ES1247683U - GERMICIDAL FILTERING MASK (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Germicidal filter mask, comprising: - an element that covers the mouth and nose, and optionally the rest of the user's face (6) and prevents the passage of air through it, - a particle filter (4) to be breathed through by the air to be breathed by the user, - holding means (8) and characterized by understanding; - at least one ultraviolet (UV) light emitter (9) radiating at least one of the sides of the conventional particle filter (4); - an encapsulation (2, 3) that houses the particle filter (4) and the emitter or emitters of ultraviolet (UV) light (9), and which includes holes (5) that allow the entry and exit of air to once inside the mask, once it has passed through the conventional particle filter (4), in such a way that the germs coming from the outside of the mask are trapped in the particle filter (4) and are neutralized by ultraviolet light (UV). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

GERMICIDAL FILTERING MASK

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as expressed in the statement of the present specification, refers to a germicidal filter mask that provides, to the intended function, advantages and characteristics that are described in detail below.

The object of the present invention falls on a germicidal filter mask that incorporates in a single kit, as developed in the following sections, a conventional stage for filtering particles and one or two complementary stages with germicidal power, the first before the filter. and the second after the filter, so that the final quality of the filtered air is maximum and germ-free.

The advantage and industrial innovation that the use of this invention presents with respect to the current state of the art is that the mask has its filter element protected against germs at all times, simultaneously while it is being used, thanks to the fact that the filter is encapsulated and protected, and ultraviolet (UV) light generated by its own components is applied.

The field of application of the present invention falls mainly within the hygienic-sanitary sector of any field, but also in the domestic sector, because it guarantees high safety and germicidal power of the inspired and expired air to users who use the object masks of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, in recent times the world is being subjected to extreme situations of all kinds, many of them caused by issues such as climate change or the emergence of new pathogens. These extreme circumstances are allowing germs of all kinds (this concept is used to refer to bacteria, viruses, fungi and microscopic protozoa) to appear and cause new diseases that, due to their novelty, are not prepared to fight in an effective and of which there are no effective remedies or control elements available. A clear example of these viruses is the coronavirus (COVID-19) that is affecting the world today.

This problem has a difficult solution, because they will always appear and new germs will appear that have not been known to date and, in the absence of means to combat them, the most reasonable strategy is to have truly protection systems effective.

Currently, for example, respiratory protection masks of many types are known and manufactured, but none have their own simultaneous germicidal capacity while in use, and this means that the effectiveness of conventional masks is limited for protection against germs. . In these cases, the industry has tended to use conventional masks that are sterilized after use, or the use of respirators with assisted ventilation, which, during the time of using the equipment, completely isolate the person from the outside and In this way they guarantee your safety.

The solution to sterilize the masks after use is neither functional nor safe, for three reasons. The first because it forces users who use them to constantly wear contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE), which once saturated, can also contaminate its user; the second, because the sterilization of masks also does not remove the dirt that may be embedded in the mask and finally, the third reason why the mask loses its manufacturer's warranty, being used in multiple uses when the manufacturer designed it to be of a single use, with all responsibility for this malpractice and for the loss of effectiveness of the masks in the second and successive uses, on whoever has sterilized them.

In line with what is indicated in the preceding paragraphs, the most sophisticated current solutions against germs are those carried out with assisted ventilation, often with oxygen bottles and positive pressure containment suits, but they make them very expensive and difficult to reach. the population in general, this situation being one of the ones that the present invention tries to solve, in addition to achieving a true filter mask that is multipurpose.

One of the main routes of disease transmission between humans is that produced through Flügge droplets (> 5 microns) originated when speaking, coughing or sneezing by an infected person, and later reaching the mucosa (oral, nasal or conjunctival) of a new host. Likewise, transmission occurs by direct contact of the mucosa with the respiratory secretions of an infected person or, indirectly, through the hands or recently contaminated objects. Finally, virus transmission can also occur through small aerosols (by Wells droplet nuclei less than 5 microns) between humans.

