Filtering face mask that has a new exhalation valve
DCFirst Claim
1. A filtering face mask that comprises:
- (a) a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and that has a filtering layer for filtering air that passes through the mask body; and
(b) an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body, which exhalation valve comprises;
(i) a valve seat that comprises an orifice, a seal surface surrounding the orifice, and a flap retaining surface; and
(ii) a single flexible flap that has a stationary portion and one free portion and a circumferential edge that includes stationary and free segments, the stationary segment of the circumferential edge being associated with the stationary portion of the flexible flap so as to remain in substantially the same position during an exhalation, and the free segment of the circumferential edge being associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be movable during an exhalation, the free segment of the circumferential edge being disposed beneath the stationary segment when the valve is viewed from the front in an upright position;
the flexible flap being secured to the valve seat non-centrally relative to the orifice at the flap retaining surface, which flap retaining surface and seal surface are nonaligned and positioned relative to each other to allow for a cross sectional curvature of at least the one free portion of the flexible flap when viewed from the side in a closed position, the nonalignment and relative positioning of the flap-retaining surface and the seal surface also allowing for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be pressed against the seal surface when a wearer of the mask is neither inhaling or exhaling and to allow for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation.
1 Assignment
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Filtering face mask 10 has a mask body 12 and an exhalation valve 14. The mask body 12 is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person, and the exhalation valve 14 is attached to the mask body 12. The exhalation valve 14 has a valve seat 26 and a single flexible flap 24. The valve seat 26 includes a seal surface 31 and an orifice 32. The orifice 32 is circumscribed by the seal surface 31. The single flexible flap 24 has a fixed portion 28 and one free portion 38. The one free portion 38 has a free end, and the fixed portion 28 is located off-center of the flexible flap 24 away from the free end and is secured to the valve seat 26 outside the orifice 32. The one free portion 38 is pressed toward the seal surface 31 when the wearer is neither inhaling or exhaling. The free portion 38 can be lifted from the seal surface 31 during an exhalation. Because the flexible flap 24 is mounted to the valve seat off-center and outside the orifice 32 and yet is pressed towards the valve seat 26 when the wearer is not inhaling or exhaling, the face mask 10 can demonstrate a lower air flow resistance force during an exhalation which enables the exhalation valve 14 to open easier, and it can remain closed under any static orientation of the valve 14 to prevent contaminants from entering the mask interior.
89 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A filtering face mask that comprises:
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(a) a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and that has a filtering layer for filtering air that passes through the mask body; and
(b) an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body, which exhalation valve comprises;
(i) a valve seat that comprises an orifice, a seal surface surrounding the orifice, and a flap retaining surface; and
(ii) a single flexible flap that has a stationary portion and one free portion and a circumferential edge that includes stationary and free segments, the stationary segment of the circumferential edge being associated with the stationary portion of the flexible flap so as to remain in substantially the same position during an exhalation, and the free segment of the circumferential edge being associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be movable during an exhalation, the free segment of the circumferential edge being disposed beneath the stationary segment when the valve is viewed from the front in an upright position;
the flexible flap being secured to the valve seat non-centrally relative to the orifice at the flap retaining surface, which flap retaining surface and seal surface are nonaligned and positioned relative to each other to allow for a cross sectional curvature of at least the one free portion of the flexible flap when viewed from the side in a closed position, the nonalignment and relative positioning of the flap-retaining surface and the seal surface also allowing for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be pressed against the seal surface when a wearer of the mask is neither inhaling or exhaling and to allow for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A filtering face mask that comprises:
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(a) a cup shaped mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person; and
(b) an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body directly in front of where the wearer'"'"'s mouth would be when the mask is worn, which exhalation valve comprises;
(i) a valve seat that comprises an orifice, a seal surface surrounding the orifice, and a flap retaining surface; and
(ii) a single flexible flap that has a stationary portion, one free portion. and a peripheral edge that includes stationary and free segments, the stationary segment of the peripheral edge being associated with the stationary portion of the flexible flap so as to remain in substantially the same position during an exhalation, and the free segment of the peripheral edge being associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be movable during an exhalation, the free segment of the peripheral edge being disposed beneath the stationary segment when the valve is viewed from the front in an upright position;
the flexible flap being secured to the valve seat at the flap retaining surface closer to the stationary segment of the peripheral edge than to the free segment, the flap retaining surface and seal surface are nonaligned and positioned relative to each other to create a cross-sectional curvature of at least the one free portion of the flexible flap when viewed from the side in a closed position, the securement of the flexible flap at the flap-retaining surface allowing for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be pressed against the seal surface when a wearer of the mask is neither inhaling nor exhaling and allowing for the one free portion of the flexible flap to be lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation.
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Specification