Respirator

• US 20030029454A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Safety Products USA, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: North Safety Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Petrillo, Breck Andrew, Gelinas, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 6,817,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.27
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A respirator comprising a facepiece having a cup shaped portion for sealingly engaging a face of a wearer and covering the mouth and nose of the wearer and a cover having a cup shape that is complementary to the cup shaped portion of the facepiece. The cover is capable to detachably mate with the facepiece to define with the facepiece a void area that is cup-shaped and suitable to receive a filter having a complementary shape. The filter includes an apex portion, a side portion depending from the apex portion and a continuous flange portion surrounding said side portion and projecting laterally therefrom.

Claims

1. A respirator comprising:

a) a facepiece having a cup shaped portion for sealingly engaging a face of a wearer and covering the mouth and nose of the wearer;

b) a cover having a cup shape that is complementary to the cup shaped portion of said facepiece, said cover being capable to detachably mate with said facepiece to define with said facepiece a void area; and

c) said void area being cup-shaped and suitable to receive a filter having a complementary shape.

2. A respirator as defined in claim 1, including a first continuous surface formed on said facepiece and a second continuous surface formed on said cover, said continuous surfaces being complementary and operable to sealingly engage the filter therebetween when said facepiece is mated with said cover, and said continuous surfaces surrounding the mouth and nose of the wearer.

3. A respirator as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said facepiece includes a first part and a second part, said first part being more pliable than said second part, said first part defining a continuous seal for sealingly engaging the face of the wearer and covering the mouth and nose of the wearer.

4. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said facepiece comprises an inhalation valve mounted to said second part.

5. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said facepiece comprises an exhalation valve mounted to said second part.

6. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first part is made of an elastomeric material.

7. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cover is movable from a first position, in which said void area is opened allowing the installation or removal of a filter, to a second position, in which said cover mates with said facepiece and the filter is received in said void area.

8. A respirator as defined in any one of claim 1 to 7, wherein said cover is hingedly attached to said facepiece.

9. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said cover comprises at least one releasable latch for locking said cover in said second position.

10. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said facepiece comprises a strap over the head of the wearer for holding said respirator.

11. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said facepiece comprises a V-shaped member having first and second branches, each said first and second branches comprising an aperture through which a portion of said strap passes.

12. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said cover comprises a peripheral portion and a ring connected together by at least one branch, said peripheral portion comprising said second continuous surface, said ring comprising an annular band that extends inwardly therefrom.

13. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said annular band engages the periphery of a central recess formed on a filter.

14. A respirator comprising:

(a) a facepiece having a cup shaped portion for sealingly engaging a face of a wearer and covering the nose and mouth of the wearer;

(b) a cover having a cup shape that is complementary to the cup shaped portion of said facepiece, said cover being capable to detachably mate with said facepiece to define with said facepiece a void area; and

(c) a filter having a cup shape, said filter is received in said void area.

15. A respirator as defined in claim 14, including a first continuous surface formed on said facepiece and a second continuous surface formed on said cover, said continuous surfaces being complementary and operable to sealingly engage said filter therebetween when said facepiece is mated with said cover, and said continuous surfaces surrounding the mouth and nose of the wearer.

16. A respirator as defined in claims 14 or 15, wherein said facepiece includes a first part and a second part, said first part being more pliable than said second part, said first part defining a continuous seal for sealingly engaging the face of the wearer and covering the mouth and nose of the wearer.

17. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said facepiece comprises an inhalation valve mounted to said second part.

18. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein said facepiece comprises an exhalation valve mounted to said second part.

19. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein said first part is made of an elastomeric material.

20. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein said cover is movable from a first position, in which said void area is opened allowing the installation or removal of said filter, to a second position, in which said cover mates with said facepiece and said filter is received in said void area.

21. A respirator as defined in any one of claim 14 to 20, wherein said cover is hingedly attached to said facepiece.

22. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein said cover comprises at least one releasable latch for locking said cover in said second position.

23. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein said facepiece further comprises a strap over the head of the wearer for holding said facepiece.

24. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein said facepiece comprises a V-shaped member having first and second branches, each said first and second branches comprising an aperture through which a portion of said strap passes.

25. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein said cover comprises a peripheral portion and a ring connected together by at least one branch, said peripheral portion comprising said second continuous surface, said ring comprising an annular band that extends inwardly therefrom.

26. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein said annular band engages the periphery of a central recess formed on said filter.

27. A respirator as defined in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said filter comprises an exhalation valve.

28. A disposable filter having a cup shape and dimensions such as to cover a wearer'"'"'s mouth and nose, said disposable filter being adapted to be received in a void area defined between a facepiece and a cover of a respirator, said facepiece having a cup shaped portion for sealingly engaging a face of the wearer and covering the mouth and nose of the wearer, said cover having a cup shape that is complementary to the cup shaped portion of said face piece, said cover being capable to detachably mate with said facepiece.

29. A disposable filter as defined in claim 28, wherein said filter includes an apex portion, a side portion depending from said apex portion and a continuous flange portion surrounding said side portion, said flange portion projecting laterally from said side portion.

30. A disposable filter as defined in claims 28 or 29, wherein said apex portion comprises a generally circular recess.

31. A disposable filter as defined in any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein said flange portion includes a section that overlies a chin of the face of the wearer, said section being concave.

32. A disposable filter as defined in any one of claims 28 to 31, wherein said section is a first section, said flange includes second and third sections, said second and third sections being concave to a lesser degree than said first section.

33. A disposable filter as defined in any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein said first section merges with said second and third sections through rounded corners.

34. A disposable filter as defined in any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein said flange portion defines a generally triangular figure.