CN112370675A

CN112370675A - Gauze mask convenient to breathe

Info

Publication number: CN112370675A
Application number: CN202011236083.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄晓星; 李斌飞; 袁勇
Original assignee: Zhongshan Peoples Hospital
Current assignee: Zhongshan Peoples Hospital
Priority date: 2020-11-09
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2021-02-19

Abstract

The utility model provides a gauze mask convenient to breathe, includes protection component and ventilative subassembly, the second cover body with first cover body interconnect, the design otter board is connected first cover body with between the second cover body, tightening strap connects respectively first cover body with one side of the second cover body, breathe the layer with first cover body with be provided with the air purification chamber between the second cover body, the one end of pipeline with one-way discharge valve's the other end is connected, the exhaust casing is fixed the outside of the first cover body, one-way admission valve with the inlet casing sets up the air purification intracavity. The invention is beneficial to the smoothness of breathing, the exhaust of the exhaled air, the poor comfort caused by the moist of the mask, the preheating of the inhaled air and the reduction of the probability of cold; through setting up the bulb, be convenient for give out light at night, be favorable to the security that the user walked under the dark condition.

Description

Gauze mask convenient to breathe

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of sanitary products, in particular to a mask convenient to breathe.

Background

The protective mask is a self-absorption filtering type dustproof medical protective article which can filter particles in air, prevent the transmission of certain respiratory infectious microorganisms and block droplets, blood, body fluid, secretion and the like. Meanwhile, in cold weather, because outdoor temperature is low, respiratory tract irritation is caused, cold is easy to catch, the existing mask cannot preheat inhaled air, and how to invent a mask convenient for breathing to improve the problems becomes a problem to be solved urgently by technical staff in the field.

Disclosure of Invention

The purpose of the invention is: the utility model provides a gauze mask convenient to breathe aims at improving the gauze mask because the seal is better, and the gas permeability is poor, can feel the breathing difficulty, also is not convenient for discharge the gas of exhalation, and easy moist comfort is relatively poor, can not preheat the problem to inspiratory air simultaneously.

The technical scheme of the invention is as follows: the utility model provides a gauze mask convenient to breathe includes protection component and ventilative subassembly, protection component includes the first cover body, the second cover body, design otter board, lacing tape and fluorescence piece, the second cover body with first cover body interconnect, the design otter board is connected the first cover body with between the second cover body, lacing tape connects respectively the first cover body with one side of the second cover body, the both ends of elastic cord with the first cover body with the second cover body is connected, fluorescence piece sets up the surface of the second cover body, ventilative subassembly includes breathing layer, one-way discharge valve, pipeline, exhaust casing, one-way admission valve, air inlet casing, heating member and control piece, breathing layer is connected the first cover body with one side of the second cover body, breathing layer with the first cover body with be provided with air purification chamber between the second cover body, one-way discharge valve with the pipeline sets up the air purification intracavity, one end of one-way discharge valve with the breathing layer is connected, the one end of pipeline with one-way discharge valve's the other end is connected, the shell of airing exhaust is fixed the outside of the first cover body, the shell of airing exhaust with the other end intercommunication of pipeline, one-way admission valve with the shell setting of admitting air is in the air purification intracavity, one end of one-way admission valve with the breathing layer is connected, the shell of admitting air with the other end of one-way admission valve is connected, it is in to add the heat member setting the inside of the shell of admitting air, the control sets up the surface of the second cover body, the control sets up the top of fluorescence piece.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first cover body and the second cover body include a nonwoven fabric layer, a meltblown fabric layer, and a gauze, the meltblown fabric layer is disposed between the nonwoven fabric layer and the gauze, the nonwoven fabric layer is disposed outside the meltblown fabric layer, the nonwoven fabric layer can reduce the irritation degree of the skin of the user, so as to improve the comfort level of the user, the meltblown fabric layer filters air, protects the user, and the gauze isolates pollutants in the air.

In one embodiment of the invention, a nose clip is connected between the first and second shields and is disposed above the first and second shields, wherein the nose clip is capable of adjusting the degree to which the first and second shields engage the face of the user.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lacing tape is connected with a sponge pad, the sponge pad is sleeved on the outer surface of the lacing tape, and the sponge pad is arranged to relieve the discomfort of the lacing tape to the ears of the user.

