DE202020002664U1 - Mouth and nose protection in the form of a blank as a one-piece element made of foldable, air-permeable material in connection with a flexible and / or foldable transparent material for the visibility of the wearer's mouth area, in particular for use as an infection protection - Google Patents

Abstract

Mouth and nose protection (MNS) in the form of a one-piece blank (E) made of foldable air-permeable material (1) in connection with a flexible and / or foldable transparent material (2) in the middle of the blank, the foldable material (1) is located above and below the transparent material (2) and is connected to the transparent material (2), the foldable material (1) and the transparent material (2) being so folded on the corner sides (points O / A / B / C connected) that the MNS closes in the unfolded form in such a way that it encloses the nose area above and below the eyes and below the chin area and the transparent area (2) provides a good view of the mouth and nose area of the wearer from the tip of the nose to the chin and from ear to ear, whereby in the area of the foldable material (1) a reinforcement as a nose clip (N) can be attached above so that the seat is ergonomically optimized, whereby the size and shape of the supplement nitts (E) can be adjusted in size so that the mask resulting from the cut can be adapted as best as possible to the respective face size and anatomy, whereby when in use the MNS can be provided with one or more elastic straps on the sides (X ), so that either a fixation on the ears or the back of the head can take place.

Description

General:

The mouth and nose protection (hereinafter abbreviated to MNS), also for short: mouth protection, other names: mouth and nose mask, surgical mask, medical face mask, clinic mask, surgical face mask or hygiene mask) is a product to prevent the transmission of pathogens to be reduced to others by secretion droplets (external protection). The filtration effect of the mouth and nose protection also protects the wearer to a limited extent, although this is not the primary aim of the mouth and nose protection.

It is a half face mask that is attached to the back of the head or behind the ears with ties or elastic bands. With an integrated flexible metal bracket in the middle of the upper edge, the half mask is pressed against the bridge of the nose in order to keep the field of vision free and to restrict the upward airflow.

If the breathing air is inhaled through the mouth and nose protection, the mouth and nose protection achieves a high filtration effect against virus-carrying aerosol particles and droplets. 0.1 µm particles are separated at least 95 or 98 percent (MNS type I or type II), with larger and smaller particles the separation rate is higher. However, due to the air flowing past the mouth and nose protection when inhaled, there is a risk that this filter effect will hardly be of any use.

The protective effect of the wearer therefore depends to a large extent on the fit of the mask when using mouth and nose masks. ( https: //de.wikipedia.org,/wiki/Mund-Nasen-Schutz mwN) The mask must therefore close well at the top of the nose, go up to the ears and close well there, and go under the chin to protect you as much as possible to form a good degree.

The early recommendation to wear mouth and nose protection was instrumental in the number of COVID-19 illnesses falling faster in China than in most Western countries. This is the conclusion reached by a group of researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS 2020; DOI: 10.1073 / pnas.2009637117). (https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/113769/Studie-Mund-Nasen-Schutz-wichtiger-als-Social-Distancing? utm source = dlvr.it & utm_medium = twitter & fbclid = IwAR0R1SuewOuAizRXdoCyhUif_EmWcKFspBts1Ochn)
Accordingly, MNS play an important, if not decisive, role in fighting pandemics, as is currently the case with Covid-19.
Especially since in many places it is mandatory to wear a mask to contain the pandemic.

Problems:

Hearing impaired people often read from their lips or communicate with one another through lip expression and lip reading. However, this is prevented by an MNS and the bearers are disturbed in their communication, if not even prevented. (https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/gesundheit/coronavirus/masken-machen-kommmiikation-fuerhoergeschaedigte-unmoeglich-16736920.html; https://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg / Corona-Maskenpflicht-Maskenstellen-Hoergeschaedigte-in-Wolfsburg-vor-Problems) This is a real hurdle in everyday life because the hearing impaired can no longer read what is being said - but they are dependent on this reading from the mouth. In everyday life, hearing impaired people cannot communicate with a conventional MNS. Communication with doctors, where the hearing impaired cannot read from their lips what they are telling them, is even dangerous.

An additional problem in pediatrics is that children cannot see doctors are smiling and are much more difficult to calm down. Especially in the medical field there are hardly any masks with "colorful comic motifs", so that the fear of small patients can hardly be reduced.

