BREATHING HALF MASK

Abstract

A breathing half mask (1) for protection against particles, aerosols and odors, having two or more mask sections (10). The breathing half mask (1) can be brought from a storage state into a use state by at least one folding process.

Claims

1. A breathing half mask for protection against particles, aerosols and odors, the breathing half mask comprising: a breathing half mask structure comprising a plurality of mask sections, the plurality of mask sections including a nose section with a nose sealing line, a chin section with a chin sealing line, the sealing lines being configured to be in contact with, and provide sealing with, a corresponding face section of the user; and a mouth section arranged between the nose section and the chin section for defining a breathing space in a use state of the breathing half mask; wherein the breathing half mask structure is movable by at least one folding process from a storage state into the use state, each of the mask sections of the plurality having a filter material configured to remove at least one of the particles, aerosols and odors, the filter material of at least one of the mask sections of the plurality being different from the filter material of at least another one of the mask sections of the plurality, mutually adjacent mask sections of the plurality being connected to one another by a connection at respective connection sections, the filter material of each the nose section, the chin section, and the mouth section comprises a respective layer structure with at least one layer of a single homogeneous filter material extending across an entirety of the respective section, the layer structure of the mouth section being thicker than the respective layer section of the nose section and of the chin section, the nose section and the chin section having the same filter material, the filter material of the nose section and the filter material of the chin section have a higher breathing resistance than the filter material of the mouth section, each of the plurality of connection sections being a separate structure from the filter material; the nose and the chin section having an inner layer arranged to point towards the face of the user; the mouth section having an inner layer arranged to be closest to the mouth of the user, the inner layer of the mouth section being a different material from a material of the inner layer of the nose and the chin section.

2. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filter material of each of the mask sections of the plurality includes layers of both woven and nonwoven textile filter materials.

3. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filter material of the at least one of the mask sections and the filter material of the at least another one of the mask sections differ in at least one of the group consisting of tactility, sealing functionality and permeability to aerosols and particles.

4. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the layer structure of the filter material of the at least one of the mask sections and the layer structure of the filter material of the at least another one of the mask sections differ from one another in one or more of the group consisting of a number, an arrangement and a type of material layers.

5. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the filter material of the nose section and the filter material of the chin section has a lower weight per unit area than the filter material of the mouth section.

6. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of: the filter material of the nose section has a weight per unit area between about 20 g/m.sup.2 and about 100 g/m.sup.2; the filter material of the chin section has a weight per unit area between about 20 g/m.sup.2 and about 100 g/m.sup.2; and the filter material of the mouth section has a weight per unit area between about 40 g/m.sup.2 and about 500 g/m.sup.2.

7. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nose section and the chin section have a same filter material.

8. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the mask sections is one or more of welded, bonded and sewn to one another at the plurality of connection sections.

9. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection sections of two of the plurality of mask sections form a folding area for the at least one folding process.

10. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the filter material of at least one of the mask sections and the filter material of at least another one of the mask sections has at least one of the group consisting of a mechanical filter material, an electrostatic filter material and a triboelectric filter material.

11. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filter material of each of the mask sections is configured as nonwoven textile filter materials.

12. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mask sections have at least one of the group consisting of a mechanical filter material, an electrostatic filter material, a triboelectric filter material and an odor-absorbing filter material.

13. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 12, wherein the mouth section comprises at least one of the group consisting of the mechanical filter material, the electrostatic filter material, the triboelectric filter material and the odor-absorbing filter material.

14. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a coating arranged on both the nose sealing line and the chin sealing line, the coating being configured to provide a seal during contact with the corresponding parts of a face of the user.

15. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the plurality of connection sections include a mouth connection section arranged adjacent to the mouth section; the plurality of connection sections include a nose connection section arranged adjacent to the nose section, the mouth connection section and the nose connection section having a connection to each other; the plurality of connection sections include a chin connection section arranged adjacent to the chin section; the plurality of connection sections include another mouth connection section arranged adjacent to the mouth section, the another mouth connection section and the chin connection section having a connection to each other; the nose connection section, the mouth connection section, the another mouth connection section and the chin connection section being different than the filter material of their respective nose section, mouth section and chin section.

16. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 15, wherein: said nose section, said mouth section and said chin section have a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; said mouth connection section and said nose connection section having said connection to each other in a middle area with respect to said longitudinal direction, said connection between said nose section and said mouth section not extending to longitudinal ends of said nose section and said mouth section; said another mouth connection section and said chin connection section having said connection to each other, said connection between said chin section and said another mouth section not extending to longitudinal ends of said chin section and said mouth section; said mouth connection section and said nose connection section extending longitudinally and transversely beyond said connection of said mouth connection section to said nose connection section; said another mouth connection section and said chin connection section extending longitudinally and transversely beyond said connection of another said mouth connection section to said chin connection section.

17. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the nose and chin sealing lines have a coating configured to improve a sealing effect of the nose and chin sealing lines.