In an embodiment of the invention, a connecting buckle is connected between the tightening belt and the first cover body and between the tightening belt and the second cover body, an adjusting buckle is connected on the tightening belt, the connecting buckle is arranged to facilitate the tightening belt to be connected more firmly, and the adjusting buckle can adjust the length and the tightness of the tightening belt, so that the tightening belt can be worn by different people.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fluorescent member includes a connection shell and a bulb, the connection shell is connected to the outer surface of the second cover body, the bulb is connected to one side of the connection shell, and the bulb is arranged to emit light at night, which is beneficial to the safety of users walking in dark conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention, a battery and a button are arranged outside the connecting shell, the battery supplies power to the bulb, and the button controls the bulb to be turned on or off.

In an embodiment of the invention, the exhaust shell is provided with an exhaust port, the air inlet shell is provided with an air inlet, and the exhaust port is beneficial to discharging air exhaled by a user to the outside more easily and reducing the moist feeling in the mask.

In one embodiment of the invention, the heating element comprises a heating wire and a fixed block, the fixed block is connected inside the air inlet shell, and two ends of the heating wire are connected with the fixed block.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control member includes a fixing case, a power supply, and a switch, the fixing case is disposed outside the second cover body, the power supply and the switch are disposed on the fixing case, the power supply supplies power to the heating wire, and the switch controls the operation of the heating wire.

Advantageous effects

1. When the mask convenient to breathe is used, the mask is worn on the face through the tightening belt, the elastic band is arranged to facilitate the fixation of the mask to be firmer, the first cover body and the second cover body protect a user, the shaping screen plate plays a plastic role, so that a space convenient to breathe is reserved between the nose and the mouth of the user and the first cover body and the second cover body, the fluorescent piece is convenient to emit light at night, and the safety of the user in walking under dark conditions is facilitated. The exhaled air is discharged to the outside through the one-way exhaust valve and the exhaust shell, and the moisture feeling in the mask can be reduced. It is more convenient and smooth and easy to be favorable to the user to breathe through air purification chamber and one-way admission valve, is favorable to preheating the air that inhales in the one-way admission valve to purifying the intracavity under the cold weather condition through the heating member, is favorable to preventing the low temperature to the stimulation of respiratory track, improves respiratory travelling comfort, prevents the flu. The breathing smoothness is facilitated, the exhaled air is discharged, poor comfort caused by the fact that the mask is wet is avoided, the inhaled air is preheated, and the probability of cold is reduced;

2. the bending degree of the nose clip is adjusted, so that the attaching degree of the first cover body and the second cover body to the face of a user can be adjusted, the sealing performance of the mask can be better, and the protection effect of the mask can be improved;

3. set up the bulb and be convenient for give out light at night, be favorable to the security that the user walked under the dark condition, the battery supplies power to the bulb, and the going out of button control bulb is bright.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and for those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without inventive efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a breathing mask according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a shield assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a fluorescent member and a control member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic view of an internal structure of the first cover according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the internal structure of a second cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a first cover and a second cover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of a heating element structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 100-a shield assembly; 110-a first cover; 120-a second cover; 122-a non-woven layer; 124-melt-blown fabric layer; 126-gauze; 130-shaping screen plate; 140-a nose clip; 150-a tightening strap; 152-a sponge cushion; 154-connecting fastener; 160-elastic band; 162-adjusting buckle; 170-a fluorescent member; 172-a connecting shell; 174-a battery; 176-a light bulb; 178-a button; 200-a breathable component; 210-a breathing layer; 220-air purification chamber; 230-one-way exhaust valve; 240-a pipeline; 250-an exhaust shell; 252-an exhaust port; 260-one-way inlet valve; 270-an inlet casing; 272-an air inlet; 280-heating element; 282-heating wires; 284-fixed block; 290-a control member; 292-a stationary shell; 294 — a power supply; 296-switch.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, but not all embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without any inventive step based on the embodiments of the present invention, are within the scope of the present invention.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, presented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without any inventive step based on the embodiments of the present invention, are within the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", and the like, indicate orientations and positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, and do not indicate or imply that the equipment or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be considered as limiting the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, "above" or "below" a first feature means that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact with each other via another feature therebetween. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly under and obliquely below the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

Example 1

Referring to fig. 1-7, a respiratory mask includes a shield assembly 100 and a ventilation assembly 200.