On the other hand, the use of ultraviolet light to irradiate is also known air from places or spaces, and even fluids such as water to try to sterilize them and eliminate the germs present in them, but this is done trusting that very long exposure times will be sufficient to achieve the proposed objectives, although without any strategy to do so. make it truly possible. The end result is never fully satisfactory and there are risks that some germ will be left alive, because often the irradiated light does not reach all places or is screened by particles in suspension. Solving these drawbacks is also the objective of the present invention.

UV disinfection of fluids (drinking water, air, etc.) offers many unique and significant benefits. Unlike chemical disinfectants, UV does not add toxic chemicals to it or promote the formation of difficult-to-treat by-products.

Considering what is indicated in the previous paragraphs, this specific design for a germicidal filter mask, in addition to industrial application, provides novelty and inventive activity on the state of the prior art, since, at least on the part of the applicant, the existence of of any other invention that has characteristics similar to those of the mask as claimed.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The mask that the invention proposes is configured as the ideal solution to the aforementioned objective, the characterizing details being that make it possible and that distinguish it conveniently included in the final claims that accompany the present description.

In this section and the following sections, the proposed procedure for the design of the germicidal filter mask, with the aim that anyone with basic knowledge can develop the invention. The words "filter mask" in the title of the invention do not deserve further clarification since what is intended is to have an individual protection equipment (PPE) with a built-in filter, but the word "germicide" does deserve it and is going to justify your motivation in the following paragraphs.

To start the development of the present invention, it is essential to talk about ultraviolet (UV) light, since its germicidal and disinfecting power has been demonstrated and this is one of the essential foundations of the present invention. Originally, this ability of ultraviolet (UV) light was evidenced by the radiant energy of the sun, and subsequently it has been found that artificially created light also has the same qualities.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between X-rays and visible light. Four regions of the UV spectrum have been defined: UV vacuum between 100 and 200 nm, UVC between 200 and 280 nm, UVB between 280 and 315 nm and UVA between 315 and 400 nm. The practical application of UV disinfection is based on the germicidal capacity of the UVC and UVB regions. The most common artificial UV sources are commercially available low and medium pressure mercury arc lamps, but recently LED diodes have been incorporated into this group, which will be the preferred ones used in the present invention.

The microorganisms are inactivated by UV light as a result of photochemical damage to their nucleic acids. UV radiation is absorbed by the nucleotides, the building blocks of the cell's DNA and RNA, according to wavelength, with the highest values near 200 and 260 nm. The absorbed UV promotes the formation of bonds between adjacent nucleotides, thereby creating double molecules or dimers. The formation of a sufficient number of dimers within a microbe prevents it from replicating its DNA and RNA, preventing its reproduction. Due to the dependence of wavelength on UV absorption by DNA, UV inactivation of microbes is also a function of wavelength.

It is for all these reasons that the kinetics of microbial inactivation by UV will require an adequate strategy, in which the dose of UV applied will be fundamental, this being the product of its intensity for the time of exposure, essentially in the UVC range (Law of Chick). In event kinetics, the inactivation of a microbe occurs only after significant DNA damage has occurred within the microbe and this will be the goal to be achieved.

Once this brief exposition on the germicidal capacity of UVB light and mainly UVC light has been made, its suitability and technical convenience to achieve the objectives pursued by this invention are justified.

A filter mask is nothing more than an element whose function is to prevent the passage of those unwanted elements into the respiratory system. Usually, masks have only been required to have a certain filtering capacity and to prevent the passage of airborne particles of a specific size, but the recent appearance of viruses highly dangerous to health, which can be transmitted Due to the air coming from exhalation, coughing, sneezing or simply speaking from a nearby infected person, it makes conventional filter masks no longer reliable enough, no matter how good filtering capacity they may have.

