Head covering device providing filtered air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12409351-B2
Application number	US-202217815212-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2022
Priority date	Jul 26, 2021
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

A device for filtering air for a user comprising a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion above the user's head and a lower portion proximate to and spaced apart from the user's chin, an intake aperture formed in the frame, and an intake air filter covering the intake aperture. The device includes an air mover chamber attached with an air-tight seal to an inside surface of the frame and communicating on one end with the intake air filter and communicating on another end with a filtered air supply inlet inside the device and an air mover disposed within the air mover chamber and configured to draw air through the intake air filter and push air out the filtered air supply inlet. The device also includes an exhaust aperture formed in the frame and an exhaust air filter covering the exhaust aperture. The device further includes a transparent face shield attached with an air-tight seal to a front surface of the frame, the shield providing a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face, and a fabric component comprising a first portion that is air permeable configured to cover the frame and filters and a second portion that is air impermeable extending from a back surface of the frame to cover a remaining portion of the user's head and encircle the user's neck.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion above the user's head and a lower portion proximate to and spaced apart from the user's chin;
an intake aperture formed in the frame;
an intake air filter covering the intake aperture;
an air mover chamber attached with an air-tight seal to an inside surface of the frame and communicating on one end with the intake air filter and communicating on another end with a filtered air supply inlet inside the device;
an air mover disposed within the air mover chamber and configured to draw air through the intake air filter and push air out the filtered air supply inlet;
an exhaust aperture formed in the frame;
an exhaust air filter covering the exhaust aperture;
a transparent face shield attached with an air-tight seal to a front surface of the frame, the shield providing a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face; and
a fabric component comprising:
a first portion that is air permeable configured to cover the frame and filters; and
a second portion that is air impermeable extending from a back surface of the frame to cover a remaining portion of the user's head and encircle the user's neck.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second intake aperture formed in the frame;
a second intake air filter covering the second intake aperture;
a second air mover chamber; and
a second air mover;
wherein the intake aperture and the second intake aperture a formed in the band symmetrically on opposite sides between the top portion and bottom portion.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a second exhaust aperture and a second exhaust air filter, wherein the exhaust aperture and the second exhaust aperture are formed in the frame symmetrically on opposite sides of the lower portion.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a power control box attached inside the top portion of the frame and a rechargeable battery within the power control box for powering the air mover and the second air mover.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent face shield is constructed from materials that are approved for impact resistance by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the air mover moves air so that there is a positive flow of air in the device and the air mover can be reversed so there is a negative flow of air in the device.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power control box attached inside the frame and a rechargeable battery within the power control box for powering the air mover.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the air mover chamber is attached to the frame by a gasket of resilient material.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the air mover chamber is integrally formed with the frame.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the air mover is a fan.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the fan can be operated at different speeds, as selected by the user.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the fan is suspended by resilient members to isolate vibration of the fan during operation.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the fan comprises an outlet and further comprising a duct for directing air from the fan to the filtered air inlet.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the duct is formed from a resilient material to isolate vibration of the fan during operation.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent face shield is releasably attached to the front surface of the frame by releasable clamps.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the air-tight seal between the transparent face shield and the front surface of the frame is provided by a resilient gasket.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the intake air filter is formed with a resilient gasket around a perimeter, and wherein the resilient gasket comprises a circumferential groove, and wherein the intake air filter is held in place as the groove captures an edge of the frame around the intake aperture.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the exhaust air filter is formed with a resilient gasket around a perimeter, and wherein the resilient gasket comprises a circumferential groove, and wherein the exhaust air filter is held in place as the groove captures an edge of the frame around the exhaust aperture.

19. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a switch mounted to the frame, wherein the switch is covered by the first portion of the fabric component, but operable therethrough.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the switch is a button, configured to activate different modes of operation depending on the number of times the button is pushed by the user.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the different modes of operation include different speeds for the air mover.

22. A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion above the user's head and a lower portion proximate to and spaced apart from the user's chin;
a first intake aperture formed in the frame and a first intake air filter covering the first intake aperture;
a second intake aperture formed in the frame and a second intake air filter cover the second intake aperture;
a first air mover chamber attached with an air-tight seal to an inside surface of the frame and communicating on one end with the first intake air filter and communicating on another end with a first filtered air supply inlet inside the device;
a second air mover chamber attached with an air-tight seal to an inside surface of the frame and communicating on one end with the second intake air filter and communicating on another end with a second filtered air supply inlet inside the device;
a first air mover disposed within the first air mover chamber and configured to draw air through the first intake air filter and push air out the first filtered air supply inlet;
a second air mover disposed within the second air mover chamber and configured to draw air through the second intake air filter and push air out the second filtered air supply inlet;
a first exhaust aperture formed in the frame and a first exhaust air filter covering the first exhaust aperture;
a second exhaust aperture formed in the frame and a second exhaust air filter covering the second exhaust aperture:
a transparent face shield attached with an air-tight seal to a front surface of the frame, the shield providing a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face; and
a fabric component comprising:
a first portion that is air permeable configured to cover the frame and filters; and
a second portion that is air impermeable extending from a back surface of the frame to cover a remaining portion of the user's head and encircle the user's neck.

Assignees

• Hall Labs Llc
• Microclimate Inc

Inventors

• Hall Michael
• Hall David R
• Dean Jacob
• Lazaro Miguel
• Oliveira Vicente
• Ramaraj Prabhakar
• Conde Lucas
• Englund Kevin
• Richards Carson

Classifications

• A42B3/286

  with forced flow, e.g. by a fan · CPC title

• A42B3/281

  Air ducting systems · CPC title

• A62B18/084

  Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets · CPC title

• A62B23/02

  for respirators · CPC title

• B01D46/103

  Curved filtering elements · CPC title