Referring to fig. 1 to 7, the protective assembly 100 includes a first cover body 110, a second cover body 120, a shaping mesh plate 130, a fastening strip 150 and a fluorescent member 170, wherein the second cover body 120 is connected to the first cover body 110, the shaping mesh plate 130 is connected between the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, the fastening strip 150 is respectively connected to one side of the first cover body 110 and one side of the second cover body 120, a sponge pad 152 is connected to the fastening strip 150, the sponge pad 152 is sleeved on the outer surface of the fastening strip 150, and the sponge pad 152 is disposed to relieve discomfort of the fastening strip 150 to a user at an ear. Both ends of the elastic band 160 are coupled to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, and the fluorescent member 170 is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing 120. A connecting buckle 154 is connected between the tightening strip 150 and the first cover 110 and the second cover 120, and an adjusting buckle 162 is connected to the elastic strip 160. The connecting buckle 154 is provided to facilitate the connection of the tightening band 150 more firmly, and the adjusting buckle 162 can adjust the length and tightness of the elastic band 160, thereby facilitating the wearing of different people.

Referring to fig. 1 to 7, the ventilation assembly 200 includes a breathing layer 210, a one-way exhaust valve 230, a pipe 240, an exhaust casing 250, a one-way intake valve 260, an intake casing 270, a heating element 280, and a control element 290, the breathing layer 210 is connected to one side of the first casing 110 and the second casing 120, an air purification chamber 220 is disposed between the breathing layer 210 and the first casing 110 and the second casing 120, the one-way exhaust valve 230 and the pipe 240 are disposed in the air purification chamber 220, one end of the one-way exhaust valve 230 is connected to the breathing layer 210, one end of the pipe 240 is connected to the other end of the one-way exhaust valve 230, the exhaust casing 250 is fixed to the outside of the first casing 110, the exhaust casing 250 is communicated with the other end of the pipe 240, the one-way intake valve 260 and the intake casing 270 are disposed in the air purification chamber 220, one end of the one-way intake valve 260 is connected, the exhaust casing 250 is provided with an exhaust port 252, and the intake casing 270 is provided with an intake port 272. The exhaust port 252 facilitates the exhaust of the air exhaled by the user to the outside, and reduces the moisture sensation inside the mask. The heating member 280 is disposed inside the inlet housing 270, the control member 290 is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing 120, and the control member 290 is disposed above the fluorescent member 170.

Example 2

Referring to fig. 1-7, the shield assembly 100 includes a first cover body 110, a second cover body 120, a fixing mesh 130, a tightening strip 150, and a fluorescent member 170, the second cover body 120 is connected to the first cover body 110, the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120 include a nonwoven fabric layer 122, a meltblown layer 124, and a scrim 126, the meltblown layer 124 is disposed between the nonwoven fabric layer 122 and the scrim 126, and the nonwoven fabric layer 122 is disposed outside the meltblown layer 124. Non-woven fabrics layer 122 can reduce the degree that user's skin received the stimulation to promote the comfort level of using, melt blown fabrics layer 124 filters the air, protects the user, and the gauze 126 is kept apart the pollutant in the air. The shaping mesh plate 130 is connected between the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, a nose clip 140 is connected between the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, the nose clip 140 is arranged above the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, and the nose clip 140 can adjust the degree of the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120 which are attached to the face of a user. The tightening belt 150 is connected respectively at one side of the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, the tightening belt 150 is connected with the sponge pad 152, the sponge pad 152 is sleeved on the outer surface of the tightening belt 150, and the sponge pad 152 is arranged to relieve the discomfort of the tightening belt 150 to the ears of the user. Both ends of the elastic band 160 are coupled to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, and the fluorescent member 170 is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing 120. A connecting buckle 154 is connected between the tightening strip 150 and the first cover 110 and the second cover 120, and an adjusting buckle 162 is connected to the elastic strip 160. The connecting buckle 154 is provided to facilitate the connection of the tightening band 150 more firmly, and the adjusting buckle 162 can adjust the length and tightness of the elastic band 160, thereby facilitating the wearing of different people. The fluorescent member 170 includes a coupling case 172 and a bulb 176, the coupling case 172 being coupled to an outer surface of the second housing 120, and the bulb 176 being coupled to one side of the coupling case 172. The bulb 176 is arranged to facilitate lighting at night, which is beneficial to the safety of the user walking in the dark. The connection shell 172 is provided with a battery 174 and a button 178 outside, the battery 174 is electrically connected with the bulb 176, the battery 174 supplies power to the bulb 176, and the button 178 controls the bulb 176 to be turned on or off.

