WO2022064243A1

WO2022064243A1 - Personal protective equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2022064243A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/058827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karen BABADZHANYANTS
Original assignee: Kautomatica Oue
Current assignee: Kautomatica Oue
Priority date: 2020-09-22
Filing date: 2020-09-22
Publication date: 2022-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-22

Abstract

A face mask, having a face piece and means for holding said face piece against the user's face so that the face piece covers the mouth and nose part of the user's face, wherein said face piece comprises at least one opening for receiving air from outside the face piece and/or exiting air from inside the face piece, wherein said at least one opening is covered by a filter wherein the face mask comprises means for holding and releasing a filter tape so that part of said filter tape closes said at least one opening. One end of said filter tape is extending out of said means for holding and releasing outside the face mask. Thus, the part of said filter tape that has become dirty may be removed and replaced with a new, clean part of said filter tape simply by pulling from said one end of said filter tape.

Description

Personal protective equipment

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, head masks and helmets, suits and spacesuits and face masks, such devices equipped with easily replaceable air filters in particular.

BACKGROUND ART

There are known face masks (respirators) for face protection from the inhaled air with a dangerous impurity (such as dust, water drops with bacteria and viruses and others) and/or for protection of surrounding people from the exhaled air with dangerous impurity. Such devices function by filtering out chemicals and gases, or airborne particles, from the air breathed in or out by the user. The filtration may be either passive or active, i.e., powered. Gas masks and particulate respirators, such as N95 masks, are examples of this type of respirators.

Such respirators can be either stand-alone devices, such as face masks, or may be integrated into or integrated with other types of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment.

Known are elastomeric respirators comprising a face piece and one or two filter cartridges. Elastomeric respirators are reusable because the face piece can be cleaned and reused, and the filter cartridges are discarded and replaced when they become unsuitable for further use. It has built into it a corresponding number of valves for inhalation and/or for exhalation.

Known are single-use or disposable masks.

Known are reusable masks, for example masks that can be cleaned and reused.

There are masks with removable filters.

For example, known is US64605398, disclosing a respirator that has an integrally-disposed filter element and that covers at least the nose and mouth of a wearer. The respirator includes an exhalation valve and an impactor element that covers the exhalation valve. The exhalation valve has a diaphragm and an orifice and opens in response to increased pressure when the wearer exhales to allow exhaled air to be rapidly purged from the mask interior.

Also known is US3521630, disclosing a respirator face mask for toxic dusts and mists having a replaceable filter pad, having a face piece shell with soft rubber edge seal band, which stands out from the wearers nose and mouth and fits over the nose bridge and across the cheeks and under the chin; the face piece shell being apertured and recessed so as to provide a filter-holding frame having a recessed peripheral support flange surrounding a large frontal inhalation area; in combination with a nonwoven fibrous filter pad having a unified margin carrying a continuous peripheral beading of highly tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive that makes continuous adherent sealing contact with said flange of the face piece shell as the sole fastening means.

This may be considered as the closest prior art.

The disadvantage of all these known masks is that they can be used for limited time. Then the mask needs to be removed from face, replaced or cleaned or the filter must be replaced. During those processes the user is without protection.

The invention overcomes these disadvantages and allows the face mask to be used for a longer period continuously.

The invention also reduces the total cost of using masks for a longer time.

The invention also improves the degree of purification of the inhaled and the exhaled air.

Disclosure of invention

The invention is a face mask, comprising a face piece and means for holding said face piece against the wearer's face so that the face piece covers the mouth and the nose part of the wearer's face, wherein said face piece comprises at least one opening for receiving air from outside the face piece and/or removing air from inside the face piece, wherein said at least one opening is covered by a filter wherein the face mask comprises means for holding and releasing a filter tape so that part of said filter tape closes said at least one opening. First end of said filter tape is extending out of said means for holding and releasing outside the face mask. Thus, the part of said filter tape covering the opening that has become dirty may be removed and replaced with a new, clean part of said filter tape simply by pulling from said first end of said filter tape.

Preferably, the filter tape is provided on a reel; however, the filter tape can be folded.

