Disposable filter respirator with inner molded face flange
First Claim
1. A filter respirator forming a face mask to be worn upon the face of a user for providing filtering of impurities in the air, including,a support layer of flexible material including outer peripheral edges generally conforming to the contours of the face of the user and forming a flexible support layer of filter material and constructed to allow air inhaled by the user to flow through the support layer,a separate layer of filter material supported by the support layer of flexible material and having properties of filtering impurities in the air inhaled by the user,an exhalation valve extending through the support layer and the filter layer in a central position for exhausting air exhaled by the user and including an inside surface within the central position, anda non-porous flexible inner flange forming a flexible half-mask conforming to the contours of the face of the user, means providing for the passage of the inhaled air through the support layer and the layer of filter material and the deflection of such inhaled air by the inner flange, said means comprising said inner flange being sealingly attached to the outer peripheral edges of at least the support layer, the inner flange extending inwardly to the central position to direct the inhaled air, after deflection, to the central position and including a central opening with a surrounding portion conforming and contiguous to the inside surface of the exhalation valve, the surrounding portion of the inner flange being movable away from the inside surface of the exhalation valve, upon the inhalation of air by the user, and thereby forming an inhalation passage between the inside surface of the exhalation valve and the surrounding portion of the central opening of the inner flange to permit the passage of inhaled air to the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A filter respirator forming a face mask to be worn upon the face of a user including a support layer of flexible material. The support layer is molded to conform to the contours of the face of the user and forms a flexible support layer for filter material. A separate layer of filter material filters out impurities. An exhalation valve extends through the support layer and the filter layer in a central position. The exhalation valve includes an inside surface surrounding the central position. A molded non-porous flexible inner flange forms a flexible half-mask for sealing to the face of the user. The inner flange is attached to the peripheral edges of at least the support layer and extends inward to the central position. The inner flange includes a central opening with a surrounding portion conforming and adjacent to the inside surface of the exhalation valve. This forms an inhalation valve between the inside surface of the exhalation passage and the surrounding portion of the central opening of the inner flange.
132 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A filter respirator forming a face mask to be worn upon the face of a user for providing filtering of impurities in the air, including,
a support layer of flexible material including outer peripheral edges generally conforming to the contours of the face of the user and forming a flexible support layer of filter material and constructed to allow air inhaled by the user to flow through the support layer, a separate layer of filter material supported by the support layer of flexible material and having properties of filtering impurities in the air inhaled by the user, an exhalation valve extending through the support layer and the filter layer in a central position for exhausting air exhaled by the user and including an inside surface within the central position, and a non-porous flexible inner flange forming a flexible half-mask conforming to the contours of the face of the user, means providing for the passage of the inhaled air through the support layer and the layer of filter material and the deflection of such inhaled air by the inner flange, said means comprising said inner flange being sealingly attached to the outer peripheral edges of at least the support layer, the inner flange extending inwardly to the central position to direct the inhaled air, after deflection, to the central position and including a central opening with a surrounding portion conforming and contiguous to the inside surface of the exhalation valve, the surrounding portion of the inner flange being movable away from the inside surface of the exhalation valve, upon the inhalation of air by the user, and thereby forming an inhalation passage between the inside surface of the exhalation valve and the surrounding portion of the central opening of the inner flange to permit the passage of inhaled air to the user.
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15. A filter respirator forming a face mask to be worn upon the face of a user for providing filtering of impurities in the air, including,
means including at least a layer of filter material including outer peripheral edges formed generally to conform to the contours of the face of the user and providing for the passage of air through the layer of filter material and the filtering of the impurities of such air, the layer of filter material having an opening at a central position, an exhalation valve extending through the opening in the filter material for producing an exhaust through the valve of air exhaled by the user and including an inside surface within the central opening, and a non-porous flexible inner flange having peripheral edges forming a flexible half-mask, said peripheral edges conforming to the contours of the face of the user and disposed against the face of the user means to seal against leakage of the air inhaled by the user that passes through the filter material and to deflect such inhaled air after passage through the layer of the filter material, said means comprising said inner flange being sealed at its peripheral edges with the outer peripheral edges of the layer of filter material, means forming an inhalation passage between the inside surface of the exhalation valve and the surrounding portion of the central opening of the inner flange and passing, to the user, the inhaled air deflected by the inner flange and further constructed to abut the inside surface of the exhalation valve during the exhalation of air by the user to provide for the exhalation of air through the exhalation valve, said means forming an inhalation passage comprising the inner flange having an opening at a position corresponding to the opening in the layer of the filter material and extending inwardly to the central position, the inner flange having a portion surrounding the central opening in the filter material at a position conforming and contiguous to the inside surface of the exhalation valve and constructed to become spaced from the inside surface of the exhalation valve, upon the inhalation of air by the user.
Specification