DISPOSABLE FACE RESPIRATOR

• US 3,779,244 A
• Filed: 02/03/1971
• Issued: 12/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George Paul Reimschussel, Thomas Joseph Jr. Weeks
• Original Assignee: George Paul Reimschussel, Thomas Joseph Jr. Weeks
• Inventors: Weeks, Thomas Joseph Jr., Reimschussel, George Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/112,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 128/146.2,146,146.3-146.7,139,142.6,14R 2/3-9,206 162/218,219,231 55/527,DIG.35
• US Class Current: 128/206.19
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1146 obtained by moulding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/35 Respirators and register filters

Abstract

A respirator mask is formed by a filter medium that comprises a majority of the face portion of the mask and edge sealing means. The filter medium includes at least two layers of interfelted fibers: (a) a backing layer of fibers, and a binder, and (b) a filter layer including fibers having a fine diameter. The filter medium is formed by sequentially depositing solids on a foraminous mold having the desired shape of the interior of the mask, from separate aqueous slurries. A pressure differential is applied across the foraminous mold to cause the fluid portion of each slurry to pass through the mold and to deposit solids on the mold.

Claims

2. The respirator mask of claim 1 wherein said edge seal means are deformable to the contours of the wearer'"'"''"'"'s face.

3. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said backing layer includes from about 20 to about 60 percent by weight of a synthetic organic resin binder uniformly distributed on the surface of the fibers.

4. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said fine diameter fibers are glass fibers having average diameters in the range of 1.6 to 2.6 microns.

5. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said filter medium includes irregular surface corrugations.

6. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said filter medium includes a second backing layer comprising bonded, interfelted resilient fibers, said filter layer being positioned between said backing layer and said second backing layer.

7. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said filter medium includes an exhalation valve in said filter medium.

8. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said edge seal means is aDhered to the peripheral portion of said filter medium and comprises a grooved elastomeric band having a ductile wire located centrally therein.

9. The respirator mask of claim 2 in which said edge seal means has an upper edge portion which is centrally recessed to receive the bridge of the wearer'"'"''"'"'s nose.

10. The respirator mask of claim 1 wherein said fine diameter fibers have a diameter of up to about 2.6 microns.

11. The respirator mask of claim 1 wherein said fine diameter fibers have a diameter of up to about 1.6 microns.

12. The respirator mask of claim 1 in which said filter layer includes from about 4 to about 20 percent of said fine diameter fibers.

13. The respirator mask of claim 1 wherein said resilient fibers of said filter layer are non-skrinkable or low-skrinkable at a temperature adequate to cure the filter medium.

14. The respirator mask of claim 1 wherein said resilient fibers of said filter layer and said resilient fibers of said backing layer have a length in the range of from about 1/8 inch to about 3/4 inch.