The face mask may have either one opening for both receiving and removing air, or separate openings for receiving the air and for removing the air. In the case of more than one openings, all such openings can be closed with one single filter tape, or each of the openings can be closed with their own filter tape.

The face mask is preferably equipped with a timer or a sensor for indicating when the dirty filter must be replaced.

Brief description of drawings

Fig 1 Is a perspective view of a face mask according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the face mask according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Fig 1. Fig 3 is a perspective view of the filter holder (closed) for the face mask according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Fig 4 is a perspective view of the filter holder (opened) for the face mask according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Fig 5 is a perspective view of the face mask according to second embodiment of the invention.

Fig 6 to 12 show another embodiment of the invention.

Examples for carrying out the invention

One embodiment of the invention is shown on Figs 1 to 5. The face mask 1 according to the invention comprises a face piece 2 and a head band 3 for holding said face piece against the wearer's face so that the mouth and nose of the wearer are covered with the face piece 2. The face piece 2 has openings 4. The openings are closed with a filter part 5 of a filter tape. The face mask 1 has two filter tape holders 6 (shown two on Figs 1 and 5) attached to the face piece 2, comprising a reel 9for the clean filter tape. The filter tape extends from the reel 9 pass the opening 4 with one end 8 of the filter tape extending out of the filter tape holder 6. The openings 4 may have diffusors 10 (see Fig 5) that can be preferably directed into different directions that is particularly useful for separating incoming and outgoing air flows, e.g., from people standing close to each other.

Preferably, the filter tape is rolled up with or without a core, preferably provided on the reel; however, the clean filter tape can be kept as folded in said filter tape holder.

When filter part 5 becomes dirty, it can simply be replaced by pulling the end 8 of the filter tape until the opening is covered by clean part of the filter tape. The used end of the filter tape can be torn off.

The filter tape holder 6, as shown on Figs 3 and 4, has a hinged cover 7 attached to it in one end with a hinge 7a so that it can be opened so that the run out filter tape can be replaced with a new one.

A second embodiment according to the invention is shown on Figs 6 to 12. As in the first embodiment, the face mask 11 comprises a face piece 12, and head bands 13a and 13b for holding the face piece against the wearer's face so that the mouth and nose of the wearer are covered with the face piece 12. A filter cartridge 14 is attached to said face piece 12. The filter cartridge 14 can be removably attached to said face piece 12 with suitable means, e.g., with straps 15 as shown in Fig 12.

The filter cartridge 14 comprises a body portion 16 and a front cover 17 attached to said body portion 16 with a hinge 18 so that it can be opened and closed. The body portion 16 has air opening 19 in connection with the space next to wearer's mouth and nose and the front cover 17 has air opening 20 in connection with the surrounding environment, so that inhaled and/or exhaled air can pass through the filter cartridge In one end of the filter cartridge 14 there is a clean filter tape 20a mounted on a reel 21. A first portion 22 of the filter tape extends over and closes the air openings 19 and 20 so that the inhaled and/or exhaled air passes through the portion of the filter tape. The end 23 of the filter tape is attached to the second reel 24. When the first portion 22 becomes dirty, the filter tape is advanced so that the first portion 22 in fron of the openings 19 and 20 is replaced with a clean filter and the used filter tape is stored away on said second reel 24.

The filter tape can be advanced either manually, or with a motor or other suitable means. Fig 11 shows a reel 24 that is designed to be advanced by hand. The end of the filter tape is fixed in the slit 25. The reel 24 has one end extending out from the bottom of the filter cartridge and has a knob 26 attached to that end so that the reel 24 can be turned manually. A guiding element 27 is in the other end of the reel to guide the filter tape to the reel when the reel is turned.

The shape of the body portion 17 generally follows the shape of the human face on one side. Alternatively, the body portion 17 is shaped to match the shape of the face piece. The shape of the front cover preferably follows the shape of the body portion, however, in both of its ends there is space for reels for clean filter tape and used filter tape, correspondingly. Next to the openings 19 and 20, the front cover is preferably shaped so that it comes close to the body portion so that the filter tape is firmly held by friction against the edges of the openings 19 and 20 so that the filter tape is properly fixed to the openings. Generally, it is also sufficient that the filter tape will not unwind or become loose from the reel. However, if needed, the reel can be supplemented with such means that only allow the reel to turn in one direction such as ratchets r springs.

