JP2003512861A - Respiratory mask with removable seal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A respiratory mask having a face seal detachable from the mask 10. The seal members 14, 22, 31, 41, 50 are received in a pair of grooves defined by flaps 20, 43, 54 formed in the mask 10. Alternatively, the flaps can be formed on the face seal carrier 62, which configuration allows the carrier to be coupled to the mask after the mask is formed. The ridges 23, 33 and corresponding grooves can help provide the required sealing. According to this configuration, it is possible to maintain the shape by using the shaped face seal portion.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to respiratory masks. In particular, the present invention includes a face seal breather that includes a face piece for covering a user's face, which is held in place by a harness that is rotated behind the wearer's head during use. For masks.

The purpose of this type of respiratory mask is primarily to prevent toxic substances, especially toxic fluids, especially gases, as well as particulate materials from entering the respiratory system of the user. Therefore, if the more costly means of injecting clean air into the face cavity of the mask, thereby keeping the pressure inside it higher than the ambient, cannot be employed, the face mask portion of the respiratory mask can be used by the user. It is usually necessary for life support to be well sealed against the face of the person.

Known masks use one of three means for sealing to the face. In the first of these, the impermeable fabric of the face mask (usually natural or synthetic rubber) is simply constructed to be soft and thin enough to be positioned against the skin. The second of these is to incorporate a shield airbag in the rim of the face mask. In the third measure, the rim incorporates a double-skin recess (inward bend) or recurve flap.

In the case of the first type, the material of the sealing area must be at least as thick as the rest of the face mask to ensure that the chemical resistance requirements are met (
(2 mm for natural rubber), the mask is not easily sealed to the faces of all people, especially protruding or angular features.

In the case of the second type, it is possible to use a rubber that is thin and soft as a sealing material as compared with a face mask that can make the material relatively stiff (rigid). During the inspiratory phase of the breathing cycle, the pressure in the face mask decreases, causing the shield airbag to partially inflate.

Therefore, when face seal leakage is more likely to occur, the seal is more effective. There are two particular drawbacks associated with this second type of respiratory mask.
Firstly, both the face mask and the seal have to be handcrafted while they are in a partially cured state, then the assembly must be finally cured, which is expensive to manufacture. This process takes about 40 minutes. Second, there is a difference in the expansion of the rubber between the surface that is in contact with the user's skin and the surface that is not in contact with the user's skin. This results in stress cracks in a thin cross-section seal shape, resulting in the need to replace the entire respiratory mask.

In the case of the third type, the cost advantage is maintained for respiratory masks molded of one material. However, this means that a compromise must be made between the softness requirements of the seal and the stiffness requirements of the facemask since the facemask carries the various subassembly units. For example,
Known breathing masks are provided with face seal elements enclosed within a rigid exoskeleton, thus such masks lose their flexibility to provide a seal. In fact, this third type of respiratory mask does not provide the same level of protection for all people as a respiratory mask with an air bag type face seal.

[0008] Similarly, many breathing masks presently available are industrial by effectively blocking the entry of potentially harmful vapors such as those resulting from airborne particulate materials or solvent aerosols. Protects users in a harsh environment, but is effective against the ingress of toxic gases or vapors that can be found in emergencies, such as in the case of accidents in chemical processing plants or military scenarios Protection is not provided.

A respiratory mask according to the present invention has a removable face seal. The face seal is preferably flexible or elastic.

An advantage of the respiratory mask of the present invention over the prior art is that the face seal is flexible or elastic so that the face seal remains comfortable to the user. While still conforming to the user's face in a sealed condition, this is important if the respiratory mask is to be worn for an extended period of time.

This not only allows the use of materials and their dimensions for face seals that are particularly suitable for sealing against the user's skin, but also allows the use of various face seal shapes for any respiratory mask. It will be possible. It also increases the range of people that would be suitable for any respiratory mask and / or facilitates a perfect fit of the user with a particular respiratory mask. There are basic conditions that respiratory masks usually need to meet. It must provide adequate protection throughout the population, ie for men and women. The size that provides the necessary protection should also be such that the user's eyes are substantially aligned with the horizontal centerline of the respiratory mask eyepiece.

