US3678929A - Face mask - Google Patents

Abstract

A face mask adapted to be worn over the face of a wearer and covering at least the eyes and the nose of the wearer thus protecting the eyes and lungs from pollutants, the mask comprising, a frame held in position by a pair of bows extending to beyond the ears of the wearer and having glass covered opening through which the wearer can see, inlet openings formed in the frame and covered by detachably secured filters for filtering air inhaled by the wearer and to permit partial exhausting of the air from the mask during exhalation, and an exhaust opening formed in the mask having an exhaust valve mounted thereover to provide an additional outlet for exhaust purposes only.

Description

United States Patent Buscher 51 July 25, 1972 FACE MASK [22] Filed: March 2,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 15,705

[52] U.S. CI ..128/l46.6, 2/14 [51 Int. Cl. ..A62b 23/02 [58] FieldofSearch ..l28/l46.6,141,139,140R,

128/l42.6, 146, 146.2; 2/14 N, 206, 14 B, 14 D, 14 P FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 864,401 1/1941 France 128/141 R 513,750 10/1939 Great Britain ..l28/139 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney-Henderson & Strom 5 7] ABSTRACT A face mask adapted to be worn over the face of a wearer and covering at least the eyes and the nose of the wearer thus protecting the eyes and lungs from pollutants, the mask comprising, a frame held in position by a pair of bows extending to beyond the ears of the wearer and having glass covered opening through which the wearer can see, inlet openings formed in the frame and covered by detachably secured filters for filtering air inhaled by the wearer and to permit partial exhausting of the air from the mask during exhalation, and an exhaust opening formed in the mask having an exhaust valve mounted thereover to provide an additional outlet for exhaust purposes only.

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ATTOINI.

FACE MASK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a face mask which protects the eyes and the lungs of a wearer from polluted air.

The air in many factories and cities is becoming so polluted that irritation and actual damage is caused to the eyes and lungs of people exposed thereto. To date a number of devices have been designed which partially protect the wearer, however these devices were designed for limited use and are not adaptable to protect both the eyes and the lungS, and can not be effectively worn for extended periods of time. Most nasal filters to date are either worn in the nasal passage or so limit the amount of air that can be inhaled that they limit the activity of a person wearing same. In other words, active adventures generally prohibit the use of known filter devices. Furthermore nasal filters provide no protection for the eyes and in certain cities and factories, there are times when pollution is so great that continued exposure not only affects comfort, but could cause damage to the eyes.

SUMMARY This invention provides a face mask for the protection of the lungs and eyes of the wearer. The mask is adapted to cover at least both the eyes and nose and when not in use can be conveniently folded to a compact size for carrying by the wearer in a purse or pocket. A detachable filter is provided over an inlet-outlet opening in the mask for filtering air inhaled by the wearer. An exhaust valve is provided over an exhaust opening to provide an additional outlet opening for exhaled air. The mask is further provided with openings which are covered with glass to permit visability and a cushion disposed over the edges of the mask, which could contact the skin, to prevent irritation. The mask is held in place over the face by bows which extend behind the ears of the wearer with the bows being hingedly mounted, thus allowing same to be folded against the frame for compactness.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a face mask which effectively covers the eyes and nose of a wearer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a face mask which filters the air inhaled by the wearer.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a face mask which has a cushion provided thereon to prevent irritation of the skin of the wearer.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a face mask which can be folded into a compact size.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a face mask which has an exhaust valve therein for permitting additional outlets during exhalation by the wearer.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a face mask which covers the eyes, nose and mouth of the wearer, which filters the air intake, provides sufficient outlet openings either covered by a filter or by exhaust valves, and which can be folded into a compact mass for carrying.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a face mask which is extremely simple of construction, economical of manufacture, and effective in use.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the face mask of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the mask of FIG. 1 with the other side elevational view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mask;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mask;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the filter;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 66 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the mask;

FIG. 8 is an exploded front perspective view of a second modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded rear perspective view of the second modified embodiment;

FIG. I0 is a perspective view of a nose piece of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the mask with shield attached as worn by a person;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shield;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the shield; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the lines l4l4 in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the face mask of this invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. I. The mask 10 includes a frame 11, which is slightly bowed outwardly, wherein when it is disposed over the face of the wearer, the inner side (not shown) does not contact the skin. A top flange 12, integral with the top of the frame, projects rearwardly with the arcuate outer end thereof adapted to be vertically disposed in substantial juxtaposition with the forehead of the wearer. Side flanges l3, integral with the sides of the frame, also project rearwardly with the outer edges thereof adapted to be substantially vertically disposed in substantial juxtaposition with the side of the face. A bottom flange I4, integral with the bottom of the frame, projects rearwardly with the outer edges thereof adapted to be horizontally disposed in substantial juxtaposition with the face of the wearer between the nose and the mouth.

