WO2021224663A1

WO2021224663A1 - Filter mask and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2021224663A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/054328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wim Paul Modest VANLOMMEL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-05-05
Filing date: 2020-05-07
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-05
Also published as: BE1028267A1; BE1028267B1

Abstract

Filter mask (1) for covering the mouth and the nose of a user (5), characterised in that the filter mask (1) is executed as a sock (2) made from a stretchable elastic material intended to be worn elastically fittingly around the head (3) and around the neck (4) of the user (5), whereby the filter mask (1) is provided with a filter holder (6) for placing a filter (8) for filtering the air to be breathed in.

Description

Filter mask and use thereof

The present invention relates to a filter mask.

Various filter masks are already known such as the disposable surgical filter masks which consist of a face part which is intended for covering the user's mouth and nose and fasteners for fastening the face part to the user's face.

A disadvantage of said type of mouth masks is that they contribute strongly to the amount of waste and are therefore not very ecological.

In addition to disposable filter masks, reusable filter masks also exist with a face part in the form of a cover made from two layers of fabric between which a replaceable filter can be placed.

In the known filter masks, disposable or not, the face part functions as an air filter for filtering the air to be inhaled and prevents droplets from spreading when sneezing or coughing and vice versa can protect the user from droplets spread by other individuals.

In the known filter masks, the fasteners are executed in the form of elastics at each end of the filter mask which are fastened behind the user's ears or the fasteners are executed in the form of ribbons which are knotted behind the user's head. A disadvantage la that putting on and taking off a filter ak with such fasteners la relatively difficult and takes a relatively long time, particularly the filter aka with ribbon·, which atopa people f: wearing the filter ak.

In circumstances where wearing the filter ak la not typically the filter mask la taken off and temporarily put away, with the risk of damage or loan.

Another disadvantage of the conventional filter masks with elastica la that typically they are only available In one size, such that the elastic la sometimes too big for people with a small head and therefore does not fit tightly to the user^'s face such that unflltered air can be breathed In.

Vice versa, the elastics can also be too ill for users with a big head, such that the elaatloa may be too tight behind the user's ears which ikea wearing the filter mask unpleasant.

The present invention relates to a filter ak and the purpose la to provide a solution to one or more of the afo: intioned and other disadvantages.

To this end, the Invention relates to a filter mask for covering a user's mouth and nose, whereby the filter mask la executed as a sock made from a stretchable elastic material Intended to be worn elastically fittingly around the head and around the neck of the user, and whereby the filter mask is provided with a filter holder for placing a filter for filtering the air to be breathed in.

An advantage of this is that such reusable filter mask is very user-friendly such that, if the filter mask needs to be worn, the user can simply put on the filter mask over the head and place it over the nose and mouth.

As the filter mask is worn completely around the head and due to its elasticity fits tightly over the user's face no unfiltered air can therefore be breathed in along the sides.

Another advantage is that when a user is in a situation when the filter mask no longer needs to be worn, the user can simply pull the filter mask down from the face to under the chin and leave it around the neck without having to put it away, whereby the filter mask can simply be continued to be worn around the neck.

If a user needs to put on the filter mask again afterwards, the user can very simply and quickly pull up the filter mask again to cover the nose and mouth.

For sportsmen and women particularly this can be a useful property, as the filter mask can be pulled up and down very quickly without having to take off and put away the filter mask.

As the filter mask is tightened over the entire mask height against the back of the head, the elasticity exercised by the mask is therefore distributed better than in the case of elastics or ribbons increasing its wear comfort as it is less tight.

A consequence of the fact that it is less tight, the filter mask is suitable to be worn by a wide range of head sizes.

Another advantage is that the filter mask is reusable as it is preferably washable, whereby if necessary only the filter can be replaced, which is both economically and ecologically more advantageous.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter mask is executed as a sock which is continuously circular or is executed as a strip of elastic fabric, the ends of which are attached to each other by sewing or the like, allowing the filter mask to be made relatively easily in different sizes.

Preferably, the filter mask is provided with a nose bridge to ensure the filter mask fits tighter to the user's nose.

In addition the filter mask can also be provided by one or more supporting elements for relieving the pressure exercised on the nose, whereby the supporting elements are intended to rest on the jaws and/or on the face of the user.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodiments of a filter mask according to the invention are described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a rear view of a filter mask according to the invention in unworn condition; figure 2 shows a front view of the filter mask according to figure 1, but in worn condition; figure 3 shows a filter mask of figure 1 in a different worn condition; figure 4 shows a side view according to arrow F4 in figure 2; figures 5 and 6 show two variants of a filter mask according to the invention.

The filter mask 1, as shown in figure 1, is executed as a sock 2 made from a stretchable elastic material intended to be worn elastically fitting around the head 3 and around the neck 4 of the user 5, as shown in the figures 2 and 3, whereby the filter mask 1 is provided with a filter holder 6, which in this case is executed by providing a strip of fabric on the inside 7 of the sock 2 to form a kind of pocket 6 for placing a filter 8 for filtering the air to be breathed in.

The elastic material of the sock 2 does not necessarily have to be filtering, as the filter 8 can fulfill this role in itself.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter 8 is executed exchangeably .

Instead of a strip of fabric a net or a pocket 6 can be provided on the inside 7 or the outside 9 of the sock 2, whereby the pocket 6 and the filter 8 must be sufficiently wide to be able to cover the nose and the mouth.

Preferably, the stretchable elastic material from which the sock 2 is made, is washable or cleanable and obviously needs to be breathing, whereby nylon is an option that meet these properties .

The stretchable elastic material from which the sock 2 is made, can for example be a knitted or woven textile.