With the respiratory mask according to the invention, these requirements are met more easily than with the prior art respiratory masks described above.

In a preferred embodiment, the respiratory mask according to the present invention incorporates a pair of parallel seal receiving grooves adapted to receive and grip the edges of the face seal member. The seal formed between the face piece and the face seal member is preferably fluid tight. The groove is preferably formed in a plane that is locally parallel to the shape of the mask. Grooves closer to the edge of the mask can be formed in a configuration recessed in the edge of the mask. In this groove, for example, add a fir tree rib,
Both contact areas and thus the sealing surface area between the mask and the seal can be maximized and also the grip strength can be maximized.

Preferably, the seal between the user's face and the face seal portion is fluid tight, thus preventing entry of toxic fluid into the respiratory mask.

In the preferred embodiment, the respiratory mask is of the full face-face type and the user does not need to wear a separate device to protect the eyes.

In the technical field of breathing masks, “mask”, “facepiece” and “breathing mask”
The term generally has a specific meaning. Thus, the mask is an as-molded rubber blank, the facepiece is the mask to which all fixed subassemblies, such as eyepieces, valve mounts, and sound transmission devices, are attached, and the respiratory mask is a filter absorber Is the attached face piece. These definitions are
It is a general guide to the meaning of these terms as used in this patent specification.

The face seal member, which may typically be formed of a rubber material, is preferably a material that is more elastic and flexible than the material of the mask, with a typical thickness of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. Between 0.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm
Good between. However, the present invention also allows the use of face seal members whose cross section contains an elastic foam material.

In a preferred embodiment, the face seal member comprises a bladder filled with a substantially flowable material. As used herein, the term substantially flowable material intends a material that is sufficiently flowable to constantly conform to the shape of the bladder. More preferably, the fluid is a liquid or a gel such as a silicone gel.
The liquid used to fill the bladder advantageously does not leak if the bladder is damaged, eg ruptured or punctured. Ideally, the sac contains a liquid that solidifies when exposed to air, such that the liquid solidifies if the sac is damaged, thereby maintaining a seal against the user's face and thus The person is provided with an improved degree of safety, or at least the time for the user to leave himself / herself from the possibility of being exposed to toxic substances. The face seal member may include a plastic membrane in the foam or gel containing skin when the cross section is thus an effective bladder. In such a case, the face seal member is preferably composed of a composite body including a flange for the fitting groove member formed in the mask. Alternatively, the mask may be formed with a pair of flange members similarly positioned, perhaps parallel and parallel to opposite directions, for receiving and retaining a sac-like face seal member.

From a machine tool and manufacturing standpoint, it may be advantageous for the groove to be provided in a groove member that is manufactured separately from the mask and attached to the mask during assembly of the face piece.

Next, a breathing mask according to the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The face piece shown in the drawings has a mask 10 having an eyepiece 11 incorporated therein and a harness 12, by which the respiratory mask can be fixed on the entire face of the user. Below the eyepiece, adjacent to the user's mouth during use, is a manifold 13 for attaching a filter canister or for a connector to a source of clean air. The face seal means is located at the edge of the respiratory mask shown at 14.

One embodiment of the configuration of the face seal according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The mask material has two re-entrant or recessed portions 20 adjacent its edges and is provided with a groove for retaining a flange 21 of a face seal member 22. At the mouth of the groove, there is an abutting ridge (raised portion) 23, which serves to hold the face seal member 22.

The mask 10 is molded from a rubber material and is formed with the recessed portion 20 and the ridge 23 during the molding. The flange 21 of the face seal member 22 has a shape (profile) to be installed inside the recessed groove formed in the mask body, and a step is added to receive the holding pressure from the ridge 23. Has been.

