Fog free medical face mask

• US 6,988,500 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palmero Healthcare LLC (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: J. Palmero Sales Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Cox, Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US10/835,622
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 128/863, 128/201.15, 128/205.27, 128/206.19, 128/206.22
• US Class Current: 128/206.19
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/11 Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres eye-masks A61F9/04 ; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1146 obtained by moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A face mask having a mask body made of a shaped first material with an opening and a reduced resistance filter material placed within the opening. The reduced resistance filter material permitting air to flow relatively freely there through. In one embodiment one edge of a shield is fixed to the mask body of the face mask and covers the opening and the reduced resistance filter material protecting the opening from liquid splashes and the exhaled air flow from a user downwards, away from the user'"'"'s eyes. Exhaled air from a user wearing the face mask is caused to relatively freely flow through the reduced resistance filter and to be directed downward preventing the fogging of a user'"'"'s eyewear. The face mask of the present invention is particularly suited to the medical and dental profession.

Claims

1. An initially disassembled face mask for assembly and use by a medical professional user comprising:

a cup shaped mask body made of a first material;

a hole formed in said mask body at a location that is adjacent a user'"'"'s mouth and nose when worn on the medical professional user'"'"'s face;

a filter covering said hole, said filter made of a second material, wherein the second material has a flow resistance less than the first material;

an initially unattached shield having a periphery associated with said cup shaped mask body;

an adhesive strip formed along a portion of the periphery of said initially unattached shield; and

a removable protective cover placed over said adhesive strip,

whereby the medical professional user is capable of removing said removable protective cover exposing said adhesive strip and attaching said initially unattached shield to said cup shaped mask body over and spaced from said filter.

2. A disassembled face mask for assembly and use by a medical professional user as in claim 1 wherein:

said filter is perforated.

3. A disassembled face mask for assembly and use by a medical professional user as in claim 1 further comprising:

an elastic strap attached to said mask body.

4. A method of making a face mask comprising the steps of:

forming a cup shaped mask body;

cutting a hole in the cup shaped mask body adjacent the location of a user'"'"'s mouth and nose;

placing a filter material over the hole; and

attaching one edge of a shield adjacent to the hole so that the hole is covered by and spaced from the shield so as to prevent splashed fluid from contacting the filter material and to direct a user'"'"'s exhaled air flowing through the filter material downward away from the user'"'"'s eyes,

whereby moist warm air from the user'"'"'s exhaled air is prevented from being directed upward towards the user'"'"'s eyes so as not to fog the user'"'"'s eyewear.