The stretchable elastic material of the sock 2 must be elastically stretchable in at least one direction, i.e. along the width A of the filter mask 1, but is preferably elastically stretchable in two directions, i.e. along the width A and the height B of the filter mask 1.

The sock 2 can be executed higher at the front 10 than at the back 11, as shown in figure 4, whereby the front 10 must be high enough to be able to fit over the face from under the eyes to under the chin and around the neck 4, and whereby the back 11 must be sufficiently high to form a kind of wide strip with which the mask 1 can be tightened behind the head

3.

The diameter of the sock 2 can differ from top to bottom, whereby the sock 2 can be made smaller at the bottom 12, for example with a stitched seam 13 to be tighter around the user's neck 4. The sock 2 can be continuous circular woven or knitted or can be made from a strip of stretchable fabric, the ends of which are sewn or glued together. The use of such filter mask 1 is simple and as follows.

The filter mask 1 with the filter 8 present therein is pulled over the head 3 with the filter 8 at the front 10, such that the filter mask 1 extends around the head 3 and the neck 4 of the user 5 from just above the nose to under the chin of the user 1, such that the air that is breathed in is filtered through the filter 8.

When in circumstances the air breathed in does not have to be filtered, the user 5 can simply pull the mask 1 with the filter down to under the chin as shown in figure 3, whereby the user 1 can breathe in fresh air unhindered.

Additionally, droplets that are released when sneezing or coughing are stopped and the user 5 is also protected against other people's droplets.

When the circumstances demand it, the filter mask 1 can be simply pulled up from under the chin to over the mouth and the nose.

In the alternative embodiment of figure 5, the filter mask 1 is provided on the upper edge 14 and/or on the lower edge 1.5 with a stitched hem with the possibility of putting an elastic or a ribbon through it, which can serve as extra tightening means, upper tightening means 16 at the upper edge 14 and/or lower tightening means 17 at the lower edge 15 respectively for tightening the filter mask 1 around the head 3 and/or the neck 4 of the user 5. These extra tightening means 16 and 17 can provide an extra seal at the top 18 and bottom 12 to prevent possible passage of unfiltered air along there.

To allow the filter mask 1 fit tighter to the face of the user 5, the filter mask 1 can be provided with a nose bridge 19 on the level of the nose of the user 5, as shown in figure 6, whereby this nose bridge 19 is preferably elastically or plastically deformable to make it fitting to the shape of the nose of the user 5.

Such nose bridge 19 is preferably slat-shaped and is made from a bendable metal or synthetic material.

In addition the filter mask 1 can also be provided with one or more supporting elements 20 for relieving the pressure exercised on the nose.

These supporting elements 20 can be attached to the filter mask 1 on the level of for example the jaws and/or other places on the face of the user 5 where the supporting elements 20 are intended to rest.

In a preferred embodiment the one or more supporting elements 20 are made from a rigid material, for example from synthetic material . Preferably, the filter mask is executed such that it offers the possibility to apply a message 21 and/or an image and/or logos 22 by means of printing or the like.

However, other removable alternatives instead of printing are also possible such as by means of Velcro.

Preferably such messages 21 and/or logos 22 and/or the like are executed such that they can withstand multiple washings.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a filter mask according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1.- Filter mask (1) for covering the mouth and the nose of a user (5), characterised in that the filter mask (1) is executed as a sock (2) made from a stretchable elastic material intended to be worn elastically fittingly around the head (3) and around the neck (4) of the user (5), whereby the filter mask (1) is provided with a filter holder (6) for placing a filter (8) for filtering the air to be breathed in.

2.- Filter mask according to claim 1, characterised in that the stretchable elastic material is at least elastically stretchable according to one direction.

3.- Filter mask according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the stretchable elastic material is at least elastically stretchable according to two directions A and B.

4.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the stretchable elastic material is a woven or knitted textile.

5.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the textile is nylon.

6.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the filter holder (6) is attached to the inside (7) of the filter mask (1).

7.- Filter mask according to claim 6, characterised in that the filter holder (6) is made from textile or a net which together with the elastic material of the filter mask (1) forms a pocket (6).

8 .- Filter mask according to claim 7, characterised in that the filter (8) which needs to be placed in the filter holder (6) is exchangeable.

9.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the filter mask (1) is provided with a nose bridge (19) to let the filter mask (1) fit tighter to the nose of the user (5).

10.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the filter mask (1) in use has an upper edge (14) that is intended to be worn just above the nose of the user (5), said upper edge (14) being provided with extra upper tightening means (16) for tightening the filter mask (1) around the head (3) of the user (5).

11.- Filter mask according to claim 10, characterised in that the upper tightening means (17) are formed by at least a ribbon or an elastic.

12.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the filter mask (1) contains a lower edge (15) which is intended to be worn under the chin of the user (5), said lower edge (15) being provided with extra lower tightening means (17) for tightening the filter mask (1) around the neck (4) of the user (5).

13.- Filter mask according to claim 12, characterised in that the lower tightening means (17) are formed by at least a ribbon or an elastic.

14.- Filter mask according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it is provided with one or more supporting elements (20) for relieving the pressure exercised on the nose, said supporting elements (20) being intended to rest on the jaws and/or on the face of the user

(5).

15.- Filter mask according to claim 14, characterised in that the one or more supporting elements (20) are made from a rigid material.

16.- Filter mask according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the one or more supporting elements (20) are made from a synthetic material.

17.- Use of a filter mask (1) in the form of a stretchable sock(2) which can be worn around the head (3) and around the neck (4), characterised in that the sock (2) is provided with a filter holder (6) and a filter (8) placed therein, whereby the filter mask (1) is used for filtering air to be breathed in.