Ventilating face masks and methods and systems for face mask ventilation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a mask ventilation system can comprise an expandable base layer comprising side edges and a ventilation layer external to the expandable base layer comprising side edges. When the expandable base layer is in an expanded state, the side edges of the ventilation layer and the side edges of the expandable base layer can define one or more ventilation gaps between the expandable base layer and the ventilation layer for diverting at least a portion of the wearer's breath away from the surface, wherein the diversion can decrease the relative humidity on the surface.

A method and associated system are provided for splicing a reserve nose wire to a running nose wire in a facemask production line, wherein the running nose wire is supplied continuously from a supply roll. Prior to depletion of the running nose wire, the supply roll is moved from an operating location to an intermediate location that is further from the production line while continuing to supply the running nose wire from the supply roll. The supply roll is then moved from the intermediate location back towards the production line while decelerating the supply roll to a stop, thereby creating an accumulation of the running wire functionally between the supply roll and the production line. With the supply roll at a stop, the running nose wire is continuously supplied from the accumulation and a leading end of a reserve roll of nose wire is spliced to the running nose wire at a location upstream of the accumulation where the running nose wire is at a standstill. The running nose wire is then cut at a location upstream of the splice such that the reserve nose wire and reserve roll become a new running nose wire and new supply roll in the production line.

A strapless face mask having a housing and an interior seal made of a soft material that creates an air-tight seal within the mask and has sufficient adhesive properties to ensure the mask adheres to the wearer's face. The strapless face mask further includes one or more access ports that are made of a self-sealing material that allow medical equipment to be inserted into the face mask to access the wearer's face without interrupting the air-tight seal of the mask.

A flat fold filtering face piece respirator 10 that includes a mask body 12 and a harness 14. The mask body 12 includes a filtering structure 16 that contains a cover web 48, 50 and a filtration layer 52 that contains electrically-charged microfibers. The filtering structure 16 is folded over upon itself in a nose region 32 of the mask body 12 to be at least 1 centimeter or more wide and to extend across the upper perimeter of the mask body in a generally straight line when the respirator is in the folded condition. The filtering structure 16 has a deflection greater than about 0.5 millimeters and has a recoverability of at least 40% in the folded condition. A mask body having this construction is beneficial in that it does not need to use a nose foam to obtain a snug fit over the nose.

The invention relates to a device made up of filtering microfibre fabrics (1) which are thermofused (2), this method providing a sealed reinforcement. Its base has an internal seam (3). Its elasticated drawstrings (4) make it adaptable to all sizes, and their stitching (5) ensures its sturdiness. With its large internal air volume (6), the user's nostrils (7) and mouth (8) are not in contact with the fabric. This protection is easy to use, simple, comfortable and hygienic. It dries very fast and can be reused very quickly.

A duckbill mask includes a mask upper side and a mask lower side. A manufacturing process includes: respectively performing edge folding and press sealing on an upper nose edge on the mask upper side and a jaw edge on the mask lower side, and using a double-way staggered cutting process to add a nose bridge while folding the upper nose edge; and overlapping the mask upper side and the mask lower side, then performing press sealing on convex edges of the mask upper side and the mask lower side by using a staggered opposite arrangement method, and using a double-way staggered cutting process to add an ear belt while performing press sealing on the convex edges. In the multi-line machining process, multi-line edge folding and press sealing of all layers of materials, overlapping and then finished product cutting are performed, whereby two duckbill masks are manufactured at a time.

A filtering face mask includes a top layer, a structure layer, one or more filtering layers, a back layer and straps. The straps, the ends of which are attached to the mask, run through strap holes in the mask, and may be pulled to change the mask from a flat to a wearable configuration. The unpleated top layer may easily be decorated before wearing the mask.

A disposable facemask is provided having a filter body with an opening sized to cover the nose and mouth of a wearer. The filter body further includes an outer mask layer and an inner mask layer, and one or more intermediate layers disposed between the outer and inner mask layers. At least one of the intermediate layers is a nonwoven web layer including thermoplastic filaments formed from a random copolymer, or a random copolymer blended with a homopolymer.

A sanitizing face mask inhibits the transmission of pathogens in air respired through the nose and mouth of a wearer. The mask includes hydrophobic inner and outer layers and an intermediate layer enclosed between them. The intermediate layer is saturated with a sanitizing liquid such as an ethanol solution. Respired air encounters the sanitizing liquid as it passes through the intermediate layer, killing pathogens borne on droplets or aerosols. The sanitizing mask protects the wearer, from pathogens in the inspired air, and others, from possible pathogens in the expired air of the wearer.

A disposable facemask is provided having a filter body with an opening sized to cover the nose and mouth of a wearer. The filter body further includes an outer mask layer and an inner mask layer, and one or more intermediate layers disposed between the outer and inner mask layers. At least one of the intermediate layers is a nonwoven web layer including thermoplastic filaments formed from a random copolymer, or a random copolymer blended with a homopolymer.