Breathable respirator mask with air filters and opening covers
10912959 ยท 2021-02-09
Inventors
Cpc classification
A62B18/08
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A41D13/11
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A62B23/025
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A62B18/086
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A62B18/08
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A41D13/11
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A respirator oxygen mask having a filter, a mask body, an outer edge is described herein. Disposed in the mask body of the respirator oxygen mask is a mask opening and a straw opening, with the mask opening disposed above the straw opening. Additionally, a sliding door is adapted to cover the mask opening. The straw opening having a mask straw attachment adapted to receive a straw and a straw opening cover removably attached to the mask straw attachment. The respirator oxygen mask also having a face mask reduction attachment adapted to fasten to the outer edge. Furthermore, the mask body having a front surface with a hose attachment ring disposed over the filter and adapted to receive a tube and a rear surface with a filter holder and a filter cover to secure the filter in place.
Claims
1. A respirator oxygen mask comprising: a filter; a mask body; a mask opening disposed in the mask body, wherein the mask opening is disposed above the straw opening; the straw opening having: a mask straw attachment having a straw channel, the mask straw attachment being made of a stretchable material and having a conical shape thereby being adapted to sealably receive through the straw channel various sized straws; a straw opening cover removably attached to the mask straw attachment; an outer edge; a mask strap adapted to attach to the outer edge; a face mask reduction attachment, wherein the face mask reduction attachment is adapted to fasten to the outer edge; a front surface having: a first sliding door, wherein the first sliding door is adapted to cover the mask opening; a hose attachment ring disposed over the filter and adapted to receive a tube; a nose band disposed on an upper portion of the mask corresponding to a user's nose; a rear surface having: a face contact edge disposed along a rear surface edge, the face contact edge having a bullnose shape and being adapted to rest on a user's face, thus keeping the mask body away from the user's face; a second sliding door, wherein the second sliding door is adapted to cover the mask opening; a filter holder attached to the mask; a filter cover, wherein the filter cover couples to the filter holder; and the filter holder and the filter cover are adapted to secure the filter in place.
2. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1 further comprising: an exterior upper track and lower track, wherein the first sliding door is adapted to engage with and slide along the exterior upper track and lower track; and an interior upper track and lower track, wherein the second sliding door is adapted to engage with and slide along the interior upper track and lower track.
3. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1, wherein the face mask reduction attachment has a male connector.
4. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 3, wherein the respirator oxygen mask has a female connector adapted to fasten the male connector on the face mask reduction attachment.
5. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1, wherein the straw opening cover has a strap attached to both the straw opening cover and the respirator oxygen mask.
6. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1, wherein the mask strap has a connector adapted to connect to the respirator oxygen mask.
7. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1, further comprising a hose attachment adapted to attach to the hose attachment ring.
8. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 1, wherein the face mask reduction attachment is adapted to be molded to the user's face.
9. A respirator oxygen mask comprising: a filter; a mask body; a mask opening and a straw opening disposed in the mask body; wherein the mask opening is disposed above the straw opening; a sliding door adapted to cover the mask opening; the straw opening having: a mask straw attachment adapted to receive a straw; a straw opening cover removeably attached to the mask straw attachment; an outer edge; a mask strap adapted to attach to the outer edge; a face mask reduction attachment, wherein the face mask reduction attachment is adapted to fasten to the outer edge and is selectively and removably attached to the mask body; a front surface having: a hose attachment ring disposed over the filter and adapted to receive a tube; a rear surface having: a face contact edge disposed along a rear surface edge, the face contact edge having a bullnose shape and being adapted to rest on a user's face, thus keeping the mask body away from the user's face; a filter holder attached to the mask; a filter cover, wherein the filter cover couples to the filter holder; and the filter holder and the filter cover are adapted to secure the filter in place.
10. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the straw opening cover is attached to the mask by a strap.
11. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the face mask reduction attachment is adapted to couple with the outer edge of the respirator oxygen mask using a snap on friction fitting connector.
12. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the filter is a two-way filter.
13. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the respirator oxygen mask has three filter holders.
14. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 13, wherein the respirator oxygen mask has three filters.
15. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the sliding door is adapted to slide along an upper and lower track.
16. The respirator oxygen mask of claim 9, wherein the mask body is an eco-friendly bio-based polymer.
17. A mask comprising: a mask body; a straw opening disposed in the mask body; a mask straw attachment having: an interior straw opening component having a conical shape, a first flange disposed at first end, and a beam extending from the first flange to an opposite second end of the interior straw opening component; an exterior straw opening component having a conical shape, a second flange disposed at the first end, and a channel extending from the second flange to an opposite second end of the exterior straw opening component; wherein the exterior straw opening component is adapted to fit through the straw opening and into the interior straw opening component such that the beam slides into the channel, thus creating a friction seal between the exterior straw opening component and the interior straw opening component, and such that the first and second flanges constrain therebetween a portion of the mask body surrounding the straw opening, thus creating a friction seal between the mask body and the mask straw attachment; and a straw channel, the mask straw attachment being made of a stretchable material and having a conical shape thereby being adapted to sealably receive through the straw channel various sized straws.