In the second embodiment of the face seal portion configuration shown in FIG. 3, the face seal member 31 includes a fir tree-shaped ridge 33 arranged to fit into the opposing channel of the groove of the mask. 2 except that it is similar to that shown in FIG.

Both embodiments illustrate, with dashed lines, how face seals with different shapes can be used in a respiratory mask.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the face seal member includes a bladder 41 containing a flexible foam 42, the outer skin of which is of firm membrane size and consistency. The mask has a recessed portion 43 adjacent its edge and is formed with a groove for holding a flange 44 formed on the face seal member.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the face seal member 50 includes a backing 51 on which the film 52 is mounted. The bladder is formed between the film 52 and the backing 51, and the silicone gel 53 is contained therein. The mask has a recessed portion 54 adjacent to its edge and is formed with a groove for holding the backing 51.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 6 a and 6 b, the mask 60 has an edge flange 61. Face seal carrier 62 includes recessed flange 63 and retaining ridge 64, as described above in connection with FIG. It is constructed and arranged to couple to the edge flange 61 of the mask, as shown in Figure 6a. A face seal member 65, which may be of any of the types described above, is shown in FIG.
It is configured to be installed in the face seal carrier 62.

In a typical example of a respiratory mask according to the present invention, the mask 10 is molded from chlorobutyl rubber having a thickness of 2 mm and a Shore hardness of 60. The contact width between the skin and the face seal is arranged to be at least 12 mm by making the contour of the face seal smaller than the contour of the face of the user. The cross-sectional shape of the seal is tailored to allow for the forehead and chin areas to be more affected by the tension in the harness.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, achieving the desired seal shape collapse varies the end-to-end thickness of the cross-section of the seal, eg, edge 1. 5 mm, thinning to 0.75 mm for 12 mm across the center,
Can be given by. The sealing material may be natural rubber with a Shore hardness of 30. The harness 12 is fixed to the face body inside the edge thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a facepiece of a respiratory mask according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2]   It is sectional drawing of the edge of the face piece of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 3]   It is sectional drawing of the edge of the face piece of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 4]   It is sectional drawing of the edge of the face piece of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 5]   It is sectional drawing of the edge of the face piece of the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 6]   It is sectional drawing of the face piece of the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6a   It is sectional drawing of the face piece of the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6b   It is sectional drawing of the face piece of the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mothers, William Giyogi             Wiltshire Esp             ー ・ 4.0 ・ Jay ・ Kiyu 、 Salisbury             ー, Porton Down, CB De             Lee Yi (No address) F-term (reference) 2E185 AA06 BA04 CC33

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A respiratory mask having a removable face seal member. 2. The respiratory mask according to claim 1, wherein the face seal member has a molded shape. 3. The respiratory breathing apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the face seal member includes a relatively stiff backing having a relatively stiff membrane skin attached thereto, with a sac formed therebetween. mask. 4. The respiratory mask according to claim 1, wherein the face seal member includes a sac containing a soft material. 5. The respiratory mask of claim 4, wherein the bladder contains a soft material. 6. The respiratory mask of claim 5, wherein the soft material is plastic foam. 7. A respiratory mask according to claim 5, wherein the soft material is a gel. 8. The respiratory mask according to claim 7, wherein the gel is a silicone gel. 9. A mask body incorporating a pair of parallel seal receiving grooves configured to receive and grip an edge of a face seal member.
The respiratory mask according to any one of 1. 10. The respiratory mask according to claim 9, wherein the groove is formed in a plane parallel to a local plane of the mask body. 11. A respiratory mask according to claim 9 or 10, wherein grooves closer to the edges of the mask are formed in a recessed arrangement at the edges of the mask. 12. A pair of parallel seals having a face seal carrier configured to couple to a respiratory mask body, the face seal carrier configured to receive and grip an edge of a face seal member. Respiratory mask according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a transparent seal receiving groove is incorporated. 13. A respiratory mask according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the groove is provided with ribs in an arrangement configured to mate with the face seal member. 14. A respiratory mask as described below substantially with reference to the accompanying drawings.