Respirator having snap-fit filter cartridge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A respirator that comprises:
- (a) a face piece sized to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person;
(b) a cartridge receiving structure located on the face piece; and
(c) a filter cartridge that has a housing into which a filter element is contained, the filter cartridge capable of being manually snapped into engagement with the cartridge receiving structure to produce an audible noise, the engagement being instantaneously obtainable by pressing the filter cartridge against the receiving structure without rotational movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A respirator (10) that includes a face piece (14) and a cartridge receiving structure (22) located on the face piece (14). The face piece (14) is sized to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of a person, and the filter cartridge (12) is capable of being manually snapped into engagement with the cartridge receiving structure (22). The snap-fit can be instantaneously obtained without rotational movement of the filter cartridge (12), simply by pressing the filter cartridge (12) against the receiving structure (22).
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A respirator that comprises:
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(a) a face piece sized to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person; (b) a cartridge receiving structure located on the face piece; and (c) a filter cartridge that has a housing into which a filter element is contained, the filter cartridge capable of being manually snapped into engagement with the cartridge receiving structure to produce an audible noise, the engagement being instantaneously obtainable by pressing the filter cartridge against the receiving structure without rotational movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A respirator that comprises:
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a face piece sized to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person; a filter cartridge that includes a housing and a filter element, the filter element being contained within the housing; and a snap-fit engagement mechanism that enables the filter cartridge to be instantaneously and audibly secured to the face piece, the snap-fit engagement mechanism including a male member and a female member, wherein during the snap-fit engagement of the filter cartridge to the face piece the male member initially compresses radially inward while the female member simultaneously initially expands radially outward followed by the male member expanding radially outward while the female member simultaneously compresses radially inward.
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22. A filter cartridge useful for filtering contaminants that are inhaled through a respirator worn by a person and for permitting instantaneous attachment and removal from a cartridge receiving structure on a face piece of the respirator, the filter cartridge comprising a housing and a filter element, the filter element residing in the housing and the housing including a means for allowing the filter cartridge to be manually and audibly snapped into engagement with a cartridge receiving structure by pressing the filter cartridge against a cartridge receiving structure on a face piece without using rotation movement.
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23. A respirator that comprises:
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a face piece sized to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person; a filter cartridge that includes a housing and a filter element, the filter element being contained within the housing; and a snap-fit engagement mechanism that enables the filter cartridge to be instantaneously and audibly secured to the face piece, the snap-fit engagement mechanism including a male member and a female member, wherein during the snap-fit engagement of the filter cartridge to the face piece, the male member initially compresses radially inward while the female member remains essentially static followed by the male member expanding radially outward.
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24. A respirator that comprises:
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a face piece sized to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person; a filter cartridge that includes a housing and a fiber element, the filter element being contained within the housing; and a snap-fit engagement mechanism that enables the filter cartridge to be instantaneously and audibly secured to the face piece, the snap-fit engagement mechanism including a male member and a female member, wherein during the snap-fit engagement of the filter cartridge to the face piece, the male member remains essentially static while the female member initially expands radially outward followed by compressing radially inward.
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Specification