18. The mask straw attachment of claim 17, further comprising: the beam having a first securing protrusion; the channel having a second securing protrusion; and wherein the beam slides into the channel and the first securing protrusion slides past the second securing protrusion.
19. The mask straw attachment of claim 17, further comprising: the interior straw opening component having a bump channel; the exterior straw opening component having a bump ridge; and wherein the interior straw opening component and the exterior straw opening component are adapted to secure together by the bump ridge engaging with bump channel.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or examples in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects, embodiments and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.
(12) It should be understood that, for clarity of the drawings and of the specification, some or all details about some structural components or steps that are known in the art are not shown or described if they are not necessary for the invention to be understood by one of ordinary skills in the art.
(13) For the following description, it can be assumed that most correspondingly labeled elements across the figures (e.g., 101 and 201, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the same structure and function. If there is a difference between correspondingly labeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results in a non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particular embodiment, example or aspect, then the conflicting description given for that particular embodiment, example or aspect shall govern.
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(15) The respirator oxygen mask 101 having air filter holders 102, air filters 103, a straw opening (straw hole) 351 (which will be described in more detail in reference to
(16) The mask body 154 may be made from typical mask material mediums, such as cloth, paper, or plastic. The body of the mask, mask body 154, may be made of a different material from the mask attachments, such as fabric or paper. The mask body 154 may prevent containments from penetrating the mask 101, while the filters 103 further prevent containments from spreading to the user or the people surrounding the user. The respirator oxygen mask 101 may have the three-filter configuration, as shown, which may allow for more flexibility in the mask along with a more comfortable fit. In another example, the filter 103 and filter holder 102 may be a single large rectangle across the front face of the mask.
(17) The placement of multiple filters 103 may further allow better oxygen flow to the user would have a larger breathable surface area. As described herein, the filter 103 may also be any material that can filter air, such as the mask body 154, and the filter 103 does not need to be different from the mask material. Furthermore, the multiple filters 103 allow for improved sound travel, which may help communication while the user is speaking. Additionally, the three filters 103 may not come into contact with the wearer's face, thus limiting contamination. For example, the filter 103 may be removed by the user when wearing gloves to further ensure less contamination. Current masks typically only have a filter in the center of the mask or alternatively on each side of the mask, meaning there is less oxygen flow for the user to breathe in. The limited number of filters and smaller sized filters on typical masks reduce the airflow to the wearer.
(18) The noseband (band) 106 may allow the user to adjust the tightness of the mask around the user's nose, which may help form an airtight seal. The noseband 106 may be a flexible metal nose support. The noseband 106 may also be removable, which allows the user to microwave the mask 101, or perform other cleaning methods to wash and disinfect the mask 101. In an example, the noseband 106 may also be a stylish decorative strip, such as the noseband 106 having a different color or pattern on its surface. In another example, the noseband 106 may also be used as a label and have a user's name, title, or company name. For example, the noseband 106 may have a snap button 107 coupled with a corresponding part on the mask 101, which may allow the band 106 to be attached and removed from the mask 101.
(19) The mask 101 may also have mask straps 109 that are able to be detached from the mask 101 to allow the user to change the mask straps 109 if necessary. The mask straps 109 may to go around the back of the head or may have shorter straps that connects around the ears. For example, the mask straps 109 may be replaced if they are worn out or if the user wishes to change the style of the mask strap 109. The mask 101 may also have a removal strap connection holes 117, for example a snap clip, which may allow the mask strap 109 to connect to a corresponding connector 118 on the mask strap 109. For example, mask straps 109 may be connected or a wide band flexible strap similar to what might be used on a snow ski goggle or motorcycle goggles may be used.
