FULL FACE RESPIRATOR

Abstract

A full face respirator comprising a mask (10) having a transparent viewing portion (12) and a port portion (16), and exhalation port (22) disposed in said port portion (16), a face seal configured (14) to seal the mask (10) over a wearer's eyes, nose and mouth, in use, and an orinasal assembly (2) comprising a flexible, cup-shaped orinasal (2) having an orifice (2a) and being configured to fit over a wearer's nose and mouth, in use; wherein the orinasal assembly (2) further comprises a generally tubular connecting portion (24), integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said orifice (2a), said connection portion (24) being shaped and configured to extend through said exhalation port (22) from the inner region to the outer region of the mask (10) and including an exhalation valve mount (28) for receiving a one-way exhalation valve (4).

Claims

1. A full face respirator comprising a mask having a transparent viewing portion and a port portion, an exhalation port disposed in said port portion, a face seal configured to seal the mask over a wearer's eyes, nose and mouth, in use, and an orinasal assembly comprising a flexible, cup-shaped orinasal having an orifice and being configured to fit over a wearer's nose and mouth, in use; wherein the orinasal assembly further comprises a generally tubular connecting portion, integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said orifice, said connecting portion being shaped and configured to extend through said exhalation port from the inner region to the outer region of the mask and including an exhalation valve mount for receiving a one-way exhalation valve.

2. A full face respirator according to claim 1, wherein a sealing gasket is provided around the outer wall of the connecting portion, adjacent to the orifice of the orinasal, for sealing the orinasal against the periphery of the exhalation port.

3. A full face respirator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion and the inner peripheral wall or rim of the exhalation port comprise integral cooperative connecting members for removably affixing the orinasal assembly to the exhalation port.

4. A full face respirator according to claim 3, wherein the connecting members comprise male and female portions respectively of a twist bayonet connection mechanism between the connecting portion and the exhalation port.

5. A full face respirator according to claim 4, wherein the male and female portions of the twist bayonet connection mechanism are integrally formed in or on the inner wall/rim of the exhalation port and the outer wall of the connecting portion of the orinasal assembly respectively.

6. A full face respirator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the orinasal assembly is substantially rigid, and the cup-shaped orinasal is resiliently flexible.

7. A full face respirator according to claim 6, wherein the connecting portion comprises a moulded hard polypropylene (PP) copolymer and the cup-shaped orinasal is formed of a flexible rubber material with which the connecting portion is overmoulded.

8. A full face respirator according to claim 1, wherein the port portion of the respirator comprises at least one air intake port comprising a connector for removably receiving thereon a filter cartridge assembly.

9. A full face respirator according to claim 8, wherein the cup-shaped orinasal comprises at least one aperture or opening adjacent the or each air intake port, when the respirator is assembled for use.

10. A full face respirator according to claim 9, wherein the at least one aperture has mounted or formed therein an inhalation valve mount for receiving thereon a one-way inhalation valve.

11. A full face respirator according to claim 1, further comprising a strap or harness assembly for securing the mask over a user's face in use.

12. A full face respirator according to claim 11, wherein the harness or strap assembly is removably connected to the mask.

13. An orinasal assembly for a full face respirator according to claim 1, comprising a flexible, cup-shaped orinasal having an orifice and being configured to fit over a wearer's nose and mouth, in use; wherein the orinasal assembly further comprises a generally tubular, substantially rigid connecting portion, integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the periphery of said orifice, said connecting portion including an exhalation valve mount for receiving a one-way exhalation valve.

14. A kit of parts for a full face respirator, comprising an orinasal assembly according to claim 13, a mask having a transparent viewing portion and a port portion, an exhalation port disposed in said port portion, a face seal configured to seal the mask over a wearer's eyes, nose and mouth, in use, said connecting portion of said orinasal assembly being shaped and configured to extend through said exhalation port from the inner region to the outer region of the mask, wherein a connection mechanism is provided in or on the connecting portion of the orinasal assembly and or the exhalation port to releasably affix the orinasal assembly to the mask.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a full face respirator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when assembled for use; and

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the full face respirator of FIG. 1, excluding the filter cartridges, illustrating the manner in which the respirator can be disassembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a full face respirator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a face shield or mask 10, including a transparent viewing portion 12 and a face seal 14 for sealing the mask 10 over a user's face, in use. The mask 10 comprises a port portion 16 located below the transparent viewing portion 12 when viewed from a front elevation (when the respirator is oriented for use). The port portion 16 includes a pair of intake ports 18 (only one can be seen in FIG. 2), each having a connector region 18a for receiving a filter cartridge 20, and a generally central exhalation port 22.

