Face protector

• US 5,003,633 A
• Filed: 10/17/1989
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itoh Denki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Itoh Denki Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Itoh, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US07/422,832
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206.12, 128/206.21, 128/206.24, 2/206, 2/173, 2/424, 2/428, 2/425, 2/9
• US Class Current: 2/9
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/025 Halfmasks A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11
• 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: B29C 43/021 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/4835 Masks

Abstract

There is provided a seal device for a face protector such as respirators used in a state fitted closely to a user'"'"'s face which includes a seal member formed by using the user'"'"'s face as a mold, an airtight elastic member provided between the seal member and the face portector and an airtight elastic member secured to the surface of the seal member on the side of the user'"'"'s face. There is also provided a face protector having this seal device mounted on a face protector main body which is worn by a user in a state fitted to the user'"'"'s face. There is further provided a method for forming a seal device for a face protector including steps of heating, at a relatively low temperature, a material which is softened when heated at the relatively low temperature and hardens at room temperature, placing the heated and softened material on a user'"'"'s face and manually forming the material into a seal member in conformity with contour of the user'"'"'s face and cooling the seal member until it hardens, and securing airtight elastic members on both sides of the seal member.

Claims

1. A seal device for a face protector used in a state fitted closely to a user'"'"'s face comprising:

a seal member made of a material which is rigid at room temperature and is softened when heated at a temperature within a range from 40°

C. to 65°

C. and having a shape formed in situ against and in substantial exact conformity with the user'"'"'s face by placing the heated and softened material of the seal member directly on the user'"'"'s face in direct contact therewith;

an airtight elastic member provided between the seal member and the face protector; and

an airtight elastic member secured to the surface of the seal member on the side of the user'"'"'s face.

4. A method for forming a seal device for a face protector comprising steps of:

heating, at a temperature within a range from 40°

C. to 65°

C., a material which is rigid at room temperature and is softened when heated at a temperature within said temperature range;

placing the heated and softened material of the seal member directly on a user'"'"'s face in direct contact with the face and manually forming the material into a seal member in situ against and in substantial exact conformity with the contour of the user'"'"'s face and cooling the seal member until it hardens; and

securing airtight elastic members on both sides of the seal member.

5. A method for forming a seal device for a face protector as defined in claim 7 wherein said material for the seal member is a shape memorizing resin.

6. A method of forming a face protector comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially triangularly shaped seal member frame peripherally bounding a substantially triangular opening;

the seal member frame being made of a material which is rigid at room temperature and is softened when heated at a temperature within a range from 40°

C. to 65°

C.;

heating the material of the seal member frame to a temperature within the range from 40°

to 65°

C. resulting in the softening thereof;

placing the heated and softened material of the seal member frame directly on a user'"'"'s face in direct contact with the face and manually forming the seal member material in situ against and in substantial exact conformity with the contour of the user'"'"'s face;

and cooling the seal member frame until it hardens.

2. A seal device as defined in claim 6 wherein said face protector is a half face mask.

3. A face protector having the seal device according to claim 6 mounted on a face protector main body which is worn by a user in a state fitted to the user'"'"'s face.