DE102009057234A1 - Half-mask e.g. respirator, for protection of person or patient against aerosol and e.g. pathogen particle in exhalation air, has contour that is continued with nose fitting piece at recess in mask body in nose root area - Google Patents

Abstract

The mask (10) has a mask body (12) covering mouth-and nose area of a wearer. The mask body is fixed at a head of the wearer using bands (20, 22) and lies against a facial outline of a wearer. A surface of the mask body that masks nose root area is thin and flexible than remaining surfaces of the mask body. A mask contour is continued with a nose fitting piece (14) at a recess in the mask body in the nose root area, where the fitting piece is made of thin, elastic and air impermeable material. One of the bands (20) is provided for positioning a nose strap (16) by an eye-let at the mask body.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a half mask, in particular particle-filtering respiratory half mask for protection against aerosols and particles, the cup-shaped arched mask body consists at least partially of filter material or as a composite of at least one support layer and one or more layers of filter material and at least the mouth and nose region of the carrier covering, wherein the mask body can be fixed by appropriate brackets on the head of the wearer and rests against the facial contour of the wearer.

State of the art

Particle-filtering half-masks are respiratory masks or respiratory half-masks (Respirator), which protects depending on the design of the inhalation of aqueous / oily aerosols and particles. These half-masks are worn by people in general over the air-conducting organs and prevent contaminants in the breathing air - such as dusts or aerosols - from entering the respiratory tract.

The subject of the present invention also fall half-masks, which protect the environment of the wearer, so protect other people or objects from being contaminated in the exhaled air of the wearer, such. As droplets and pathogens come into contact. These masks are also commonly referred to as face masks. A typical example of such a face mask is a surgical mask or surgical mask. This serves to protect the patient from contamination by the wearer of the mask. They typically do not seal the face and have a non-porous filter material to minimize breathing resistance. Such masks are unsuitable as respirators. Although the masks do not seal strongly, the "rushing" of exhaled air around the mask edges should be as small as possible. On the one hand, the protective function must be maintained in relation to the environment, on the other hand can cause unpleasant effects for the wearer itself, such. As the fogging of spectacle lenses. The most difficult site to seal between the bridge of the nose and the cheekbone due to facial contours is often sealed by bending a flexible strip of metal adhering to the mask in the area of the nose of the face according to the facial contour in this area. This nose clip may be formed in various ways, as in the patent US 5,558,089 shown. A higher sealing effect, in order also to prevent the fogging of optical aids such as glasses by the moisture in the exhaled air, can be achieved by an additional foam strip in the nose and cheek area, as in the published patent application DE 26 53 352 A1 is described.

Among the respirators are masks made of a non-porous material such as rubber or plastic. They have changeable or fixed filters or filter cartridges and exhalation valves. The designs are mostly aimed at multiple usability and high accuracy of fit and sealing between the face of the wearer and the mask.

Another group among the respirators achieves the filtering effect via a porous mask body, which is also close to the face. Due to the simple construction by the filter material itself is formed as a mask or a simple carrier material is used as a support layer together with the filter material, here the manufacturing costs are low and the masks are no longer used. These disposable masks have a wide range of applications, in the professional environment or in the DIY sector, where they are mainly known as dust masks. They cover at least the mouth and nose of the wearer and are also referred to as respiratory half-masks. More comfortable versions have an exhalation valve, which opens when exhaled and thus easier to dissipate the used air.

In the patent DE 692 21 386 T2 describes a mask that can sit a little lower on the nose, so that the wearing of glasses between the eye area and mask edge should be possible. Fixing the glasses by the mask in front is called an advantage. In order to ensure the seal even with this method of wearing the mask, the mask described therein has a mask edge of luftundurchlässigem material, which is connected to the actual porous and formed as a mask filter material.

A disadvantage of the devices described in the prior art consists in particular in the fact that, when the masks are worn, faulty currents often occur in the exhaled air in the area of the nasal cheeks, which leads to fogging of spectacle lenses. When worn, a force component in the direction of the face of the wearer acts through the pull of the bands attached to the mask and fixes the mask on the head. But it also works a force component to the side, whereby the mask is slightly pulled in the width. The intrinsic resistance of the nasal prong, pre-bent to conform to the facial contour, is not high enough to fully resist a change in shape, causing the Fitting accuracy decreases and it can come to the said false currents of the exhaled air.