A cushioned rim 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is secured to the edges of the flanges l2, l3 and 14 for preventing contact of the flange edges with the skin of the wearer.

Louvered openings 17 are formed in the side flanges 13 (FIGS. 2 and 6) for the purpose of permitting air to flow into and out of the mask upon inhalation and exhalation by the wearer. A slideways l8 is secured to the inner side of side flanges 13 which encompasses the louvered openings. Detachably secured to the slideways I8 is a filter element 19. The filter element includes a rectangular shaped frame 21 (Fig. 5) open in the center thereof and adapted to receive a filter 22. When the filter element is in place in the slideways (FIG. 6), inhalation by the wearer causes air outside the mask to be drawn through the louvered openings; through the filter and into the mask. The openings are louvered to prevent rain or the like from contacting the filter.

An exhaust opening 23 is formed in the bottom flange I4 and an exhaust valve 24 of conventional design is secured therein. The exhaust valve 24 operates in a conventional manner wherein, upon inhalation by the wearer, the valve is closed and prevents air from entering the mask. However, on exhalation, the valve opens and air is allowed to be expelled from the mask.

The frame I! (FIG. 1) is further provided with a pair of openings 26 which, when the mask is worn, are in alignment with the eyes of the wearer. A piece of glass 27, or the like, is secured to the frame 11 over each of the openings 26. A pair of spaced apart bows 28 are hingedly secured to the side flanges l3 and project rearwardly therefrom. The free end of each of the bows 28 are curved, thus enabling them to be disposed behind the ears of the wearer for holding the mask against the face of the wearer.

A first modified embodiment of the mask is shown at 31 in FIG. 7. The frame 32 is adapted to extend from above the eyes to below the mouth of the wearer and thus substantially cover the face. As the various parts of the mask 31 are identical to the mask 10, identical numbers have been used for identification purposes, with further identification being unnecessary.

A second modified embodiment 36 of the mask, as shown in FIGS. 8 and I0, provides an eye element 37, a nose element 38, and a mouth element 39. The eye and nose elements 37 and 38 are detachably secured together by providing a plurality of grommet openings 42 in the bottom wall 44 of the eye element 37, and a plurality of mushroom-shaped resilient appendages 43 securedto and extending upwardly and normally from the upper surface 46 of the nose elements. The appendages 43 and grommet openings 42 are in vertical alignment wherein the appendages will snap into and out of the grommet openings.

Formed through the vertical frontal portion of the nose element 38 are a plurality of intake and exhaust holes 47 which allow air to pass therethrough on inhalation and exhalation by the wearer.

A top flange (not shown is integrally formed with the top of the eye element and projects rearwardly with an arcuate outer end, identical to the top flange 12 of FIG. 1. A cushioned rim 16 (FIG. 1) is secured to the arcuate outer end for preventing contact of the flange edge with the skin of the wearer.

Along the lower edge 48 of the nose element 38 is a plurality of second grommet openings 49 which are adapted to frictionally receive second mushroom appendages 51 which are secured to and project upwardly from the mouth element 39. The mouth element 39 comprises a U-shaped wall 52, designed to cover the lower portion of the face, and a closure flange, 53 which projects inwardly toward the face. The closure flange 53 is integrally formed with the lower edge of the mouth element 39, and the outer edge thereof is designed to contact the skin of the wearer under his chin. Disposed substantially centrally in the closure flange 53 is an exhaust valve 54 mounted in an opening (not shown) which provides additional exhaust area for exhalation of air from the mask. The valve 54 closes during inhalation by the wearer.

