HALF MASK FOR THE FACE

Abstract

A half mask for the face, including one or more covering areas for covering one or both respiratory openings of the person wearing the half mask and one or more fastening areas for fastening the half mask to its wearer, particularly to one or more of their head, neck, and throat, one or more UV-C disinfection units for disinfecting the inhaled and exhaled air and one or more devices for fitting the half mask tightly around the face of its wearer are provided.

Claims

1. A half mask for the face, comprising: one or more covering areas for covering one or both respiratory openings of a person wearing the half mask and one or more fastening areas for fastening the half mask to its wearer, to one or more of their head, neck, and throat, wherein one or more UV-C disinfection units for disinfecting inhaled air and exhaled air and one or more devices for ensuring that the half mask will tightly fit the contours of its wearer's face are provided.

2. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein an airway for inhaled and exhaled air is provided in the half mask and the one or more UV-C disinfection unit are arranged so that the inhaled and exhaled air streaming through the airway is irradiated with UV-C radiation and thereby disinfected.

3. The half mask in accordance with claim 2, wherein one or more control and/or regulation devices are provided to control and/or regulate the UV-C radiation emitted or emittable from the UV-C disinfection unit depending on the air quantity within the UV-C disinfection unit.

4. The half mask in accordance with claim 3, wherein one or more air mass sensors are provided to record the air flow rate streaming through the UV-C disinfection unit and the control and/or regulation device(s) entail one or more microprocessor control units to determine the amount of energy necessary to irradiate the air to optimally disinfect it.

5. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein a device for the form-fitting, tight application of the half mask to the face of its wearer can be arranged and the half mask is formed from one or more breathable mesh fabrics at least in the area covering the wearer's respiratory openings.

6. The half mask in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least one replaceable filter and/or sealing element is provided to prevent the aspiration of air outside the airway which can be disinfected by one or more UV-C disinfection units and to prevent droplets from escaping into the surrounding air outside the half mask during exhalation.

7. The half mask in accordance with claim 6, wherein the replaceable filter and/or sealing element(s) include one or more of the following filter materials: paper filter material, activated carbon element, or HEPA filter element.

8. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein the UV-C disinfection unit(s) can comprise one or more bodies that are transparent for UV-C radiation and a number of UV-C LEDs which are used to irradiate the air streaming through the air passage.

9. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more devices that are lightproof to the outside are provided for receiving the UV-C disinfection unit(s), to protect the wearer of the half mask and its environment from UV-C radiation.

10. The half mask in accordance with claim 9, wherein one or more reflective coatings of the device(s) are provided to optimize the distribution of the UV-C radiation.

11. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more UV-C disinfection units are operable or operated by one or more energy storage devices.

12. The half mask in accordance with claim 11, wherein microprocessor control unit(s) monitor the state of charge of the energy storage device(s) and at least one device is provided to display the state of charge of the UV-C disinfection unit(s) and the display device(s) are controllable or controlled by the control and/or regulation unit.

13. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein to prevent the emission of non-disinfected or inadequately disinfected air into the environment of the half mask, one or more valve elements are provided in the area of an air outlet of the half mask, wherein the valve element(s) block the airway through the UV-C disinfection unit(s) if it is determined that the air supply stream in the airway is inadequate.

14. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more transmission devices are provided for transmitting operating parameters of the half mask UV-C disinfection unit(s), to an external data processing unit, that takes on one or more of notification, warning, and logging functions regarding the half mask UV-C disinfection unit(s).

15. The half mask in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more sensor elements for detecting medically relevant quantity components of the breathing air can be provided in the half mask to record oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, acetone, ammoniac, hydrogen, and other components of the breathing air, to identify illnesses and/or to adjust athletic training programs to the capability of the person wearing the half mask.

16. The half mask in accordance with claim 8, wherein the one or more bodies are transparent moldings that have one or more spiral air channels.

17. The half mask in accordance with claim 9, wherein the UV-C disinfection unit(s) are received or encapsulated in the housing unit(s) in a manner that is lightproof to the outside.

18. The half mask in accordance with claim 10, wherein one or more reflective coatings are coatings of the housing, the UC-C disinfection unit(s), or the air passage of the UV-C disinfection unit(s), and/or in the air passage.

19. The half mask in accordance with claim 11, wherein the one or more energy storage devices are one or more rechargeable batteries and/or one or more batteries.

20. The half mask in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one device for displaying the state of charge is an optical or acoustic display device.

21. The half mask in accordance with claim 13, wherein the valve elements are electromagnetic and/or mechanical valve elements.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For a more detailed explanation of the invention, its features are described in greater detail based on the drawings, wherein

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a view of a first embodiment of a half mask according to the invention, outlined in perspective, and

[0020] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view, in perspective, of part of a second embodiment of a half mask according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a half mask 1, which is provided to be worn on the head of a person or a wearer. For this purpose, it features an area 10 covering the respiratory openings (such as the nose and mouth) of the wearer of the half mask and one or more fastening areas for fastening the half mask to its wearer, particularly to one or more of their head, neck, and throat. The fastening area 11 comprises two ribbon-shaped fastening elements 110 and 111, which are fastened to each other by means of a closure element 112. The closure element 112 can be a Velcro fastener or another closure element, for example.