By reducing / avoiding the effect of fogging eyeglass wearers, the willingness to wear respiratory masks to protect respiratory tracts from harmful substances would in principle be increased. However, there is still the problem that the mask occupies the area of the nose pad of the glasses. Wearing the glasses between the face and mask is uncomfortable because the mask presses the glasses against the face and the mask edge covers part of the lower field of view of the glasses, a problem especially in progressive lenses. In addition, it is likely that the glasses fogged too low ventilation when sweating the wearer. The masks are so voluminous designed in the nose area, that worn in normal living environment glasses can not sit on the mask and thus can not be worn together with the mask. Even with the safety goggles, only a few on the nose pad are generously designed and suitable for wearing breathing masks. However, the initial cost of these special glasses, especially with ground glasses are high, so especially in the private sector rather than wearing a breath half mask is avoided, as to equip in addition with special glasses.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention is based on the object to provide a half mask, which is not only suitable but especially for spectacle wearers. The structure of the mask should be as simple as possible to keep the production costs low. Existing variants of half-masks are to be improved so that a simultaneous comfortable wearing a mask is made possible together with a pair of glasses, the visual field of the glasses is minimized as possible and yet a sufficient seal of the mask in the nose / cheek area is achieved to fogging of To avoid spectacle lenses. As a field of application simpler applications in the commercial as well as in the private environment (do-it-yourselfers) are conceivable.

According to the invention the above object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the half mask according to the invention are specified in subclaims.

Thereafter, a half mask of the type mentioned is characterized in that the mask body is performed in the nose root area thinner and more flexible than the rest of the mask body or on a recess in the mask body in the nose root area, the mask contour is continued with a Nasenpassstück of thin, elastic and air-impermeable material, whereby the Nose support a pair of glasses in the usual position for the wearer and pleasant way is not covered the field of view of the wearer in the lower part of the glasses through the mask and still a seal in the nose bridge is achieved.

Brief description of the drawings

Other objects, features, advantages and applications of the half mask will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features, alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of the summary in individual claims or their dependency.

In the drawings show

1A a plan view of an embodiment of the half mask according to the invention;

1B a plan view of another embodiment of the half mask;

2 a top view of a half mask in the unused state;

3 a top view of a half mask in the state of the application;

4a and 4b Detailed views of a section along line 4-4 2 ;

5 a perspective view of a half mask from the perspective of the wearer;

6 a schematic representation of a worn half mask.

Embodiment of the invention

1A shows a half mask 10 with multiple parts in a preferred embodiment.

How out 1A it can be seen that the mask body according to the invention is in the region of the root of the nose 12 contrary to the versions of existing half masks not in the same way as the rest of the mask body 12 built up. In the present case, the mask shape is preferably by an attached Nasenpassstück 14 from a thin, elastic and impermeable material continued. Due to the low material thickness, the nose pad of glasses in the usual form is possible. The gain in flexibility of the otherwise masked body 12 through the recess in the nose root area and through the elasticity and extensibility of the material of the nose piece 14 a better adaptation to different nose shapes and facial contours is possible. The good adaptation to the facial contour is also the basis for a good seal in the nose / cheek area. Through the recess in the mask body 12 In addition, the field of vision is less restricted in the nose area.

The mask body 12 consists of a molded filter material or as a composite of at least one support layer and one or more layers of filter material. When inhaled, the air is drawn through the mask surface through the filter material and thereby cleaned of harmful ingredients.

As in 1A shown on a mask body 12 in addition an exhalation valve 18 to be appropriate. When using an exhalation valve 18 For the most part, the exhaled air is removed via this valve. In a version without exhalation valve 18 the exhaled air escapes through the filter material to the outside. The use of an exhalation valve 18 , which has a low exhalation resistance, helps to prevent false currents of exhaled air between the mask edge and face of the wearer.

The mask 10 is by means of elastic bands 20 and 22 , which are guided over the wearer's head when worn, pressed against the face of the wearer to effect the required sealing along the mask edge.