(20) As shown in
(21) The mask 101 may also have a straw opening cover 111, which may snap on to cover the straw hole (not shown). For example, the straw opening cover 11 may be a friction airtight straw portal cap. The straw opening cover 111 may also be attached to the mask 101 by a straw opening cover strap 112. The straw opening cover 111 may cover the straw opening 151 when a user is not using the straw opening. The straw opening cover 111 creates a seal, which prevents unfiltered air from entering the mask. The straw opening (as shown in
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(23) The straw tube 250 may allow multiple sized diameter straws to be used and still maintain an airtight seal, compared to other mask that have a slit or a hole, which do not create an airtight seal. The airtight seal from the straw attachment 250 allows users to drink from a straw 219, while still wearing the mask 201. Thus, protecting the user from unfiltered air particles while consuming a beverage through the straw 219. The mask 201 with the mask straw attachment 250 may be valuable to patients, health care workers, and others to stay hydrated while practicing health and safety measures during hazardous conditions, such as air born viruses, the COVID-19 pandemic, or when a user is exposed to hazardous air or dust. The straw attachment may be a smaller size than a typical straw and the straw 219 may be pushed through the straw tube 250 to ensure an airtight seal. For example, the mask straw attachment 250 may be a stretchable material (e.g., rubber, a thin rubber). The stretchable material of the straw tube 250 may allow the user to push a variety of straw sizes through the straw tube 250 to easily drink while wearing the mask 201.
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(25) The mask opening, behind the interior mask door 329, and the straw opening 351 are disposed in the mask body 354 with the mask opening disposed above the straw opening to allow an inserted straw to have an appropriate angle to the user's mouth. The straw opening 351 being disposed underneath the mask opening allows for a more natural drinking angle while the user is drinking from a straw inserted into the straw opening 351. The straw opening 351 may have a v-shape, or conical shape, tapering inwards mask straw attachment 350 inserted into the straw opening 351. This snug fit created by the mask straw attachment allows a tight seal to prevent user from breathing unfiltered air even while using the straw (not shown), as described when referring to
(26) The mask 301 may also have the ability to reduce in size to accommodate a smaller face. A face mask reduction attachment 326 may be attached to the mask 301 to allow the mask 301 to fit smaller head shapes. For example, the face mask reduction attachment 326 may be made from a pliable and flexible material to conform to the smaller shaped heads. A connector 316 may be used to attach the mask 301 to the face mask reduction attachment 326 to have an airtight seal on a smaller user. For example, the connector 316 may be female snap on friction fitting connector with a corresponding male snap on friction fitting on the face mask reduction attachment 326 to join the mask 301 to the face mask reduction attachment 326. The face mask reduction attachment 326 may have corresponding connectors to attach to the connectors 316 on the mask 301. The connectors 316 may provide an airtight connection between the mask 301 and the reduction attachment 326. The face mask reduction attachment 326 may be applied to the mask by attaching to the mask edge 324a via the connectors 316. With the face mask reduction attachment 326 in place, the new mask edge 324b may form to the contours of a user with a smaller face. The face mask reduction attachment 326 may be molded to the user's face contours.
(27) The face mask reduction attachment edge (new edge) 324b on the face mask reduction attachment 326 may allow the mask 301 to be used by a different user once the mask is sanitized. For example, after the mask 301 is cleaned and sanitized another person may use the mask 301, such as a health care worker with a smaller sized face. The face mask reduction attachment edge 324b on the face mask reduction attachment 326 creates a tight seal between the mask 301 and the user's face, which may prevent unfiltered air to pass through the edge of the mask. For example, the face mask reduction attachment 326 may also have a support brackets to increase the sturdiness of the face mask reduction attachment 326. In another example, the face mask reduction attachment 326 may be more conforming to the user's face, such as accommodating more face shapes and contours and face sizes. The mask may also have a face contact edge 353 (as depicted by the dotted line), which will be described in more detail when referring to
(28) Furthermore, the filter cover 313 may connect to the filter holder 302 by coupling 304. The filter cover 313 allows the filter 303 to be held in place while filtering the bacteria, dust, and other harmful substances. For example, the filter cover 313 may have push pin snap couplings 304 to allow the user to lock filter cover 313 tightly in place with the filter holder 302. The couplings 304 may also allow the filter cover 313 to be easily removed when necessary, such as when the filter 303 needs to be replaced. As shown in
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(30) The respirator oxygen mask 401 may have an upper track 423b and a lower track 423a for the mask gate 410, which covers the mask opening 410a, and in this example is a clear material. The tracks 423b and 423a may allow the mask gate 410 to slide back and forth between a closed and opened position. For example, the track may have a friction ridge to lock the mask gate 410 into the open or closed position. The user being able to eat while still wearing the mask allows the user to spread less bacteria particles from their nose compared to if a user needed to completely take of the mask to eat. The mask opening 410a may also allow the user to have urgent unobstructed conversations. Current masks block voice transfer making it harder to hear a person talking with a mask on. For example, clear speech is critical when a health care worker may be giving medical instruction, thus the mask opening 410a would help relay important instructions.
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(32) The filter cover 513 allows the filter 503 to be held snugly in place to create an airtight seal around the air portal on the mask 501. The filter cover 513 may be more securely held in place by the coupling 504. For example, the coupling 504 may be a push pin-snap coupling and may allow the user to easily change the filter 503 daily as recommended by the CDC.