[0022] The covering area of the half mask 1 is designed so that it encloses the respiratory openings (such as the mouth and nose) of the wearer of the half mask 1 by lying flat and tight-fitting on their face. So, it is preferable if the covering area 10 and possibly the fastening area 11 of the half mask 1 consist of an air-permeable mesh fabric that is suitable for being laid on the wearer's facial contours with a tight, close fit. The material of the covering area 10 of the half mask 1 is also used to support additional components of the half mask 1. These components are a replaceable filter and sealing element 2 and (in the embodiment according to FIG. 1) two UV-C disinfection units 3, 4 or (in the embodiment of the half mask 1 according to FIG. 2) only one UV-C disinfection unit 3.

[0023] The UV-C disinfection units 3, 4 are used to disinfect the inhaled and exhaled air. They are therefore arranged in the airway 5 of the breathing air. This is given, wherein the aspiration of air outside the airway 5—air that was not guided through the disinfection stages of the UV-C disinfection unit(s)—is prevented by means of the replaceable filter and sealing element 2. During exhalation, the filtering effect of the filter and sealing element 2 prevents droplets from the air exhaled by the half mask's wearer from being emitted into the surrounding air. This replaceable filter and sealing element 2 can be a simple filter, an active carbon element, or a HEPA filter element, wherein various degrees of protection can be attained during the filtering of respiratory droplets depending on the choice of the filter and sealing element.

[0024] The airway 5 extends between an air inlet 6 and an air outlet 7. The air inlet is formed by one or more openings in the covering area 10, as can be better inferred from FIG. 2 in particular. Two such openings (air inlets 6) are provided in the embodiment of the half mask according to FIG. 1, although, according to FIG. 2, merely one such opening or one such air inlet 6 is provided. The air inlet 6 is covered by an air inlet cap 60 on the exterior side 100 of the covering area 10 of the half mask 1. An air inlet counterpart 61 to the air inlet cap 60 is arranged on the interior side 101 of the covering area 10. The air inlet cap 60 and its air inlet counterpart 61 are connected with each other (magnetically, for example). Therefore, they adhere to each other on the exterior side 100 and the interior side 101 of the covering area 10, whose material between them receives them.

[0025] The air outlet 7 is formed by one or more openings in the replaceable filter and sealing element 2. On the interior side 20 of the replaceable filter and sealing element 2, an air outlet cap 70 is arranged, and on the exterior side 21 of the replaceable filter and sealing element 2, a corresponding air outlet counterpart 71 is arranged, which is connectable or connected to the air outlet cap 70. A magnetic connection is suitable to that end as well. The air outlet cap 70 and its air outlet counterpart 71 receive the replaceable filter and sealing element 2 between them, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] The UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3 or 4 are arranged between the two counterparts 61, 71 and in particular connected with them. The airway 5 therefore leads through the air inlet cap(s) 60, the air inlet(s) 6, their air inlet counterpart(s) 61, the respective UV-C disinfection unit 3, 4 and the air outlet counterpart(s) 71, the air outlet(s) 7, and the air outlet cap(s) 70.

[0027] One or more openings can be arranged in the covering area 10 of the half mask 1 and the replaceable filter and sealing element 2 to function as air inlet 6 and air outlet 7. To optimize the form of the half mask 1, multiple UV-C disinfection units 3, 4 (as shown in FIG. 1) can be provided, each with air inlet caps as outer coverings, instead of only one UV-C disinfection unit 3 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] The main components of the UV-C disinfection unit 3 or 4 consist of a mold 30 that is transparent for UV-C light. This is shown in FIG. 1 as a cylindrical mold, but can also feature another design. As can be better seen in FIG. 2, the mold 30 has a spiral shape in the interior and features a spiral air passage 31 emanating from its center, which can be formed as a rectangular tube in cross section, for example. The spiral air passage 31 represents the effective length for the energy input of the UV-C radiation when unwound.

[0029] The molding 30 is received or encapsulated, lightproof, in a housing 33, to avoid an emission of UV-C radiation from the housing 33 and therefore guarantees protection from the genetic-material-altering effect of the UV-C radiation. A number of UV-C LEDs 32 are arranged on the interior side of the housing 33, on its outer periphery 34, and on its surface, which is shown in FIG. 2 as a disc-shaped housing cover 35. These are used to irradiate an air stream 36 during its passage through the molding 30 or its spiral air passage 31. The UV-C LEDs 32 are arranged in the housing 33 toward the side of the connection with the air inlet counterpart 61. The housing 33 also features a housing cover 37 toward the air outlet counterpart 71. The air outlet counterpart 71 is connected with it.

[0030] The interior side 38 of the housing 33 can be provided with a reflective coating to optimize the distribution of the UV-C radiation along the airway in the spiral air passage 31.