• Die Patienten, insbesondere die in Krankenhäusern, auf Isolierstationen und im Intensivbereich, haben nur noch „vermummte Gesichter“ vor sich und können weder Lächeln noch beruhigende Mimik der Behandler und Pfleger erkennen. In den USA haben Ärzte daher - auch für die „großen“ Patienten - Fotos von sich mit lächelndem Gesicht während der Corona-Pandemie auf die Schutzkleidung geklebt, damit de Patienten sehen konnte, wie sie ohne Masken aussehen. Es hat die Patienten beruhigt. (httns://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/10/us/healthcare-workers-phatos-smile-coronavirus-trnd/index.html)

But NMS can also trigger anxiety in normal medical practice:

• The patients, especially those in hospitals, in isolation wards and in the intensive care unit, only have "masked faces" in front of them and can neither recognize the smiles nor the calming facial expressions of the practitioners and nurses. In the USA, doctors have therefore stuck photos of themselves with smiling faces on protective clothing during the corona pandemic - also for the “tall” patients - so that patients could see what they look like without masks. It calmed the patient down. (httns: //edition.cnn.com/2020/04/10/us/healthcare-workers-phatos-smile-coronavirus-trnd/index.html)

The present invention is therefore based on the object that an MNS leaves the MOUTH area comprehensively (from ear to ear, from nose to chin) visible, but nevertheless closes it off as securely as a conventional MNS. The mouth area is not only in the form of a small window at the front, but the entire mouth and nose area - also on the side - completely visible so that the facial expressions can be fully recognized.

The present invention is also intended to provide an infection protection device that can be manufactured inexpensively and is easy to manufacture industrially.

The MNS according to the invention here:

The MNS according to the invention comprises a blank of a one-piece element made of a transparent, flexible and / or foldable material ("foils") in the middle in combination with a foldable, air-permeable material (nonwovens, fabrics, filter materials that are air-permeable) (seen as wide edges at the top and bottom of the transparent area), which is folded at certain points on the edges so that a mask shape is created. With a flexible reinforcement (in the form of e.g. aluminum, wire, etc.) on the upper edge, the nose area is individually shaped by the wearer and ensures that the MNS closes well and individually adapted to the shape of the face from the nose to under the eyes.

The folding technique ensures that stability is maintained in the transparent area and that it can be seen from the front and from all sides like a “sign”. The mouth area of the wearer can be seen over a large area and the "transparent area" does not allow germs to penetrate.

The area of the foldable material closes securely at the nose (above) and chin (below). On the sides, the MNS goes up to the ears, so that the penetration of germs / viruses / bacteria is prevented by a good fit with a closure. At the same time, it allows the wearer to breathe and prevents the mask from “sucking” itself onto the face while breathing. The non-transparent, but air-permeable, foldable material also transports or absorbs moisture from the breathed air to the outside (depending on the material), so that the mask does not fog up from the inside.

Mount (s) for elastic bands are provided on the sides so that the MNS according to the invention can then be carried around the head with two elastic bands and held by the back of the head, or it is attached to each ear with two elastic bands.

The invention is suitable for sterile disposable masks in the medical field if special filter materials (such as for FFP1, FFP2, FFP3 masks) are used as “foldable, air-permeable material” - a “nose clip” can also be incorporated into these materials as reinforcement and the visible one Area consists of non-permeable materials, so that the risk of infection can also be reduced here in the security area.

The invention is also suitable for the production of so-called “everyday masks”, which can then also be made with normal fabric as a “foldable air-permeable material”, but which of course do not have as good a filter performance as those made from high-tech filter materials. The MNS would then - depending on the fabric used - be washable in the washing machine and hygienically reusable several times.

The specialty lies in the pattern and the folding technique, with which it is ensured that the foldable air-permeable material ("fabric") together with the transparent bendable and / or foldable material ("foil") is as well adapted as possible to the human facial anatomy and at the same time transparent part stable and protective of the mouth and the entire mouth area can reveal articulation and facial expressions.

Due to the folds, the mask is uniformly narrow in the "unfolded state" and can be packaged and transported easily down over the chin area and thus close off the face area from above and below to offer the best possible protection.
The bendable and / or foldable transparent material in the middle of the MNS remains stable (except for the folds at the edges) and stands like a “shield” around the mouth and nose area up to the chin and thus ensures good visibility of the mouth -Nose area from ear to ear and up to the tip of the nose and up to the chin.

The one-piece cut should be sized so that - depending on the size of the face - it goes exactly up to the ears, in order to close as possible there, so that germs / viruses / bacteria can be prevented from entering from the side.