Referring to fig. 1 to 7, the ventilation assembly 200 includes a breathing layer 210, a one-way exhaust valve 230, a pipe 240, an exhaust casing 250, a one-way intake valve 260, an intake casing 270, a heating element 280, and a control element 290, the breathing layer 210 is connected to one side of the first casing 110 and the second casing 120, an air purification chamber 220 is disposed between the breathing layer 210 and the first casing 110 and the second casing 120, the one-way exhaust valve 230 and the pipe 240 are disposed in the air purification chamber 220, one end of the one-way exhaust valve 230 is connected to the breathing layer 210, one end of the pipe 240 is connected to the other end of the one-way exhaust valve 230, the exhaust casing 250 is fixed to the outside of the first casing 110, the exhaust casing 250 is communicated with the other end of the pipe 240, the one-way intake valve 260 and the intake casing 270 are disposed in the air purification chamber 220, one end of the one-way intake valve 260 is connected, the exhaust casing 250 is provided with an exhaust port 252, and the intake casing 270 is provided with an intake port 272. The exhaust port 252 facilitates the exhaust of the air exhaled by the user to the outside, and reduces the moisture sensation inside the mask. The heating member 280 is disposed inside the inlet housing 270, the control member 290 is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing 120, and the control member 290 is disposed above the fluorescent member 170. The heating member 280 includes a heater 282 and a fixing block 284, the fixing block 284 is connected to the inside of the inlet case 270, and both ends of the heater 282 are connected to the fixing block 284. The control member 290 includes a fixing case 292, a power source 294, and a switch 296, the fixing case 292 being disposed outside the second housing 120, and the power source 294 and the switch 296 being disposed on the fixing case 292. The power source 294 is electrically connected to the heating wire 282, the power source 294 supplies power to the heating wire 282, and the switch 296 controls the operation of the heating wire 282. The heating of the heating wire 282 by pressing the switch 296 is beneficial to preheating the air sucked into the one-way air inlet valve 260 in the purifying cavity 220 in cold weather conditions, and is beneficial to preventing the stimulation of low temperature to the respiratory tract.

When the mask is used, the mask is worn on the face through the fastening belt 150, and discomfort caused by the fastening belt 150 to the ears of a user can be relieved through the spongy cushion 152. Set up elastic cord 160 and be favorable to the fixed more firm of gauze mask, provide the protection to the user through first cover body 110 and second cover body 120, design otter board 130 plays plastic effect, make and leave the space that makes things convenient for breathing between user's nose and mouth and the first cover body 110 and the second cover body 120, non-woven fabrics layer 122 can reduce user's skin and receive amazing degree, thereby promote the comfort level of using, melt-blown cloth layer 124 filters the air, protect the user, gauze 126 keeps apart the pollutant in the air. The nose clip 140 can adjust the degree to which the first and

second shields

110, 120 engage the user's face. The bulb 176 is arranged to facilitate lighting at night, which is beneficial to the safety of the user walking in the dark. The exhaled air is discharged to the outside through the one-way exhaust valve 230 and the exhaust port 252, which is advantageous to reduce the feeling of wetness inside the mask. It is more convenient and smooth to be favorable to the user to breathe through air purification chamber 220 and one-way admission valve 260, makes heater strip 282 heat and be favorable to preheating the air of inhaling in the one-way admission valve 260 in the purification chamber 220 under the cold weather condition through pressing switch 296, is favorable to preventing the low temperature to the stimulation of respiratory track, improves the travelling comfort of breathing, prevents the cold. The problem of the gauze mask because the seal is better, the gas permeability is poor, can feel the breathing difficulty, also be convenient for discharge the gas of exhalation, the easy moist comfort is relatively poor, can not preheat inspiratory air simultaneously is improved.