18. A breathing half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the nose sealing line being formed of a material different than the filter material of the nose section; the chin sealing line being formed of a material different than the filter material of the chin section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a breathing half mask according to the present invention during its use;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a breathing half mask according to the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a view of a breathing half mask according to the present invention during its manufacture;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a side view of the breathing half mask in a storage state; and

[0039] FIG. 5 is a side view of the breathing half mask in a storage state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention in its use state during use by a user 100. The breathing half mask 1 and the user 100 are shown in a lateral sectional view. The breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention has especially three mask sections 10. The mask sections 10 are especially a nose section 11, a chin section 12 as well as a mouth section 13. Connection sections 20 of the individual mask sections 10 make it possible to connect two respective adjacent mask sections 10, especially the nose section 11 and the mouth section 13, as well as the mouth section 13 and the chin section 12. The connection sections 20 represent at the same time the folding areas 40, at which the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention can be brought by a folding process from a storage state into a use state. Further, especially a breathing space 43, which is located essentially between a mouth and a nose of the user 100 and the mouth section 13, is defined by the mouth section 13. The nose section 11 further has a nose sealing line 41 and, analogously to the chin section 12, a chin sealing line 42, which are intended for being in contact with a corresponding face section of the user 100 and which ensure sealing of the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention against the face of the user 100. The different shadings of the mask sections 10 on the shown breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention already suggest that provisions are made as an essential feature of the present invention for the different mask sections 10 of the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention to be able to have different filter materials 30 (not shown). It can be made possible in this manner that the different mask sections 10 can also provide different properties, made possible and influenced by the respective filter material 30. For example, the nose section 11 as well as the chin section 12, which may also have, as shown, the same filter material 30, have a filter material 30, which provides for an especially high wearing comfort for a user 100 of a breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention. The filter material 30 of the mouth section 13 may, by contrast, be selected, for example, with respect to an especially low breathing resistance, and the mouth section 13 preferably also provides at least essentially the filter functionality of the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention. On the whole, both a required filter functionality and a high wearing comfort can be provided by a breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention in a sectional view, wherein especially the different filter materials 30 of the individual mask sections 10 of the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention are shown. The filter materials 30 of the nose section 11 as well as of the chin section 12 are, in turn, selected as the same material here. It is clearly seen, furthermore, that the individual filter materials 30 have a layer structure 31, where the layer structures 31 differ, for example, in the number of the material layers 32 as well in the use of the types of material layers 32. In particular, the mouth section 13 may have, for example, a layer structure 31 that is configured such that the entire filter material 30 of the mouth section 13 is thicker than the filter materials 30 of the nose section 11 as well as of the chin section 12. Further, it is seen that the connection sections 20 between the nose section 11 and the mouth section 13 as well as between the mouth section 13 and the chin section 12 are reliably connected to one another by a welded connection 21. Such welded connections 21 represent especially reliable connections between the individual mask sections 10, for example, especially when textile filter materials 30 are used as the filter material 30. Further, filter materials 30 having different densities may also be used for the individual mask sections 10, in which case, for example, the filter materials 30 of the nose section 11 as well as of the chin section 12 have a weight per unit area between about 20 g/m.sup.2 and about 100 g/m.sup.2 and the filter material 30 of the mouth section 13 has a weight per unit area between about 40 g/m.sup.2 and about 500 g/m.sup.2. It can also be made possible in this manner, in particular, that the breathing resistances are different between the individual mask sections 10, the mouth section 13 preferably having the lowest breathing resistance of all mask sections 10 due to the filter material 30 used. An especially unhindered breathing of a user 100 (not shown) can be made possible in this manner by the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention. To provide the filter property, the filter materials 30, especially the filter material 30 of the mouth section 13, may be configured as a mechanical and/or electrostatic and/or triboelectric filter material 30.

[0042] Further, FIG. 3 shows a breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention during the manufacture of the breathing half mask 1 according to the present invention. The individual mask sections 10, especially a nose section 11, a mouth section 13 as well as a chin section 12, are arranged next to one another. Mutually adjacent mask sections 10 are already connected to one another at least partially by a welded connection 21 at their respective connection sections 20. The other sections of the connection sections 20 can also be connected, especially welded, to one another due to an easy folding up, made possible especially by the connection sections 20 being configured as a folding area 40. The different shadings of the individual mask sections 10 already suggest again that at least the mouth section 13 has a different filter material 30 than the nose section 11 as well as the chin section 12. A respective nose sealing line 41 and a chin sealing line 42 are already shown at the ends of the nose section 11 as well as of the chin section 12, which ends face away from the mouth section 13.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a view of the breathing half mask 1 in a storage state wherein the chin section 12 is folded relative to the mouth section 13 and then the nose section 11 is folded relative to chin section 12 and the mouth section 13 such that the chin section 12 is located between the mouth section 13 and the nose section 11. The use state of the breathing half mask 1 is formed by moving the nose section 11 relative to the mouth section 13 and the chin section 12 and then moving the chin section 12 relative to the mouth section 13.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a view of the breathing half mask 1 in a folded state wherein the nose section 11 is folded relative to the mouth section 13 and then the chin section 12 is folded relative to nose section 11 and the mouth section 13 such that the nose section 11 is located between the mouth section 13 and the chin section 12. The use state of the breathing half mask 1 is formed by moving the chin section 12 relative to the mouth section 13 and the nose section 11 and then moving the nose section 11 relative to the mouth section 13.

[0045] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0046] 1 Breathing half mask [0047] 10 Mask section [0048] 11 Nose section [0049] 12 Chin section [0050] 13 Mouth section [0051] 20 Connection section [0052] 21 Welded connection [0053] 30 Filter material [0054] 31 Layer structure [0055] 32 Material layer [0056] 40 Folding area [0057] 41 Nose sealing line [0058] 42 Chin sealing line [0059] 43 Breathing space [0060] 100 User