(33) Typically, personal protective equipment usually comes into contact with a large surface area of the user's face, which is uncomfortable and typically causes irritation to the user. This irritation usually causes a rash or a breakout of pimples. As shown, the face contact edge 553 of the mask 501 may be bull nose shaped. The bullnose shape may allow minimal face contact of the mask to user's face. Currently, there is an issue with people wearing masks for extended periods and too much surface area of the mask may be in too much contact with the user's face. Typically, this causes to the user's skin to be irritated. The bull nose shape may allow minimal contact between the user's face and their mask. The face contact edge 553 masks also may slightly indent into the user's skin allowing for a better airtight seal rather than the typical flat surface edge.
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(36) Furthermore, the interior straw opening component having a first flange 714a disposed at a first end 714b, and a beam 757b extending from the first flange 714a to an opposite second end 714c of the interior straw opening component. While the exterior straw opening component has a second flange 715a disposed at a first end 715b, and a channel 757a extending from the second flange 715a to an opposite second end 715c of the exterior straw opening component. Additionally, the exterior straw opening component is adapted to fit through the straw opening and snugly into the interior straw opening component such that the beam 757b slides into the channel 757a, thus creating a friction seal between the exterior straw opening component and the interior straw opening component, and such that the first flange 714a and the second flange 715a constrain therebetween a portion of the mask body surrounding the straw opening, thus creating a friction seal between the mask body and the mask straw attachment.
(37) For example, the channel 757a may extend from one end to the opposite end of each piece of the mask straw attachment 750. In another example, the channel 757a may extend from the end opposite of the second flange 715a of the exterior straw component 715 only for a portion of the length of the exterior straw component 715 and correspondingly the beam 757b on the interior straw component 714 may extend from the flange 714a end over a portion of the length of the interior straw component 714.
(38) In an example, the interior straw opening component 714 and the exterior straw opening component 715 may lock together by securing protrusions 752a, 752b. The beam may have a first securing protrusion 752b, while the channel 757a may have a second securing protrusion 752a to allow the beam 757b to slide into the channel 757a and the first securing protrusion 752b slides passed the second securing protrusion 752a. Moreover, the second securing protrusions 752a on the exterior straw opening component 715 and the first securing protrusions 752b on the interior straw opening component 714 may allow for the interior straw opening component 714 to slide onto the exterior straw opening component 715 and lock into place. The interior straw opening component 714 and its securing protrusions 752b would slide past the securing protrusions 752a, which may prevent the interior straw opening component 714 from easily coming off of the exterior straw opening component 715. The securing protrusions 752a, 752b may restrict backwards movement to ensure a stronger connection between the interior straw opening component 714 and the exterior straw opening component 715.
(39) In another example, the interior straw opening component 714 and the exterior straw opening component 715 may lock together by a bump ridge 756a on exterior straw opening component 715 and a bump channel 756b on interior straw opening component 714. The bump ridge 756a may be a protrusion on exterior straw opening component 715, while the bump channel 756b may be an indentation on the interior straw opening component 714. When sliding the interior straw opening component 714 onto the exterior straw opening component 715, the bump channel 756b may snap onto the bump ridge 756a.
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(42) The interior straw opening component 914 may have a conical shape, with a first and second opening, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening. The exterior straw opening component 915 have a conical shape, with a third and fourth opening, wherein the third opening is smaller than the fourth opening. The interior straw opening component 914 may attach to the exterior straw opening component 915 forming the straw opening 951. The second opening and the third opening being the same size to allow for an airtight seal.
(43) It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term couple and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The term or is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases associated with and associated therewith, as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
(44) Further, as used in this application, plurality means two or more. A set of items may include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the claims, the terms comprising, including, carrying, having, containing, involving, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases consisting of and consisting essentially of, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims.
(45) If present, use of ordinal terms such as first, second, third, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. These terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used in this application, and/or means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.
(46) Throughout this description, the aspects, embodiments or examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus or procedures disclosed or claimed. Although some of the examples may involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives.
(47) Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one aspect, embodiment or example are not intended to be excluded from a similar role(s) in other aspects, embodiments or examples.
(48) Aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention may be described as processes, which are usually depicted using a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may depict the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. With regard to flowcharts, it should be understood that additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the described methods.
(49) If means-plus-function limitations are recited in the claims, the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed in this application for performing the recited function, but are intended to cover in scope any equivalent means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function.
(50) Claim limitations should be construed as means-plus-function limitations only if the claim recites the term means in association with a recited function.
(51) If any presented, the claims directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
(52) Although aspects, embodiments and/or examples have been illustrated and described herein, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate of the same and/or equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may be substituted for the aspects, embodiments and/or examples illustrated and described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended to cover such alternate aspects, embodiments and/or examples. Hence, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Further, each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification.