Face Mask with Double Breathing Chambers

• US 20040226563A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zhaoxia Xu, Zheng Peng
• Original Assignee: Zhaoxia Xu, Zheng Peng
• Inventors: Peng, Zheng, Xu, Zhaoxia
• Application Number:
  US10/249,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06

Abstract

A face mask (100) with double breathing chambers. Face mask (100) includes an outer face piece (102) for covering the nose, mouth and eyes of a wearer, an inner face piece (104) for covering the nose and mouth of the wearer, a separation piece (06, made of a substantially impermeable material, substantially dividing face piece (04) into a nose portion (104a) and a mouth portion (104b), thereby forming a nose chamber and a mouth chamber, such that gas communication between the two chambers is minimized, an exhalation device (108) for allowing air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space, an inhalation device (110) for allowing air to pass therethrough from an exterior gas space to an interior gas space, and a lens (112) for allowing the wearer to watch therethrough. In another embodiment of the present invention, face mask (200) includes a face piece (202), made of a filtration material, a separation member (204), made of a substantially impermeable material, substantially dividing face piece (202) into a nose portion (202a) and a mouth portion (202b), thereby forming a nose chamber and a mouth chamber, such that gas communication between the two chambers is minimized. The face mask of the present invention is more comfortable and hygienic to wear compared with prior art products. This invention has utility with many types of face masks, including medical, clean-room, firefighting, chemical-biological applications, etc.

Claims

1. A face mask for a wearer, said face mask comprising:

an outer face piece covering at least the nose, mouth, and eyes of said wearer;

an inner face piece covering the nose and mouth of said wearer installed inside said outer face piece;

a separation piece substantially dividing said inner face piece into a nose portion and a mouth portion, thereby, forming a nose chamber and a mouth chamber, and having a first end attached to said inner face piece and a second end extending rearward toward the facial area of said wearer in between the nose and mouth;

an exhalation device installed on said outer face piece for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space;

an inhalation device installed on said outer face piece for allowing air to pass therethrough from an exterior gas space to an interior gas space; and

lens means connected to said outer face piece.

2. A face mask as defined in claim 1, wherein said separation piece is made of a substantially impermeable material.

3. A face mask as defined in claim 1, wherein said exhalation device includes a one-way valve for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space.

4. A face mask as defined in claim 1, wherein said exhalation device includes filter means for filtering the air passing therethrough.

5. A face mask as defined in claim 1, wherein said inhalation device includes filter means for filtering the air passing therethrough.

6. A face mask as defined in claim 5, wherein said inhalation device includes a one-way valve for preventing exhaled air from passing therethrough.

7. A face mask for a wearer, said face mask comprising:

a face piece covering at least the nose and mouth of said wearer; and

a separation member substantially dividing said face piece into a nose portion and a mouth portion, thereby forming a nose chamber and a mouth chamber, and having a first end attached to said face piece and a second end extending rearward toward the facial area of said wearer in between the nose and mouth.

8. A face mask as defined in claim 7, wherein said separation member is made of a substantially impermeable material.

9. A face mask as defined in claim 8, said face mask further including:

an exhalation device installed on said face piece for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space; and

an inhalation device installed on said face piece for allowing air to pass therethrough from an exterior gas space to an interior gas space.

10. A face mask as defined in claim 9, wherein said exhalation device includes a one-way valve for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space.

11. A face mask as defined in claim 9, wherein said exhalation device includes filter means for filtering the air passing therethrough.

12. A face mask as defined in claim 9, wherein said inhalation device includes filter means for filtering the air passing therethrough.

13. A face mask as defined in claim 12, wherein said inhalation device includes a one-way valve for preventing exhaled air from passing therethrough.

14. A face mask as defined in claim 8, wherein said face piece is made of a filtration material.

15. A face mask as defined in claim 14, wherein said face piece is a molded face piece having a cup-shaped shape-retaining layer.

16. A face mask as defined in claim 15, said face mask further including an exhalation device installed on said face piece for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space.

17. A face mask as defined in claim 16, wherein said exhalation device includes a one-way valve for allowing exhaled air to pass therethrough from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space.

18. A face mask as defined in claim 16, wherein said exhalation device includes filter means for filtering the air passing therethrough.

19. A face mask as defined in claim 14, wherein said face piece is a flat face piece.

20. A method for using a face mask, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said face mask comprising a face piece for covering at least the nose and mouth of a wearer, a separation member, made of a substantially impermeable material, substantially dividing said face piece into a nose portion and a mouth portion, thereby forming a nose chamber and a mouth chamber, and having a first end attached to said face piece and a second end extending rearward toward the facial area of said wearer in between the nose and mouth, such that the second end of said separation member is conformal to the face of said wearer;

fastening said face mask onto the face of said wearer, such that said nose portion is covering the nose area and said mouth portion is covering the mouth area, and such that said separation member is disposed in between the nose and mouth of said wearer;

inhaling with the nose; and

exhaling with the mouth; and

whereby the exhaled air is directed out of the interior gas space through said mouth portion, the re-inhalation of residual exhaled air is totally eliminated, and the fogging of eyeglasses is minimized.