Respirator with Phase Change Material

• US 20160001101A1
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Scott Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Parham, Michael, Quiring, Amy Elizabeth, Roberts, Gareth, Wilson, Graham Peter, Tucker, Carl Escort, Sabolis, Alyssa Whitney, Voss, Ethan David, SEPPL, Antti, Baker, Troy Alan
• Granted Patent: US 11,273,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1153 with a hood
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1161 Means for fastening to the user's head
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/005 Active or passive body temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/04 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• 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 18/082 Assembling eyepieces, lenses or vision-correction means in or on gas-masks
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/10 with filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10

Abstract

A respirator includes a frame, a filter layer, and a face seal member. The frame has an outer side and an inner side. The frame defines an opening therethrough. The filter layer is mounted to the outer side of the frame and covers the opening of the frame. The filter layer is configured to prohibit permeation of aerosol, gas, and/or vapor contaminants therethrough. The face seal member is mounted to the inner side of the frame. The face seal member includes a seal contact area configured to engage a facial surface of a wearer. The face seal member incorporates a phase change material therein. The phase change material is configured to provide localized cooling by absorbing heat emitted by the wearer.

Claims

1. A respirator comprising:

a frame having an exposed outer side and an enclosed inner side, the frame defining an opening therethrough;

a filter layer mounted to the frame and covering the opening of the frame, the filter layer configured to prohibit permeation of aerosol contaminants therethrough; and

a face seal member mounted to the inner side of the frame, the face seal member including a seal contact area configured to engage a facial surface of a wearer, wherein the face seal member incorporates a phase change material therein, the phase change material configured to provide localized cooling by absorbing heat emitted by the wearer.

2. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is at least one of encapsulated by a primary material of the face seal member or micro-encapsulated in a polymer coating prior to being incorporated into the primary material, the primary material being at least one of a silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer.

3. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the phase change material melts at a temperature between 30°

C. and 40°

C.

4. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is incorporated into the seal contact area of the face seal member and absorbs heat to provide cooling to the facial surface that engages the seal contact area.

5. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the frame is at least partially convex and a cavity is formed between the filter layer and the face seal member, the phase change material incorporated into at least one of the filter layer or the face seal member proximate to the cavity such that the phase change material absorbs heat from air within the cavity to provide cooling of the air inside the respirator.

6. The respirator of claim 1, further comprising a harness assembly including one or more straps configured to removably mount the respirator to a head of the wearer.

7. The respirator of claim 6, wherein at least one of the straps or a harness cradle of the harness assembly incorporates the phase change material therein to provide localized cooling to the head of the wearer by absorbing heat emitted from the head.

8. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the face seal member includes a formable nasal member that is bendable to conform to a nasal area of the wearer, the nasal member incorporating the phase change material therein to provide cooling to the facial surface of the wearer within the nasal area.

9. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is at least one of a paraffin, a fatty acid, or a salt hydrate.

10. The respirator of claim 1, wherein a phase change of the phase change material occurs at a temperature that is proximate to at least one of an exhalation air temperature of the wearer or a body temperature of the wearer.

11. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the respirator is at least one of disposable or semi-disposable.

12. The respirator of claim 1, wherein at least some of the phase change material melts upon absorbing heat emitted by the wearer, and in low ambient temperatures the melted phase change material solidifies and releases heat to provide heating for the wearer.

13. A respirator comprising:

a frame,

an oronasal member mounted to the frame, the oronasal member configured to surround the nasal and oral regions of a wearer, the oronasal member including a seal contact area configured to engage a facial surface of the wearer, and

a harness assembly having one or more straps coupled to at least one of the frame or the oronasal member, the harness assembly configured to removably mount the respirator to a head of the wearer,

wherein at least one of the frame, the oronasal member, or the harness assembly includes a phase change material incorporated therein, the phase change material configured to provide localized cooling by absorbing heat emitted by the wearer, the phase change material melting at a temperature that is proximate to at least one of an exhalation air temperature of the wearer or a body temperature of the wearer.

14. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the phase change material is at least one of a paraffin, a fatty acid, or a salt hydrate.

15. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the phase change material is encapsulated by the at least one of the frame, the oronasal member, or the harness assembly that incorporates the phase change material or is micro-encapsulated in a polymer coating prior to being incorporated into the at least one of the frame, the oronasal member, or the harness assembly.

16. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the oronasal member is formed of a filter media that is configured to prohibit permeation of aerosol contaminants therethrough.

17. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the oronasal member is formed of at least one of a silicone, polyisoprene, halo-butyl, or a thermoplastic elastomer.

18. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the frame is a shield formed of non-permeable plastic, the respirator further including at least one valve to allow for air exchange through the respirator, the at least one valve including a filter media configured to prohibit permeation of aerosol contaminants therethrough.

19. The respirator of claim 13, further comprising a rear-facing filter member, the rear-facing filter member disposed rearward of the frame and at least one of leftward, rightward, or downward of the seal contact area of the oronasal member.

20. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the frame includes an exhalation valve.

21. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the phase change material melts at a temperature between 30°

C. and 40°

C.

22. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the oronasal member has a convex structure that forms a cavity therein, the phase change material being incorporated into the oronasal member proximate to the cavity such that the phase change material absorbs heat from air within the cavity to provide cooling of the air inside the respirator.

23. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the phase change material is incorporated into the seal contact area of the oronasal member and absorbs heat to provide cooling to the facial surface that engages the seal contact area.

24. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the respirator is a half-face respirator.

25. The respirator of claim 13, wherein the respirator is at least one of a full-face respirator or an inner mask component of at least one of a full face piece or a hood respirator assembly.

26. The respirator of claim 13, further comprising a lens mounted to the frame and an outer sealing member that is mounted to at least one of the lens or the frame, the outer sealing member including a seal contact area configured to engage at least one of a forehead, a cheek, or a chin surface of the wearer, wherein the phase change material is incorporated into the outer sealing member and absorbs heat from the at least one of the forehead, the cheek, or the chin surface of the wearer that engages the seal contact area.

27. The respirator of claim 26, wherein the outer sealing member is formed of at least one of a silicone, polyisoprene, halo-butyl, or a thermoplastic elastomer.

28. The respirator of claim 13, further comprising a lens mounted to the frame, wherein the lens is disposed over at least eyes of the wearer and is clear to allow the wearer to see through the lens, the phase change material being incorporated into the lens to provide cooling of air inside the respirator.

29. The respirator of claim 13, wherein at least some of the phase change material melts upon absorbing heat emitted by the wearer, and in low ambient temperatures the melted phase change material solidifies and releases heat to provide heating for the wearer.