method may further comprise attaching an oral intake portion of the mask to a filter portion of the mask.
• a filtering mask to be worn with a protective hood comprising a facepiece that covers the nose and mouth of a user, operable to seal against the face of the user; and an oral intake, operable to provide breathing air to the user, the oral intake comprising a mouthpiece operable to be held in the mouth of the user; a tube that fits through a portion of the facepiece; and a filter operable to attach to the tube, such that air breathed by the user through the tube passes through the filter, wherein the mask is operable to be attached to the interior of a protective hood, and placed on the user's face by grasping the mouthpiece with the user's mouth.
• the oral intake further comprises a hose between the tube and the filter, wherein the hose allows for the filter to be placed further away from the facepiece, and therefore out of the way of the user's face.
• the mask is attached to the interior of the protective hood by attaching a loop around the tube of the mask.
• the filter is placed within the body of the suit.
• the facepiece of the mask is placed within the hood when the mask is not in use.
• the mask may further comprise an exhalation valve.
• FIGS. 1 A-1C illustrate a mask according to an embodiment of the disclosure
• FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates the mask worn by a user according to an embodiment of the disclosure
• FIG. 3 illustrates a mask according to an embodiment of the disclosure
• FIG. 4 illustrates a mask worn with a protective suit according to an embodiment of the disclosure
• FIG. 5 illustrates a closer view of the mask worn with the protective suit according to an embodiment of the disclosure
• FIG. 6 illustrates another view of the mask worn with the protective suit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a method for placing a mask onto a user's face while the user is wearing a protective suit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
• component or feature may,” “can,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “preferably,” “possibly,” “typically,” “optionally,” “for example,” “often,” or “might” (or other such language) be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or to have the characteristic. Such component or feature may be optionally included in some embodiments, or it may be excluded.
• Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing a mask that is held by the user's mouth, wherein the mask provides filtered breathing air when a protective suit is donned and/or doffed by the user.
• Applicants have suggested a filtering mask that can be worn on the interior of the protective hood or suit, wherein the mask may be placed out of the way until needed.
• a user may be required to use their hands to place the mask onto their face, and/or use elastic or straps to hold the mask in place on the user's head.
• Applicants have suggested a mask that comprises a mouthpiece to be held in the user's mouth, similar to a snorkel. Therefore, the mask would not require the user's hands to place and/or hold the mask onto the user's face, as the user may just grasp the mouthpiece with their mouth.
• the mask may comprise a filter to allow for filtered breathing air.
• the mask may be placed within the hood of the suit, so that the mouthpiece is accessible to a user when they are wearing the suit. If the suit is compromised, and/or if the user wishes to doff the suit, the user may place the mask over their face by grasping the mouthpiece, and may breathe through the mouthpiece and the filter.
• the mask 100 may comprise an oral intake 1 10, wherein the oral intake comprises a mouthpiece 1 12.
• the oral intake 110 may also comprise a tube 1 14 with an opening 1 16 through the tube 1 14 to the mouthpiece 1 12. Additionally, the oral intake 1 10 may comprise an attachment point 1 18 at the end of the tube 1 14.
• the mask 100 may comprise a facepiece 102 that is operable to fit over the nose and mouth of a user.
• the facepiece 102 may comprise a molded material, wherein the edge 106 of the facepiece 102 may seal against the user's face whenever the facepiece 102 is held in place.
• a user may hold the facepiece 102 against their face by holding the mouthpiece 112 in their mouth.
• the oral intake 1 10 may fit through an opening in the facepiece 102, and may be sealed so that no air can pass into the facepiece 102 when it is worn by a user. Additionally, the mouthpiece 1 12 of the oral intake 1 10 may be located on the interior of the facepiece 102, while the tube 1 14 and attachment point 1 18 are located on the exterior of the facepiece 102.
• the mouthpiece 1 12 may comprise any mouthpiece shape that may be easily held in the mouth of a user.
• the mouthpiece 1 12 may comprise one or more elements, such as bite plates, grooves, and/or lips. These elements may allow the mouthpiece 1 12 to fit comfortably in the mouth of a user.
• the mouthpiece may comprise a flexible material.
• the mouthpiece may comprise a rubber material.
• the mouthpiece may comprise a silicone material.
• the facepiece 102 may comprise a transparent material. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise a rigid material. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise a flexible material. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise a general shape designed to fit on the face of a user. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise a customized shape for a specific user. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise one of a plurality of general shapes or sizes, such as small, medium, and large. In some embodiments, the facepiece 102 may comprise a nose clip 104 operable to fit over the nose of a user.
• the nose clip 104 may fit tight enough on a user's nose to effectively close the use's nose, thereby allowing the user to only breathe through their mouth (via the oral intake 1 10).