[0019] A nose cup or orinasal 2 is provided, which fits over a user's nose and mouth, in use, and includes a central orifice defined by peripheral rim 2a. The orinasal 2 is formed of a flexible rubber material, such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) although the present invention is not necessarily strictly limited in this regard. The orinasal 2 comprises an integral connecting portion 24, comprising a generally tubular, substantially rigid member that extends outwardly from the peripheral rim 2a of the orinasal orifice. The connecting portion is moulded of a hard plastic material, such as hard polypropylene (PP) copolymner, although the present invention is not necessarily strictly intended to be limited in this regard. The hard plastic connecting portion 24 is, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, overmoulded with the flexible rubber orinasal orifice 2a to provide a robust and solid assembly.

[0020] The outer wall of the connecting portion 24 includes integrally moulded female connecting regions 26. In the illustrated example, three such female connecting regions 26 are provided (although only one can be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings): two being on diametrically opposing side locations on the outer wall of the connecting portion, and a third being located between them on the lower wall of the connecting portion 24 (when the respirator is oriented for use).

[0021] An exhalation valve frame member 28 is integrally moulded or otherwise mounted within the tubular connecting portion 24, adjacent to, and concentric with, the orinasal orifice 2a. The exhalation valve frame member 28 comprises a generally circular, hard plastic outer rim and a concentric inner circular portion having a small central aperture. Radial ribs extend between the outer rim and the inner circular portion. A one-way exhalation valve 4, in the form of a flexible diaphragm, is mounted within the connecting portion 24 by inserting a pin 4a thereof through the small central aperture in the exhalation valve frame member 28.

[0022] A gasket 3 (or o-ring), which may be formed of any suitable resiliently flexible material such as rubber or silicone, is mounted over the connecting portion 24 and sits against the proximal end thereof, adjacent the orinasal orifice 2a.

[0023] In order to assemble the respirator, the connecting portion 24, including the exhalation valve 4 and the gasket 3, is inserted through the exhalation port 22 of the mask 10 from the rear to the front (when the respirator is oriented for use). The inner wall of the exhalation port 22 is integrally formed with three male connecting regions 22a (only two can be seen in FIG. 2), which correspond in relative location to the female connecting regions 26 on the connecting portion 24. It will be appreciated that the outer diameter of the connecting portion 24 is substantially the same as (or very slightly smaller than) the inner diameter of the exhalation port 22, such that the connecting portion 24 can be inserted into the exhalation port 22 in a snug fit and, due to the slightly raised male connector regions 22a, it can only be inserted through the exhalation port 22 if the female connector regions 26 on the connecting portion 24 are aligned with the male connector regions 22a on the inner wall of the exhalation port 22. The female connecting regions 26 on the connecting portion 24 and the male connector regions 22a on the inner wall of the exhalation port 22, together, form a twist bayonet connection mechanism between the connecting portion 24 and the exhalation port 22. Thus, once the connecting portion 24 is fully inserted through the exhalation port 22, it can be twisted relative thereto to engage the female and male connecting regions 26, 22a and lock the orinasal assembly to the mask 10. Of course, in alternative exemplary embodiments, the female connecting regions may be provided on the inner wall of the exhalation port 22 and the male connector regions may be provided at corresponding locations on the outer wall of the connecting portion 24. Alternative suitable connection mechanisms may also be envisaged, and will be known to a person skilled in the art.

[0024] A cover 7. Having opening s7a therein, is removably mounted (e.g. in a snap fit) over the front of the exhalation port 22 to protect the exhalation valve 4 and prevent the ingress of particulate matter from the external environment.

[0025] The orinasal 2 comprises a pair of intake apertures 30, one on each side of the central orifice 2a (only one intake aperture can be seen in the view of FIG. 2). An inhalation valve frame member 32 is moulded or otherwise mounted within each of the intake apertures 30, and each inhalation valve frame member again comprises a pair of radially spaced-apart concentric circular members, with a small central aperture and radial ribs extending between the circular members. A one-way inhalation valve 34, in the form of a flexible diaphragm, is mounted in each intake aperture 30 by inserting a pin 32a thereof through the small central aperture of a respective inhalation valve frame member 32. The outer rim 30a of each intake aperture 30 is configured to engage with a respective intake port 18 in the mask 10 to define a sealed air flow path, in use, between the inside of the orinasal 2 and the respective filter cartridge 20.

[0026] A harness or strap 6 is removably affixed to the mask 10 (at four points 5a, only three shown in the view of FIG. 2) by means of harness clips 5, to enable the respirator to be secured to a user's head in use.

[0027] It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, from the foregoing description, that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.