Face mask for filtering air and air monitoring system
Inventors
Szasz, Richard Devin • Leonard, Brandon James • Whitby, Peter Lionel • Fyke, Steven Henry • DeFAZIO, Michael Joseph • Griffin, Jason Tyler
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11241594-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A face mask for filtering air includes a face seal for providing an airtight flexible seal around the nose and mouth of a user, a support sealably attached to the face seal, wherein the support has an open area that allows for passage of incoming air and outlet valves for expelling exhaled air, a front shell for removably attaching to the support, wherein the front shell has inlet holes for allowing the incoming air to pass through the open area of the support, and a filter for filtering particulate elements from air. The filter is configured to be housed between the front shell and the support. The face seal provides a direct connection between the filter and the user.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a face mask for filtering air with an airtight flexible seal around the nose and mouth of a user using a face seal. A support sealably attached to the face seal has an open area that allows passage of incoming air and includes outlet valves for expelling exhaled air. A front shell removably attaches to the support and includes inlet holes for allowing incoming air to pass through the open area of the support.
A particulate filter is configured to be housed between the front shell and the support, and the face seal provides a direct connection between the filter and the user. The front shell includes a pair of shell attachment members located at sides of the front shell, and the support includes a pair of inner attachment members that removably connect to the shell attachment members. The front shell further includes a top shell connector located at a nose position, and the support includes an upper attachment member that hingedly connects with the top shell connector.
The face seal can be overmolded to the support such that the face seal seals the perimeter of the filter between the support and the front shell. The filter is configured to be flat when not assembled and be curved to become a three dimensional form for insertion on to the support. The filter can include a pair of nose portions separated by a central nose slit, with the nose portions mating together to form the three dimensional form when housed between the front shell and the support.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00008, and each claim centers on a face-mask structure defining an airtight face seal, an open-area support with outlet valves, a front shell with inlet holes, and a particulate filter housed between the shell and support with a direct user connection. The claims add further structural and joining/formation features that refine the mounting, sealing, and filter form during assembly.
Airtight face seal and direct filter connection
A face seal provides an airtight flexible seal around the nose and mouth of a user, and provides a direct connection between a particulate filter and the user while the particulate filter is configured to be housed between the front shell and the support.
Open-area support with passage and outlet valves
A support sealably attached to the face seal has an open area that allows for passage of incoming air and includes outlet valves for expelling exhaled air.
Removable front shell with inlet holes
A front shell removably attaches to the support and includes inlet holes for allowing incoming air to pass through the open area of the support.
Shell attachment members with hingedly connected top connector
The front shell includes a pair of shell attachment members located at sides of the front shell; the support includes a pair of inner attachment members that removably connect to the shell attachment members; the front shell includes a top shell connector located at a nose position; and the support includes an upper attachment member that hingedly connects with the top shell connector.
Overmolded face seal sealing perimeter of filter
The face seal is overmolded to the support such that the face seal seals the perimeter of the filter between the support and the front shell.
Flat filter convertible to three-dimensional form
The filter is configured to be flat when not assembled and be curved to become a three dimensional form for insertion on to the support.
Paired nose portions separated by central nose slit for 3D mating
The filter includes a pair of nose portions separated by a central nose slit, wherein the nose portions mate together to form the three dimensional form when the filter is housed between the front shell and the support.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is directed to a filter face mask architecture that combines an airtight face seal with a direct connection to a particulate filter housed between a removable front shell and a support. Claim clm-00001 emphasizes connection and hinged top-connector attachment for the shell to the support, while clm-00008 emphasizes overmolding of the face seal to seal the filter perimeter and a filter that transitions from a flat configuration to a curved three-dimensional form using paired nose portions separated by a central nose slit.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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