The face mask according to any of the embodiments may have either one opening for both receiving and exiting air, or separate openings for air intake and outtake. In the case of more than one openings, all these openings can be closed with one single filter tape, or each of the opening can be closed with their own filter tape.

The face mask is preferably equipped with a timer or a sensor for indicating the time when the dirty filter must be replaced.

Any known suitable filter material can be used for filter tape. It may have one or more layers.

According to yet another embodiment, the filter cartridge as described above is formed as standalone or carry-on device where the openings for inhaling and/or exhaling air are connected with the face piece with a tube or other similar means. The filter cartridge as described above can also be integrated with or integrated into a helmet or body suit

These and other embodiments become evident in the light of the description and are limited only by the enclosed claims.

Claims

5 Claims

1. A respirator (1), comprising a means (2) for isolating the wearer's respiratory tract from the surrounding environment, said means (2) comprising at least one opening (4) for inhaled or exhaled air, said opening (4) closed with a filter (5), so that at least one of said inhaled or exhaled air is filtered when passing through said filter, characterized in that said respirator (1) comprises means (6) for holding a supply of clean filter tape, wherein a first part of said filter tape extends out of said means (6) and closes said at least one opening (4), wherein when said first part has become contaminated, it can be removed and replaced with a new, clean part of said filter tape from said supply of clean filter tape.

2. A face mask (1), comprising a face piece (2) and means for holding (3) said face piece against the wearer's face so that the face piece (2) covers the mouth and nose part of the wearer's face, wherein said face piece comprises at least one opening (4) for receiving air from outside the face piece and/or removing air from inside the face piece, wherein said at least one opening (4) is covered by a filter (5), characterized in that said face mask (1) comprises means for holding and releasing (6) a filter tape so that part (7) of said filter tape closes said at least one opening (4) and wherein one end (8) of said filter tape is extending out of said means for holding and releasing outside the face mask so that the part of said filter tape that has become dirty may be removed and replaced with a new, clean part of said filter tape by pulling from said one end of said filter tape.

3. A face mask (1) as in claim 2, wherein said means for holding and releasing (6) the filter tape comprises a reel (9) for said filter tape.

4. A face mask (1) as in claim 2, wherein said means for holding and releasing (6) the filter tape comprises folded filter tape.

5. A face mask (1) as in claim 2, wherein said face mask (1) comprises a first opening for receiving air into said face piece (2) and a second opening for removing air from said face piece (2).

6. A face mask (1) as in claim 5, wherein said first opening and said second opening are covered by a single filter tape.

7. A face mask (1) as in claim 5, wherein said first opening and said second opening are each covered by their own filter tape.

8. A face mask (1) as in claims 2 to 7, wherein at least one of said openings has a valve for onedirectional pass of air.

9. A face mask (1) as in claims 2 to 8, comprising means for indicating a necessity of replacing said dirty part of said filter tape with said new, clean part of said filter tape.

10. A face mask (1) as in claim 9, wherein said means for indicating is a timer.

11. A face mask (1) as in claim 9, wherein said means for indicating is a sensor. 6 A face mask (1) as in claims 2 to 11, wherein said at least one openings are equipped with diffusers for directing the air for directing the inhaled or exhaled air to reduce the intersection of inhaled and exhaled air flows, e.g., from people who are not far from each other. A face mask (1) as in claims 2 to 12, wherein said means for holding (3) said face piece against the user's face is a head band. A filter unit for a personal protective equipment, such as a face mask, a helmet, a body suit, said filter unit comprising at least one opening for inhaled or exhaled air, said opening closed with a filter, so that at least one of said inhaled or exhaled air is filtered when passing through said filter, characterized in that said filter unit comprises means for holding a supply of clean filter tape, wherein a first part of said filter tape extends out of said means and closes said at least one opening, wherein when said first part has become contaminated, it can be removed and replaced with a new, clean part of said filter tape from said supply of clean filter tape.