It should be noted that the specific model specifications of the heating wire 282 and the power source 294 need to be determined by model selection according to the actual specification of the device, and the specific model selection calculation method adopts the prior art, so detailed description is omitted.

The supply of the heating wire 282 and the power source 294 and the principle thereof will be clear to the skilled person and will not be described in detail here.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a gauze mask convenient to breathe which characterized in that: the protective assembly (100) comprises a first cover body (110), a second cover body (120), a shaping mesh plate (130), a tightening strip (150), an elastic strip (160) and a fluorescent piece (170), wherein the second cover body (120) is connected with the first cover body (110), the shaping mesh plate (130) is connected between the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120), the tightening strip (150) is respectively connected to one side of the first cover body (110) and one side of the second cover body (120), two ends of the elastic strip (160) are connected with the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120), and the fluorescent piece (170) is arranged on the outer surface of the second cover body (120); breathable component (200), breathable component (200) is including breathing layer (210), one-way discharge valve (230), pipeline (240), exhaust shell (250), one-way admission valve (260), admit air shell (270), heating member (280) and control piece (290), breathing layer (210) is connected first cover body (110) with one side of second cover body (120), breathing layer (210) with first cover body (110) with be provided with air purification chamber (220) between the second cover body (120), one-way discharge valve (230) with pipeline (240) set up in air purification chamber (220), the one end of one-way discharge valve (230) with breathing layer (210) is connected, the one end of pipeline (240) with the other end of one-way discharge valve (230) is connected, exhaust shell (250) are fixed the outside of first cover body (110), the exhaust shell (250) is communicated with the other end of the pipeline (240), the one-way air inlet valve (260) and the air inlet shell (270) are arranged in the air purification cavity (220), one end of the one-way air inlet valve (260) is connected with the breathing layer (210), the air inlet shell (270) is connected with the other end of the one-way air inlet valve (260), the heating element (280) is arranged in the air inlet shell (270), the control element (290) is arranged on the outer surface of the second cover body (120), and the control element (290) is arranged above the fluorescent element (170).

2. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120) comprise a non-woven fabric layer (122), a melt-blown fabric layer (124) and gauze (126), the melt-blown fabric layer (124) is arranged between the non-woven fabric layer (122) and the gauze (126), and the non-woven fabric layer (122) is arranged outside the melt-blown fabric layer (124).

3. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: a nose clip (140) is connected between the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120), and the nose clip (140) is arranged above the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120).

4. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: the lacing tape (150) is connected with a sponge pad (152), and the sponge pad (152) is sleeved on the outer surface of the lacing tape (150).

5. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: a connecting buckle (154) is connected between the tightening belt (150) and the first cover body (110) and the second cover body (120), and an adjusting buckle (162) is connected on the elastic band (160).

6. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: the fluorescent member (170) includes a connection case (172) and a bulb (176), the connection case (172) is coupled to an outer surface of the second cap body (120), and the bulb (176) is coupled to one side of the connection case (172).

7. The mask of claim 6, wherein the mask comprises: a battery (174) and a button (178) are arranged outside the connecting shell (172).

8. The mask of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises: the exhaust shell (250) is provided with an exhaust port (252), and the air inlet shell (270) is provided with an air inlet (272).

9. The use of a respirator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: when the mask is used, the mask is worn on the face through the tightening belt (150), discomfort caused by the tightening belt (150) to the ears of a user can be relieved through the sponge pad (152), the elastic band (160) is arranged to be beneficial to more firmness of fixation of the mask, the user is protected through the first mask body (110) and the second mask body (120), the shaping screen (130) plays a plastic role, a gap which is convenient for breathing is reserved between the nose and the mouth of the user and the first mask body (110) and the second mask body (120), the non-woven fabric layer (122) can reduce the stimulation degree of the skin of the user, the use comfort degree is improved, the air is filtered by the melt-blown fabric layer (124), the user is protected, the gauze (126) isolates pollutants in the air, and the nose clip (140) can adjust the attaching degree of the first mask body (110) and the second mask body (120) to the face of the user, set up bulb (176) and be convenient for give out light at night, be favorable to the security that the user walked under the dark condition, the gas of exhalation is passed through one-way discharge valve (230) and gas vent (252) and is discharged outside, is favorable to reducing the inside wet of gauze mask and feels.