Surgical face mask

• US 5,561,863 A
• Filed: 10/04/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Carlson, Gerald I. II
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US08/317,954
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 2/206, 2/9, 2/173, 2/7, 128/206.19, 128/863
• US Class Current: 2/206
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1115 with a horizontal pleated pocket
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1176 forming a complete seal at the edges of the mask
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1184 with protection for the eyes, e.g. using shield or visor

Abstract

A surgical face mask having a see-through portion and a porous portion wherein the see-through portion is adapted for viewing a portion of the wearer'"'"'s mouth. The face mask may further include an eye shield which may be pivotally secured thereto. The see-through portion may be formed from a fog-resistant flexible film. The porous portion may be formed from a spunbond/meltblown nonwoven laminate.

Claims

1. A face mask comprising:

at least two fibrous porous portions separated by and secured to a film see-through portion, wherein the film see-through portion is formed from a pair of spaced apart flexible films.

2. The face mask of claim 1 further including fasteners for securing the face mask to the wearer'"'"'s head.

3. The face mask of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fibrous porous portions is formed from a flexible fabric.

4. The face mask of claim 1 further including an eye shield secured to the film see-through portion.

5. The face mask of claim 4 wherein the eye shield is pivotally secured to the face mask.

6. The face mask of claim 1 wherein the film see-through portion is adapted for overlying a portion of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s lips.

7. The face mask of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fibrous porous portions is formed from at least two layers of polyolefin fibers, wherein the one of the layers is formed by spunbonding and another layer is formed by meltblowing.

8. The face mask of claim 1 wherein gases exiting at least one of the fibrous porous portions are directed generally perpendicular to an object or a person in face to face orientation to the wearer.

9. The face mask of claim 1 wherein gases entering the face mask through at least on of the fibrous porous portions are drawn generally from an axis which is downward and perpendicular to an object or person in face to face orientation with a wearer of the face mask.

10. The face mask of claim 1 wherein exhalation gases exiting at least one of the fibrous porous portions are directed downwardly by the see-through portion.

11. The face mask of claim 1 wherein at least one of the flexible films is formed from a material selected from the group which includes polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene, polycarbonate, plastic sheets, plexiglass and glass.

12. A face mask comprising:

a fibrous porous portion; and

a film see-through portion secured to the fibrous porous portion, wherein the film see-through portion is formed from a pair of spaced apart flexible films.

13. The face mask of claim 12 further including fasteners for securing the face mask to the wearer'"'"'s head.

14. The face mask of claim 12 wherein the fibrous porous portion is formed from a flexible fabric.

15. The face mask of claim 12 further including an eye shield secured to the film see-through portion.

16. The face mask of claim 15 wherein the eye shield is pivotally secured to the face mask.

17. The face mask of claim 12 wherein the film see-through portion is adapted for overlying a portion of at least one of the wearer'"'"'s lips.

18. The face mask of claim 12 wherein the fibrous porous portion is formed from at least two layers of polyolefin fibers, wherein the one of the layers is formed by spunbonding and another layer is formed by meltblowing.

19. The face mask of claim 12 wherein gases exiting the fibrous porous portion are directed generally perpendicular to an object or a person in face to face orientation to the wearer.

20. The face mask of claim 12 wherein gases entering the face mask through the fibrous porous portion are drawn generally from an axis which is downward and perpendicular to an object or person in face to face orientation with a wearer of the face mask.

21. The face mask of claim 12 wherein exhalation gases exiting the fibrous porous portion are directed downwardly by the see-through portion.

22. The face mask of claim 12 wherein at least one of the flexible films is formed from a material selected from the group which includes polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene, polycarbonate, plastic sheets, plexiglass and glass.