Filtering face mask that has a new exhalation valve
First Claim
1. A unidirectional fluid valve that comprises:
- a flexible flap having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to a valve seat, the valve seat having an orifice and a seal ridge that has a concave curvature when viewed from a side elevation, the flexible flap making contact with the concave curvature of the seal ridge when a fluid is not passing through the orifice, the second portion of the flexible flap being free to be lifted from the seal ridge when a fluid is passing through the orifice, wherein the concave curvature of the seal ridge corresponds to a deformation curve exhibited by the second portion of the flexible flap when exposed to a uniform force, a force having a magnitude equal to a mass of the second portion of the flexible flap multiplied by at least one gravitational unit of acceleration, or a combination thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filtering face mask that comprises a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer, the mask body comprising a filtration layer through which inhaled air may pass before being inhaled by a wearer of the face mask; and an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body, the exhalation valve allowing air exhaled by a wearer to pass from an interior of the mask body to its exterior without having to pass through the filtration layer, the exhalation valve comprising: a valve seat that comprises: a seal surface; and an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface; and a single flexible flap that has one fixed portion and one free portion and a circumferential edge, the circumferential edge having a first segment that is associated with the one fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation and having a second segment that is associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation, the second segment of the circumferential edge also being located below the first segment when the filtering face mask is worn on a person, the flexible flap being mounted to the valve seat such that the one free portion of the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship with it when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.
17 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A unidirectional fluid valve that comprises:
a flexible flap having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to a valve seat, the valve seat having an orifice and a seal ridge that has a concave curvature when viewed from a side elevation, the flexible flap making contact with the concave curvature of the seal ridge when a fluid is not passing through the orifice, the second portion of the flexible flap being free to be lifted from the seal ridge when a fluid is passing through the orifice, wherein the concave curvature of the seal ridge corresponds to a deformation curve exhibited by the second portion of the flexible flap when exposed to a uniform force, a force having a magnitude equal to a mass of the second portion of the flexible flap multiplied by at least one gravitational unit of acceleration, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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18. A filtering face mask that comprises:
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(a) a mask body adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person; and
(b) an exhalation valve attached to the mask body, which exhalation valve comprises;
(1) a valve seat having (i) an orifice through which a fluid can pass, and (ii) a seal ridge circumscribing the orifice and having a concave curvature when viewed from a side elevation, the apex of the concave curvature of the seal ridge being located upstream to fluid flow through the orifice relative to outer extremities of the concave curvature; and
(2) a flexible flap having a first and second portions, the first portion being attached to the valve seat outside a region encompassed by the orifice, and the second portion assuming the concave curvature of the seal ridge when the valve is in a closed position and being free to be lifted from the seal ridge when a fluid is passing through the orifice.
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24. A filtering face mask that comprises:
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(a) a mask body that has a shape adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person, the mask body having a filter media for removing contaminants from a fluid that passes through the mask body, there being an opening in the mask body that permits a fluid to exit the mask body without passing through the filter media, the opening being positioned on the mask body such that the opening is substantially directly in front of a wearer'"'"'s mouth when the filtering face mask is placed on a wearer'"'"'s face over the nose and mouth; and
(b) an exhalation valve attached to the mask body at the location of the opening, the exhalation valve having a flexible flap and a valve seat that includes an orifice and a seal ridge, the flexible flap being attached to the valve seat at a first end and resting upon the seal ridge when the exhalation valve is in a closed position, the flexible flap having a second free-end that is lifted from the seal ridge when a fluid is passing through the exhalation valve;
wherein, the fluid-permeable face mask can demonstrate a negative pressure drop when air is passed into the filtering face mask with a velocity of at least 0.8 m/s under a normal exhalation test.
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32. A method of making a unidirectional fluid valve, which method comprises:
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(a) providing a valve seat that has an orifice circumscribed by a seal ridge, the seal ridge having a concave curvature when viewed from a side elevation, the concave curvature corresponding to a deformation curve demonstrated by a flexible flap that has a first portion secured to a surface at as a cantilever and has a second, non-secured portion exposed to a uniform force, a force having a magnitude equal to the mass of the second portion of the flexible flap multiplied by at least one gravitational unit of acceleration, or a combination thereof; and
(b) attaching a first portion of the flexible flap to the valve seat such that (i) the flexible flap makes contact with the seal ridge when a fluid is not passing through the orifice, and (ii) the second portion of the attached flexible flap is free to be lifted from the seal ridge when a fluid is passing through the orifice.
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Specification