Filter media comprising a pre-filter layer and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. In some embodiments, the pre-filter layer may be designed to impart desirable properties to the filter media, such as a high gamma and/or long service life, while having relatively minimal or no adverse effects on another property of the filter media that is important for a given application. For instance, a pre-filter layer may be used to improve the upstream removal of fine particulate matter, which may clog a downstream efficiency layer comprising submicron fibers and reduce filtration performance. The pre-filter layer may be configured to increase service life and/or increase the gamma of the filter media. Filter media, as described herein, may be particularly well-suited for applications that involve filtering air, though the media may also be used in other applications.

A system and method for a face mask communication system. The face mask communication system includes a removable microphone that can be installed in a face mask to allow the wearer to clearly and privately communicate with another user over a Bluetooth enabled mobile device such as a cell phone. In illustrated examples, a microphone unit is deformable to enable the microphone unit to form a custom fit over the nose bridge to seal the mask on the user's face. The face mask communication system includes an application program operating on the mobile device that allows a user to initiate and secure private conversations with other users.

A breathing airbag device includes a filter airbag, an inner holding stand, a nose holder, a mouth holder, and two elastic straps, wherein the filter airbag is adapted for interacting with and filtering the outside air, the inner holding stand is adapted for supporting and fixing the nose holder and mouth holder, the nose holder is adapted for fittingly supporting the human nose, the mouth holder is adapted for fittingly supporting the human mouth, the inner holding stand is located on the filter airbag, the nose holder and the mouth holder are located on the inner holding stand, and two ends of each of the elastic straps are fixed to an edge position of the nose holder. The present invention has some advantages of good tightness, simple structure and low manufacturing cost.

A blended polymer comprising, an amorphous thermoplastic polymer and a thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer, each of the polymers being essentially miscible in the other and being blended at a weight ratio of amorphous polymer/semi-crystalline polymer of greater that 0.05 to about 20 forms a melt blown nonwoven fabric having essentially no defects with long fiber lengths having uniform diameters. The nonwoven fabrics when used as a filter may have greater than 95% efficiency at a pressure drop of less than 2 mm Hg even after being exposed to high temperatures (˜70° C.) for an hour or more.

A face mask unit for protection against contaminants, for example in particles, comprises a face mask with a body having lateral inhalation filters inserted in seats of this body, the body cooperating with hooking means for fastening to a support element for supporting the mask on the face, and an exhalation valve for the exhaled air. An additional filtering member is provided, which is adapted to be arranged on the mask and bearing at least one filtering element, said additional filtering member being fixed to the mask and being arranged a short distance from it so as to create a space between the body of the mask and the filtering element, this space allowing air to flow in to the lateral inhalation filters unimpeded and also creating a void for the exhaled air from the exhalation valve to flow into before passing through said filtering element.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to coated substrates having, e.g., anti-viral properties, to articles including the coated substrates, and to processes for making such coated substrates and articles. In an embodiment, a mask for preventing infection by a virus is provided. The mask includes a coated substrate having a breathing resistance (95 L/min, EN 149:2001) of about 6 mbar or less and a water droplet absorption time of less than about 5 seconds. The coated substrate includes a non-woven fabric having a weight of about 120 g/m.sup.2 or less according to ASTM D3776, and mineral oxide particles, iron oxide particles, or both, coupled to at least a portion of the non-woven fabric.

An off-the-face mask including a mask body comprising one or more layers and having a surface area defined by a plurality of zones, wherein at least two of the plurality of zones have different stiffness levels; and one or more straps coupled to the mask body and configured to hold the mask on a wearer of the mask.

A face mask is disclosed. The face mask includes a mask pad adapted to cover a nose and a mouth of a wearer and allows a passage of air therethrough to the wearer and restricts a passage of microbes. The mask pad has at least a surface protected by a sulfonated polymeric layer for killing at least 90% microbes within 120 minutes of contact with at least a surface of the face mask. The sulfonated polymeric layer consists essentially of a sulfonated polymer, the sulfonated polymer being selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof.

A personal air filter device with an air filter assembly retained in the air filter holding member is disclosed. An ear support member is attached to the air filter holding member and can be hung over the ear of the user to support the air filter holding member. Alternatively, a clip member attached to the air filter holding member can be utilized to attach the device to the user's clothing or accessories. An air tube assembly extends from the air filter holding member to the mouthpiece for the purpose of breathing filtered air flowing through the air filter assembly. An air intake check valve situated near the end of the air tube attached to a mouthpiece retaining member and an air outflow check valve situated near the outer surface of the mouthpiece retaining member to ensure exhaled air is directed out of the device and is not reinhaled.

Disclosed is an apparatus for providing controlled flow of inhalation-air from at least an air-reservoir to a mask. The apparatus includes a control unit and a switch unit. The control unit controls the level of the inhalation-air flowing from the air-reservoir to the mask. The control unit includes a housing to receive the inhalation-air from the air-reservoir, plurality of ducts protruding from the housing to connect with the air-reservoir and with the mask and a valve configured to control the flow of inhalation-air from the plurality of ducts. The switch unit positions a valve to selectively open and close the plurality of ducts for regulating the flow of inhalation-air from the air-reservoir to the housing.