Respirator That Uses A Predefined Nose Foam Shape

• US 20080099022A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Xue, Thomas J., Gebrewold, Yonas
• Application Number:
  US11/553,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099022A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.21
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1138 with a cup configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/025 the filter having substantially the shape of a mask surgical face masks A41D13/11

Abstract

A respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 32 and a nose foam 10. The mask body 32 is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and has an interior surface 34. The nose foam 10 has a rear side 24, a front side 26, a rear side 24, and is secured to the interior surface 34 of the mask body 32 at a mask contacting surface 12. The nose foam 10 also has a central portion 14 and first and second side-contacting portions 16 and 18 that are symmetrically located on opposing sides of the central portion. The nose foam further has a nose-contacting surface 20 that extends over the central portion 14 and the first and second side-containing portions 16, 18. The nose-contacting surface 20 is skewed at first and second angles α to a plane 22 that cuts through the nose foam orthogonally to its lengthwise dimension. A nose foam of this construction can provide a snug fit to a wearer'"'"'s face in the nose region without having to use a nose clip.

Claims

1. A respirator that comprises:

(a) a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and that has an interior surface; and

(b) a nose foam that comprises;

(i) a front side, a rear side, and a mask contacting surface, the nose foam being secured to the interior surface of the mask body at the mask contacting surface;

(ii) a central portion;

(iii) first and second side-contacting portions that are symmetrically located on opposing sides of the central portion; and

(iv) a nose-contacting surface that extends over the central portion and the first and second side-containing portions, the nose-contacting surface being skewed at first and second angles α

to a plane that cuts through the nose foam orthogonally to a lengthwise dimension.

2. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the first and second angles α

open in a direction extending from the rear side of the nose foam to the front side thereof.

3. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the central portion has a thickness A and the first and second side contacting portions have a thickness B, and wherein thickness B is greater than the thickness A.

4. The respirator of claim 3, wherein the thickness A is about 0.4 to about 0.8 cm, and the thickness B is about 1.2 to about 2 cm.

5. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the nose contacting surface is skewed in first and second locations that are located, respectively, on the opposing first and second side-contacting portions.

6. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the nose foam is compressible and comprises polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene vinyl acetate, rubber, or a combination thereof, and wherein the nose foam is an open cell or closed cell foam or is a microcellular foam.

7. The respirator of claim 1, wherein each angle α

is about 1 to about 65 degrees.

8. The respirator of claim 1, wherein each angle α

is about 5 to about 40 degrees.

9. The respirator of claim 1, wherein each angle α

is about 7 to about 15 degrees.

10. The respirator of claim 2, wherein each angle α

is about 1 to about 65 degrees.

11. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the nose-contacting surface is further defined by first and second angles β

, which angles β

are defined by a first line drawn tangent to the nose foam curvature at a point where a plane bisects the nose foam normally thereto, each angle β

being about 35 to about 85 degrees.

12. The respirator of claim 11, wherein β

is about 45 to about 75 degrees.

13. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the nose foam has a width W of about 0.8 cm to about 1.2 cm, and a projected length of about 2 to 2.8 cm.

14. The respirator of claim 1, wherein the mask body comprises a plurality of layers, wherein at least one of the layers is a fibrous filtration layer, and wherein the mask body has a harness secured thereto.

15. A method of making a respirator, which method comprises:

(a) providing a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and that has an interior surface; and

(b) providing a nose foam that comprises;

(i) a front side, a rear side, and a mask contacting surface, the nose foam being secured to the interior surface of the mask body at the mask contacting surface;

(ii) a central portion;

(iii) first and second side-contacting portions that are symmetrically located on opposing sides of the central portion; and

(iv) a nose-contacting surface that extends over the central portion and the first and second side-containing portions, the nose-contacting surface being skewed at first and second angles α

to a plane that cuts through the nose foam orthogonally to a lengthwise dimension; and

(c) securing the nose foam to the interior surface of the mask body.