Surgical mask

• US 3,315,672 A
• Filed: 07/10/1964
• Issued: 04/25/1967
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cunningham, Frank W., James V. Luck
• Original Assignee: Cunningham, Frank W., James V. Luck
• Inventors: Cunningham, Frank W., Luck, James V.
• Application Number:
  US04/381,622
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• US Class Current: 128/863
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/11 Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres eye-masks A61F9/04 ; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/00 Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effortA62B17/00 takes precedence; anaesthetic masks A61M16/06

Claims

1. A SURGICAL MASK FOR EXCLUDING NASOPHARYNGEAL BACTERIA FROM AN OPERATIVE FIELD AND COMPRISING:

AN AIR IMPERMEABLE SHIELD ADAPTED TO COVER THE NOSE AND MOUTH AND DEFINE A BREATHING CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING EXPIRED AIR;

ONE-WAY AIR INTAKE MEANS HAVING AN INTAKE OPENING TO SAID CHAMBER TO AFFORD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND THE ATMOSPHERE OUTSIDE SAID SHIELD ON INSPIRATION, AND BLOCKING SAID COMMUNICATION ON EXPIRATION, SAID INTAKE MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED, VERTICALLY ORIENTED REFLUX AIR PASSAGE HAVING AN OUTLET LOCATED ADJACENT SAID INTAKE OPENING AND AN INLET LOCATED ABOVE SAID INTAKE OPENING AND ADJACENT THE UPPER TERMINUS OF SAID SHIELD, THE LENGTH OF SAID PASSAGE BEING SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE ANY BACKFLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID INTAKE OPENING ON TRANSITION FROM INSPIRATION TO EXPIRATION;

AND AN ELONGATED, FLEXIBLE AIR EXHAUST CONDUIT COUPLED AT ONE EXTREMITY TO SAID SHIELD FOR COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO TERMINATE AT ITS OPPOSITE EXTREMITY AT A POINT REMOTE FROM SAID OPERATIVE FIELD.