Reconfigurable Full Facemask having a Cartridge Module for Respiratory Protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016001111-A1
Application number	US-201514854220-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Full facemask including a face seal configured to directly engage a face of an individual. The face seal defines a lens opening. The full facemask also includes a mask lens that is coupled to the face seal and disposed within the lens opening. The mask lens has a passage edge that defines a cartridge passage through the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a cartridge module having at least one of a filter or an air regulator. The cartridge module is disposed within the cartridge passage and circumscribed by the passage edge of the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a locking member that includes a first member surface that directly engages the mask lens and a second member surface that directly engages the cartridge module. The locking member secures the mask lens and the cartridge module in fixed positions with respect to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A full facemask to be worn by an individual, the full facemask comprising:
a face seal configured to directly engage a face of the individual, the face seal defining a lens opening; a mask lens coupled to the face seal and disposed within the lens opening, the mask lens having a passage edge that defines a cartridge passage through the mask lens; a cartridge module including at least one of a filter or an air regulator, the cartridge module being disposed within the cartridge passage and circumscribed by the passage edge of the mask lens; and a locking member comprising a first member surface that directly engages the mask lens and a second member surface that directly engages the cartridge module, the locking member securing the mask lens and the cartridge module in fixed positions with respect to each other.

2 . The full facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask lens entirely surrounds a periphery of the cartridge module.

3 . The full facemask of claim 1 , wherein the mask lens includes a flange portion, the cartridge module being sized and shaped relative to the flange portion such that the flange portion blocks the cartridge module from moving further into the cartridge passage.

4 . The full facemask of claim 3 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the cartridge module and the flange portion, the gasket comprising a compressible material that effectively seals an interior space of the full facemask from the surrounding air.

5 . The full facemask of claim 1 , wherein the locking member includes a ring portion having the opposite first and second member surfaces, the locking member configured to be rotated between first and second orientations, the first member surface directly engaging the mask lens and the second member surface directly engaging the cartridge module when the locking member is in the second orientation.

6 . The full facemask of claim 5 , wherein the ring portion and the cartridge module are shaped relative to each other such that rotating the locking member to the second orientation causes a camming effect that urges the cartridge module into the cartridge passage.

7 . The full facemask of claim 5 , wherein the locking member includes at least one wing portion that covers a component port of the cartridge module.

8 . The full facemask of claim 5 , wherein the ring portion includes an opening that aligns with a center component port of the cartridge module.

9 . The full facemask of claim 1 , wherein the at least One filter or air regulator is a first functional component, the cartridge module further comprising a second functional component, the second functional component being one of a hydration port, voice emitter, another filter, or exhalation port.

10 . The full facemask of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge module includes a modular frame that is configured to directly interface with the mask lens, the modular frame including first and second component ports having the first and second functional components disposed therein.

11 . A reconfigurable full facemask to be worn by an individual, the full facemask comprising:
an outer mask comprising a face seal configured to directly engage a face of the individual and a mask lens coupled to the face seal, the face seal having a lens opening with the mask lens disposed therein, the outer mask including a passage edge that defines a cartridge passage through the outer mask; a cartridge module including at least one of a filter or an air regulator, the cartridge module being disposed within the cartridge passage and circumscribed by the passage edge of the outer mask; and a quick-release locking member comprising a ring portion having opposite first and second member surfaces, the locking member configured to be rotated between first and second orientations, wherein the first member surface directly engages the mask lens and the second member surface directly engages the cartridge module when the locking member is in the second orientation, the locking member securing the mask lens and the cartridge module in fixed positions with respect to each other.

12 . The full facemask of claim 11 , wherein the mask lens defines the cartridge passage such that the mask lens entirely surrounds a periphery of the cartridge module.

13 . The full facemask of claim 12 , wherein the mask lens includes a flange portion, the cartridge module being sized and shaped relative to the flange portion such that the flange portion blocks the cartridge module from moving further into the cartridge passage.

14 . The full facemask of claim 11 , wherein the ring portion and the cartridge module are shaped relative to each other such that rotating the locking member to the second orientation causes a camming effect that urges the cartridge module into the cartridge passage.

15 . The full facemask of claim 14 , wherein the locking member includes at least one wing portion that covers a component port of the cartridge module.

16 . The full facemask of claim 14 , wherein the ring portion includes an opening that aligns with a center component port of the cartridge module.

17 . The full facemask of claim 11 , wherein the at least one filter or air regulator is a first functional component, the cartridge module further comprising a second functional component, the second functional component being one of a hydration port, voice emitter, a filter, or exhalation port.

18 . The full facemask of claim 11 , wherein the cartridge module is a first cartridge module, the full facemask further comprising a second cartridge module that is configured for a different purpose, the first and second cartridge modules having identical peripheries for interfacing with the outer mask.

Assignees

• Scott Tech Inc

Inventors

• Morgan Judge W
• Symons Daniel Charles
• Evans Dyfan
• Mouser John David
• Thompson Darin Kyle

Classifications

• A62B18/006

  with pumps for forced ventilation (A62B18/045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A62B18/02 Primary

  Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06) · CPC title

• A62B23/02

  for respirators · CPC title

• A62B23/025

  the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11) · CPC title

• A62B7/10

  with filter elements · CPC title