• the facepiece 102 may comprise an exhalation valve 108.
• FIGS. 2A-2B the mask 100 described in FIGS. 1 A-1C is shown as worn by a user.
• the mouthpiece 1 12 is not shown, as it is held within the user's mouth.
• the edge 106 of the facepiece 102 is pressed against the user's face.
• the mask 100 may not require any elastic or straps to hold the mask 100 to the user's face, wherein the mouthpiece 1 12 held in the user's mouth holds the facepiece against the user's face. Additionally, the user may not be required to hold the mask 100 with their hands.
• a mask 300 is shown, which may be similar to the mask 300 of FIGS. 1A-1C, and 2A-2B.
• the mask 300 may comprise a facepiece 302, and an oral intake 310 attached to the facepiece 302, wherein the oral intake 310 comprises a mouthpiece 312, a tube 314, and an attachment point 318.
• the oral intake 310 may be attached to a hose 320 at the attachment point 318.
• the hose 320 may then be attached to a filter 322.
• the facepiece 302 may comprise an exhalation valve 308.
• the filter 322 may allow filtered breathing air to pass through the hose 320 to the oral intake 310, where the user may breathe the filtered air via the mouthpiece 312.
• the length of the hose 320 may be determined to allow the filter 322 to be out of the way of a user's motions. Additionally, the filter 322 may be held out of the way, by the hose 320, when a user wears the mask 300 while wearing a protective suit.
• the mask 300 may be located on the interior of a protective suit 400.
• the suit may comprise a hood 402 and body 404.
• the mask 300 may be held out of the way in the suit 400, wherein the suit 400 may comprise a loop 410 for looping around the hose 320 of the mask 300 and holding the mask 300 in place.
• the loop 410 may keep the mask 300 from moving around within the suit 400, and keep the facepiece 302 of the mask 300 within the hood 402 of the suit 400.
• the facepiece 302 may be placed to side of a user's head, allowing for the facepiece 302 to be accessed, but not hinder any movements for the user.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a closer view of the mask 300 inside the suit 400.
• the facepiece 302 may be placed on either side of the user's head within the hood 402.
• the loop 410 may fit around the hose 320 of the mask 300.
• the loop 410 may be detectable (on one or both ends) from the suit 400. Before a user wears the suit 400, the user may attach the mask 300 to the suit 400 by attaching the loop 410 over the hose 320 of the mask 300.
• the user may then don the suit 400, placing the facepiece 302 of the mask 300 out of the way within the hood 402 of the suit 400. While the facepiece 302 is out of the way, the loop 410 may keep the mask 300 from moving around within the suit 400. The loop 410 may also keep the facepiece 302 within the hood 402 of the suit 400.
• the facepiece 302 of the mask 300 may be accessible to the user, for the user to grasp the mouthpiece 312 of the mask 300 with their mouth, without having to user their hands to move the mask 300.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the mask 300 and suit 400 when the mask is worn on the user's face.
• the user may grasp the mouthpiece 312 of the mask 300 using their mouth to place the facepiece 302 onto their face.
• the user may bend their neck and shoulders to reach the mask 300 with their mouth.
• the user may wish to wear the mask 300, providing filtered breathing air, if the suit 400 is somehow compromised.
• the user may wear the mask 400 for provide filtered breathing air until the user can move to a safe area.
• the user may remove the loop 410 from the hose 320 of the mask 300, allow the user to continue wearing the mask 300 when the suit is removed.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for placing a mask onto a user's face while the user is wearing a protective suit.
• the mask may be attached to the interior of a protective suit, wherein the facepiece of the mask is located within the hood of the suit, and wherein the mask is held in place by a loop on the interior of the suit.
• the suit is donned by a user, wherein the facepiece is placed to the side of the user's head within the hood of the suit.
• the user completes work in a hazardous area while wearing the suit. If the suit is compromised while in the hazardous area, at step 708, the mask is placed onto the user's face by grasping the mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth.
• the user may move their neck and shoulders to reach the mouthpiece with their mouth, but may not use their hands to position the mask, as the user's hands may not be accessible when wearing the suit.
• the suit is not compromised while the user is working in the hazardous area, at step 710, before doffing the suit, the user may place the mask onto the user's face by grasping the mouthpiece of the mask by the user's mouth.
• the user may doff the protective suit, keeping the mask held against the user's face to protect the user from any hazardous air.
• the suit may be removed in an area that is not complete clear of hazardous air.
• the user may remove the mask when the user has left all hazardous areas.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=54478272

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 2015
  • 2015-10-28 WO PCT/US2015/057695 patent/WO2017074329A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-10-28 EP EP15791456.5A patent/EP3368165A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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