[0031] To supply the UV-C LEDs 32 with energy, an energy storage device 120 in the form of one or more rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries is provided and fastened to the half mask 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the energy storage device 120 in the area of the enclosure element 112 is fastened to one or more ribbon-shaped fastening elements 110, 111. Between the UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3, 4 and the energy storage device(s) 120, electrical lines 121 are provided that extend along the covering area 10 and the ribbon-shaped fastening element 111 in the embodiment of the half mask 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, an air mass sensor 8 is arranged in the airway 5 in this embodiment variant, that air mass sensor encompassing the flow quantity of the air that streams through the UV-C disinfection unit 3 or units 3 and 4. A microprocessor control unit 9 or a microprocessor-controlled control loop calculates the amount of energy which is needed for the disinfection and with which the air quantity within the UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3 or 4 is to be irradiated to achieve an optimal effect. Through this procedure, permanent exposure can be avoided, which allows for efficient operations with an energy storage device 120 in the form of a rechargeable battery pack, for example. The microprocessor control unit 9 is arranged along both electrical lines 121 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] To prevent a possible emission of non-disinfected or inadequately disinfected air into the environment, a valve element 72 is integrated into the embodiment of the half mask 1 according to FIG. 2, particularly in the form of an electromagnetic and/or mechanically activated valve element that automatically blocks the air passage 31 through the UV-C disinfection unit 3 or 4 if the power supply is inadequate. If this occurs (meaning, if no disinfection of the air takes place), an air filtration (and therefore an air purification) comparable to that of a standard paper filter mask is guaranteed by means of the replaceable filter and sealing element 2. Regarding the sealing of the masks when they are applied to the face of their wearer, the half mask 1 is significantly superior to the well-known standard paper marks.

[0034] The modular construction and simple integration of the disinfecting element make it possible for its components to be cleaned and disinfected easily. By loosening the respective connection between the air inlet 60 and the air inlet counterpart 61 or the air outlet cap 70 and the air outlet counterpart 71, all components of the half mask 1 can be separated from each other; in particular, the replaceable filter and sealing element 2 can be replaced.

[0035] By permanently monitoring the condition (especially the state of charge) of the energy storage device 120 as that of the rechargeable battery status, any imminent ending of the operating time of the UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3 or 4 can be optically and acoustically signaled by providing an optical and/or acoustic display device 90.

[0036] The operating parameters determined can also be transmitted via a wireless network (particularly a local one) to a connected data terminal as an external data processing unit connectable or connected to it, which can take over the notifying, warning, and logging functions. The operation can take place via a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone (in the manner of an app). And the operating parameters or recorded data can also be logged and subsequently transmitted to an EDP system by means of the microprocessor control unit 9.

[0037] Through the defined or definable geometry of the spiral air passage 31 of the UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3 or 4, a sensor element (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2) can be or become provided to determine various medicinally relevant quantity components of the breathing air and integrated into the UV-C disinfection unit(s) 3 or 4. For example, O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, N.sub.2, acetone, ammoniac, H.sub.2, and other components of the breathing air can be determined as medicinally relevant by the sensor element(s). The combination with the data of the existing air mass sensor 8 makes it possible to notify the wearer of the half mask 1 of illnesses early on. And in sports as well, precise knowledge of the material composition of the breathing air can be helpful in adjusting training programs to the capabilities of a particular individual, for example.

[0038] Besides the embodiments of half masks described in the foregoing and shown in the figures, numerous other formations are possible, particularly any desired combination of the aforementioned features, wherein the face mask entails one or more covering areas to cover one or both respiratory openings of the person wearing the half mask, one or more fastening areas to fasten the half mask to the face of its wearer, particularly one or more of their head, neck, and throat, one or more UV-C disinfection units to disinfect the inhaled air, and one or more devices for applying the half mask to the face of the person wearing it in a tight, form-fitting manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0039] 1 Half Mask for the Face [0040] 2 Filter and sealing element [0041] 3 UV-C disinfection unit [0042] 4 UV-C disinfection unit [0043] 5 Airway [0044] 6 Air inlet [0045] 7 Air outlet [0046] 8 Air mass sensor [0047] 9 Microprocessor control unit [0048] 10 Covering area [0049] 11 Fastening area [0050] 20 Interior side/inner surface [0051] 21 Exterior side/outer surface [0052] 30 Molding [0053] 31 Spiral air passage [0054] 32 UV-C LED [0055] 33 Housing [0056] 34 Outer perimeter/outer periphery [0057] 35 Flat/disc-shaped housing cover [0058] 36 Air stream [0059] 37 Housing cover [0060] 38 Interior side of the housing [0061] 60 Air inlet cap [0062] 61 Air inlet counterpart element [0063] 70 Air outlet cap [0064] 71 Air outlet counterpart element [0065] 72 Valve element [0066] 90 Display device [0067] 100 Exterior side/outer surface [0068] 101 Interior side/inner surface [0069] 110 Ribbon-shaped fastening element [0070] 111 Ribbon-shaped fastening element [0071] 112 Closure element [0072] 120 Energy storage device (rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery) [0073] 121 Electrical line