Nasal mask with replaceable filter

• US 6,752,149 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealAid, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RealAid, Inc.
• Inventors: Williamson, John B., Gillespie, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/202,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20040020489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.12, 128/204.13, 128/206.11, 128/206.18, 128/207.13, 128/206.13
• US Class Current: 128/204.12
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/06 Nose filters

Abstract

A breathing filter with a nose mask, strap(s), and a filter member. The strap(s) are elastic, and serve to hold the nose mask over the user'"'"'s nose. The filter member is a plug-in device allowing removal of the filter member and replacement of the filter member cartridge or the filter material.

Claims

1. A breathing filter for wearing over a user'"'"'s nose and surrounding the user'"'"'s nostrils, comprising:

a nose mask including a concave inner surface contoured to fit over the user'"'"'s nose and terminating in a surface sealing against a user'"'"'s face when said nose mask is worn by the user, and having an opening which is located proximate the user'"'"'s nostrils when said nose mask is worn by the user;

wherein said surface sealing against the user'"'"'s face comprises a mounting base made of a soft, pliable material attached around an entire periphery of said nose mask on a side of said nose mask located proximate the user'"'"'s face when said nose mask is worn by the user;

a strap connected to said nose mask for holding said nose mask over the user'"'"'s nose; and

a filter member wherein said filter member is adapted for mounting to the opening of said nose mask.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said filter member includes a support frame and a filtration material mounted to the support frame.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support frame comprises a semi-annular member having a protuberant rim located on a lower end, wherein said semi-annular member has a means for biasing against said nose mask when said filter member is mounted to the opening of said nose mask.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for biasing comprises a means for wedging into the opening of said nose mask, said means for wedging being located above the protuberant rim.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nose mask includes an outer surface having a means for appearing and resembling an entire desirable human nose.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nose mask is made of a semi-rigid material.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nose mask is made of a rigid material.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said filter member is a replaceable cartridge.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting base has eyelets for attaching the strap to said mounting base.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises an elastic strap.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises two elastic loops adapted to fit around the user'"'"'s ears.

12. A breathing filter for wearing over a user'"'"'s nose and surrounding the user'"'"'s nostrils, comprising:

a nose mask including a concave inner surface contoured to fit over the user'"'"'s nose and terminating in a surface sealing against a user'"'"'s face when said nose mask is worn by the user, and having an opening which is located proximate the user'"'"'s nostrils when said nose mask is worn by the user;

a strap connected to said nose mask for holding said nose mask over the user'"'"'s nose;

a filter member wherein said filter member is adapted for mounting to the opening of said nose mask; and

further including a medical delivery substance added to said filter member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said filter member includes a support frame and a filtration material mounted to the support frame;

and

wherein the support frame comprises a semi-annular member having a protuberant rim located on a lower end, wherein said semi-annular member has a means for biasing against said nose mask when said filter member is mounted to the opening of said nose mask.

14. A breathing filter for wearing over a user'"'"'s nose and surrounding the user'"'"'s nostrils, comprising:

a nose mask including a concave inner surface contoured to fit over the user'"'"'s nose and terminating in a surface sealing against a user'"'"'s face when said nose mask is worn by the users, and having an opening which is located proximate the user'"'"'s nostrils when said nose mask is worn by the user;

a strap connected to said nose mask for holding said nose mask over the user'"'"'s nose;

filter member wherein said filter member is adapted for mounting to the opening of said nose mask;

wherein said filter member includes a support frame and a filtration material mounted to the support frame; and

wherein the support frame comprises a semi-annular member having a protuberant rim located on a lower end, wherein said semi-annular member has a means for biasing against said nose mask when said filter member is mounted to the opening of said nose mask.

15. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said surface sealing against the user'"'"'s face comprises a mounting base made of a soft, pliable material attached to said nose mask on a side of said nose mask located proximate the user'"'"'s face when said nose mask is worn by the user.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including a medical delivery substance added to said filter member.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said nose mask includes an outer surface in conformity with contours of a human nose.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said nose mask is made of a semi-rigid material.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the strap comprises two elastic loops adapted to fit around the user'"'"'s ears.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for biasing comprises a means for wedging into the opening of said nose mask, said means for wedging being located above the protuberant rim.