To avoid leakage of the exhaled air between the mask edge and the wearer's face in the area between the root of the nose and cheekbones which is particularly difficult to seal, and thus also to avoid misting of spectacle lenses by the moisture in the exhaled air, is an elastic nose clip 16 additional component of the present invention. The nose clip described in previous documents is permanently deformed to adapt to the facial contour of the wearer. In contrast, the nose clip of this invention returns to its original shape upon application of force.

The nose clip 16 is in its middle, ie in the area of the nasal dorsum, continuously or at one or more points 24 with the mask body 12 connected and thus fixed. Their ends are not with the mask body 12 connected and stand by their bias, comparing a leaf spring, from the mask 10 off, like out 2 becomes clear. At the ends is the ribbon 20 attached. In the worn state, as in 3 represented act by the tensioning of the band 20 the forces Fx on the ends of the noseband 16 and the free, not with the mask body 12 connected areas or arms of the clasp 16 be against their bending resistance in the direction of the mask 10 drawn. According to their bending resistance, they adapt to the facial contour along the line attachment area 24 - cheekbones and transfer the forces Fy on the mask body 12 whereby it is pressed against the face of the wearer in this particularly difficult to seal area.

As an additional seal and to increase the wearing comfort, stripes can be made inside the nasal flanks along the edge of the mask 30 made of soft air-impermeable material (eg closed-cell foam) glued on each side as in 5 shown.

The nose clip 16 causes a seal in the area of the nose and cheekbones. This requires her free arms when putting on the mask 10 by the train of the band 20 Apply to the mask outline in this area around the mask 10 there to press against the face. So that the ends are not affected by the pull of the band 20 twist in an undesirable direction and to generate the necessary resistance to the deflection is a certain rigidity of the clip 16 necessary. To achieve this, the nose clip can 16 be executed in different profiles, profile progressions along the longitudinal axis and different materials. The material may be metal and plastic.

4a and 4b show preferred embodiments of possible profile cross-sections. To avoid twisting the arms of the clasp 16 and with it the arms when putting on the mask 10 As far as possible along the desired sealing line along the nasal flanks and cheeks create, the ends of the band 20 also by eyelets 26 be guided on the mask body.

The dimensions of the profile cross sections, z. B and h in 4a , For generating the necessary bending stiffness resulting from the area moment of inertia at each point along the longitudinal axis of the free arms.

The half mask according to the invention 10 is not limited in its execution to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments. Rather, a variety of design variations are possible, which make use of the solution shown even with fundamentally different type of execution.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

half mask

12

mask body

14

Nose fitting

16

nose clip

18

exhalation valve

20, 22

bands

24

fixing areas

26

eyelets

30

Strip along the edge of the mask

Fx

Forces on the ends of the noseband

Fy

Forces on the mask body

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5558089 [0003]
• DE 2653352 A1 [0003]
• DE 69221386 T2 [0006]

Claims (5)

Half mask ( 10 ), in particular particle-filtering respiratory half-mask ( 10 ) for protection against aerosols and particles whose shell-like curved mask body ( 12 ) consists partly of filter material itself or as a composite of at least one support layer and one or more layers of filter material and covers at least the mouth and nose region of the wearer, wherein the mask body ( 12 ) by one or more mounts ( 20 . 22 ) is fixable on the head of the wearer and bears against the facial contour of the wearer, characterized in that the mask body ( 12 ) in the nose root area thinner and more flexible than the rest of the mask body ( 12 ) is executed or at a recess in the mask body ( 12 ) in the nose root area the mask contour with a nose piece ( 14 ) is continued from thin, elastic and impermeable material. Half mask ( 10 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic nose clip ( 16 ) on the mask body ( 12 ) is provided at both ends of a band ( 20 ) is attached, which deforms when worn the clasp to seal the mask in the nasal cheeks area against its bending resistance to the face or mask contour. Half mask ( 10 ) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the dimensioning of the profile cross-section of the nasal clip ( 16 ) at each point along the longitudinal axis of the area moments of inertia of the corresponding deflection under force by the band ( 20 ). Half mask ( 10 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the free-standing arms of the nasal clip ( 16 ) results from the time necessary for the bending of the arms moment, by the force of the band ( 20 ) on the ends of the arms when wearing the half mask. Half mask ( 10 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band ( 20 ) for positioning the nasal clip ( 16 ) by eyelets ( 26 ) on the mask body ( 12 ) can be performed.

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