Figure list

• 1
  • • shows the cut, which is a one-piece element (E) made of foldable, air-permeable material - such as filter materials, fabrics, fabrics - ( 1) with bendable and / or foldable transparent material - film material - in the middle ( 2 ) is
  • • which can be made in different sizes so that it closes as optimally as possible with different face sizes;
  • • The areas made of "foldable material" are hatched ( 1) which should be permeable to air (depending on the type of use of the MNS from " normal "fabric over cellulose tissue to filter fabrics can all be used)
  • • the non-hatched area in the middle is the "transparent area" ( 2 ), which is made of a flexible and / or foldable transparent material
  • • The "folding areas" (3) where the basic cut is folded are shown as dashed lines.
  • • the solid lines (4) show up to where the edges of the "foldable material" ( 2 ) should lie after fixing the points O / A / B / C
  • • The corner points were designated O and numbered consecutively for the various positions on element E.
  • • The points O, A, B, C, provided with letters, are the folding points that are superimposed after the folds - in exactly this order with O above) and are fixed at the edges of the MNS: The corner point O comes to point A, this fold on point B and these folds come on point C. For the different positions on element E, the fold points have been numbered (i.e. O1, A1, B1, C1; at the next corner corresponding to O2, A2, B2, C2 etc. )
  • • Q denotes the area between point 0 and A, which will be on top after the folds - serves as a guide in the description. This first fold will be a little narrower than the other folds
  • • The area marked with an N is intended for attaching a bracket / aluminum strip / wire strip as a "nose clip", in order to attach the mask on the face to the nose with a precise fit. In this view from above, it lies on the non-transparent area of the foldable material ( 1)
• 2
  • • shows the folds on the sides of the MNS as they are folded at points O, A, B, C, respectively
  • • a) First point O is folded onto point A,
  • • b) then O and A lie on top of each other and point A is folded onto B (the "waves" indicate how to hit)
  • • c) if O, A and B are on top of each other, fold to point C.
  • • d) At the end the folds are on top of each other and the area “Q” is on line 4 (see also 1 ) on.
  • • Points O, A, B and C are all on top of each other.
• 3
  • • shows the MNS in a folded state, the points off 1 “O, A, B and C” are fixed in one place on all sides
  • • On the long side of the MNS right and left, the overlapping / folded layers (especially for low leakage due to the joint formed in the edge area) are either sewn, stapled, thermally joined or glued together or thermally disposed. This hem was marked with a dash-dot line as "M". The combination of sewing or stapling with one of the material-locking connection methods offers the advantage of a particularly stable connection with little leakage.
  • • The places marked with an "X" show the points for potential fastening options for elastic bands to fix it to the head - as described above, it is possible to fasten two elastic bands for each ear or to use two elastic bands for fastening to the back of the head.
  • • The nose clip "N" is now in this view under the foldable fabric ( 1)
  • • only a small / minimal strip of the transparent material ( 2 ) is visible when folded. At this opening, the MNS can now be pulled apart and unfolded on the face for wearing (the nasal clip N then comes on the nose, the lower part fits exactly around the chin)
• 4th
  • • shows the MNS sketched from the front, how it could look when worn
  • • You can see the nasal clip N on the nose (it lies under the foldable, air-permeable and non-transparent material ( 1) . The clear material ( 2 ) reveals the width of the face from the tip of the nose to the chin. The The chin is closed by a non-transparent, air-permeable material ( 1)
  • • Elastic bands can be attached to the holding points X, which are then attached to the ears or the back of the head.
• 5
  • • shows the MNS sketched from the side and how it could look when worn
  • • You can see the nasal clip N on the nose (it lies under the foldable, air-permeable and non-transparent material ( 1 ). The clear material ( 2 ) reveals the width of the face from the tip of the nose to the chin. The chin is closed off by opaque material ( 1 )
  • • Elastic straps can be attached to the holding points X, which are then attached to the ears or the back of the head, here just an example of how they lead behind the ear.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Non-patent literature cited

• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS 2020; DOI: 10.1073 / pnas.2009637117) . (https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/113769/Studie-Mund-Nasen-Schutz-wichtiger-als-Social-Distancing? utm source = dlvr.it & utm_medium = twitter & fbclid = IwAR0R1SuewOuAizRXdoChUif_EmWcTspBts1Oc) [000]

Claims (9)

Mouth and nose protection (MNS) in the form of a one-piece blank (E) made of foldable air-permeable material (1) in connection with a flexible and / or foldable transparent material (2) in the middle of the blank, the foldable material (1) is located above and below the transparent material (2) and is connected to the transparent material (2), the foldable material (1) and the transparent material (2) being so folded on the corner sides (points O / A / B / C connected) that the MNS closes in the unfolded form in such a way that it encloses the nose area above and below the eyes and below the chin area and the transparent area (2) provides a good view of the mouth and nose area of the wearer from the tip of the nose to the chin and from ear to ear, whereby in the area of the foldable material (1) a reinforcement as a nose clip (N) can be attached above so that the seat is ergonomically optimized, whereby the size and shape of the supplement nitts (E) can be adjusted in size so that the mask resulting from the cut can be adapted as best as possible to the respective face size and anatomy, whereby when in use the MNS can be provided with one or more elastic straps on the sides (X ), so that either a fixation on the ears or the back of the head can take place. MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the size and shape of the blank made of foldable material (1) in conjunction with the transparent material (2) is selected so that the face of a human user in the area from the nose to the chin and also the sides of the face up to the ear. MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the blank is a one-piece element (E) made from the combination of foldable air-permeable material (1) and flexible transparent material (2) MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the MNS is formed from a blank (E) from a multiply foldable element MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mouth area of the wearer is continuously visible from cheek to cheek up to the tip of the nose and up to the chin area. MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that there is an element (N) for a nose fixation at the top, which ensures a good closure at the nose and eye area. MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is narrow in the folded state. MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the unfolded state it sits flush with the face on the nose and chin MNS according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it can be fixed on the sides (X) with elastic bands as a holder on the ears or on the back of the head.

Images