Formed in the vertical frontal portion of the mouth element 39 are a plurality of intake and exhaust holes, similar to the holes 47 in the nose element 38. Slideways l8 and filter elements 19 (FIG. 6 and are provided as in the preferred embodiment. All of the edges of the elements adapted to contact the skin have cushioned rims 16 secured thereto.

Upon assembling the eye, nose and mouth elements together, a mask similar to the mask of FIG. 7 is provided. However it is contemplated that, for the wearer who is engaging in active pursuits, additional intake openings must be provided as in FIG. 8. To protect these openings and the filters disposed therebehind from rain, snow and the like, a shield 63 (FIGS. ll and 12) is provided which is detachably secured to the nose element.

Grommet holes 64 are formed in the nose element frontal wall for receiving appendages 66 secured to the shield. The shield 63, upon attachment to the nose element, depends over and flares outwardly from the mask, with its sides curving around to cover the sides of themask. Air flow is limited to the area between the mask and the sheild and may only enter from the bottom through the passage 69 disposed therebetween.

In the event that only a portion of the mask is to be worn, the various elements may be detached. To provide a seal, the nose element 39 may be replaced by a modified nose element 71 (FIG. 9) which is substantially identical to the nose element 38 in FIG. 8, with the exception that a lower flange 72 is integrally secured thereto. It is also possible to provide a cover plate (not shown) as a substitute for the flange of the nose element 71 which merely snaps into the nose element 38. The cover or lower flange 72 has a valve opening with an exhaust valve 54 mounted therein.

I claim:

I. A face maskadapted to be worn over a portion of the face of the wearer, said mask comprising:

rigid frame means having an exhaust opening, an integral flange with louver openings, and a pair of spaced eye openings formed therein;

spaced bow means, each secured on one end thereof to said frame means, with the free end of each said bow means projecting rearwardly and adapted to be disposed behind the ears of the wearer, thus holding said frame means in position over the face;

said flange integral with said frame means projecting substantially normally and rearwardly thereform, a cushion rim secured to and projecting rearwardly from the periphery of said flange, said rim extending completely along the periphery of said flange and adapted to be disposed between the skin of the wearer and said flange;

filter means detachably secured to the inner side of said flange over said louver openings;

Valve means secured to said frame means over said exhaust opening; and

a pair of transparent members, each secured to said frame means over one of said eye openings.

2. A face mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said bow means are secured to said flange.

3. A face mask as defined in claim 2 wherein said bow means are hingedly connected to said flange.

4. A face mask as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame means, when disposed on the face of the wearer is adapted to extend from above the eyes on the top thereof to between the mouth and the bottom of the nose on the bottom thereof and completely covers the eyes and nose on the sides thereof.

5. A face mask as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame means, when disposed on the face of the wearer is adapted to extend from above the eyes on the top thereof to below the mouth on the bottom thereof and completely covers the eyes, the nose and the mouth on the sides thereof.

Claims (5)

1. A face mask adapted to be worn over a portion of the face of the wearer, said mask comprising: rigid frame means having an exhaust opening, an integral flange with louver openings, and a pair of spaced eye openings formed therein; spaced bow means, each secured on one end thereof to said frame means, with the free end of each said bow means projecting rearwardly and adapted to be disposed behind the ears of the wearer, thus holding said frame means in position over the face; said flange integral with said frame means projecting substantially normally and rearwardly thereform, a cushion rim secured to and projecting rearwardly from the periphery of said flange, said rim extending completely along the periphery of said flange and adapted to be disposed between the skin of the wearer and said flange; filter means detachably secured to the inner side of said flange over said louver openings; Valve means secured to said frame means over said exhaust opening; and a pair of transparent members, each secured to said frame means over one of said eye openings.

2. A face mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said bow means are secured to said flange.

3. A face mask as defined in claim 2 wherein said bow means are hingedly connected to said flange.

4. A face mask as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame means, when disposed on the face of the wearer is adapted to extend from above the eyes on the top thereof to between the mouth and the bottom of the nose on the bottom thereof and completely covers the eyes and nose on the sides thereof.

5. A face mask as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame means, when disposed on the face of the wearer is adapted to extend from above the eyes on the top thereof to below the mouth on the bottom thereof and completely covers the eyes, the nose and the mouth on the sides thereof.

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