Conventional masks base their power to prevent the passage of unwanted particles on visible filter elements, normally composed of membranes, textile elements or fibers of any kind, which block those elements of a size greater than allowed. These elements, due to their composition, also have the ability to retain Flügge and Wells droplets where viruses can hide, but continued inhalations and saturation of the filter element, can allow the virus to pass through the filter element and infect the mask wearer. conventional.

The germicidal filter mask object of the present invention has its filter element inside an encapsulation. The inspired air enters through one side of the encapsulation and exits through the opposite one, passing through the filter element that has the desired efficiency, and since the filter element is inside the encapsulation, it does not allow it to be directly contaminated by Flügge and Wells.

Inside the encapsulation are also the elements that generate ultraviolet (UV) light, which radiate uniformly and with the desired intensity, to the filter element throughout the use of the mask, achieving the germicidal effect in real time of those viruses. that have indirectly been able to penetrate inside the protective encapsulation.

The encapsulation, the filter element and the germicidal elements, are integrated together with one or more exhalation valves, if available, and the mask base itself, forming an individual protective equipment (PPE) that ergonomically adapts to the face of its user. In the event that said exhalation valves are available, this will be the preferred way of air exit, due to the ease and low resistance of passage they offer.

In the previous paragraphs, the essential technological principles on which the present invention is based have been explained, which is basically distinguished by having at least one encapsulation that protects the filter element from impurities that could penetrate him, if it were not said encapsulated. And because at least, on one or both sides of the filter element there are germicidal power emitters of ultraviolet (UV) light, which work simultaneously, while the mask is being used.

The proximity of the ultraviolet light emitters (UV) to the particle filter, the number and characteristics of the light emitters (UV), the uniformity in the distribution of the radiation, the radiated power, the radiation time, the irradiation of the filter element on one or both sides and the same retention capacity of the filter element, help to guarantee the proposed germicidal targets.

The encapsulation also has the mission of preventing the exit of light (UV) and confining it inside, because this type of light could be detrimental to the health of the users. However, the encapsulation does allow the heat generated by the ultraviolet light points to be evacuated, by the existing openings themselves and also by the thermal conductivity of the material that composes it, without affecting its properties.

Preferably, at least part of the germicidal package is highly reflective since reflectors are available, so that all the direct and indirect light generated ends up having the desired germicidal use and the light does not escape, nor are there any dark spots where it does not fall the light inside the package.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter mask Germicide is truly reusable, as it is composed of non-porous and easy-to-clean materials, such as gums and sanitary silicones, among others, that can be cleaned with simple water and soap or alcohol, with the exception of the filter element that can be easily renewed, subtracting it of the encapsulation and replacing it with one again. In an optional form, the mask of the invention may have a nose and mouth or full face coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present specification, as an integral part thereof, is accompanied by plans in which, by way of illustration and not limiting the following has been represented:

Figures 1-A and 1-B. - They show respective schematic views, in front elevation and side respectively, of an implementation example of the germicidal filter mask object of the invention. Specifically, a basic example in which you can see the mask base itself, the fastening element, the encapsulation that houses the filter element and the germicide, and one or more exhalation valves, which could be used, as well such as their configuration and arrangement;

Figures number 2-A, 2-B, 2-C and 2-D. - They show respective schematic views, in side elevation, front and rear respectively, and the last one shows a view of the filter element, in a basic example. of the set consisting of the encapsulation, the filter element and the germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light emitting elements, appreciating the main parts and elements that comprise it, as well as the their configuration and arrangement;

Figure number 3.- Shows a diagram of the electronic circuit for supplying the light points of the germicidal filter mask of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and according to the numbering adopted, it is possible to observe in them several examples and construction details of non-limiting embodiment of the germicidal filter mask of the invention, which comprise what is described in detail below .

Thus, in Figures 1-A and 1-B, the composition of an embodiment of the germicidal filter mask (1) of the invention can be seen, the main parts of which comprise the following:

An outer encapsulation of the mask (2); an inner encapsulation of the mask (3); a conventional particle filter (4); various air inlet or outlet vents (5), located in the outer encapsulation (2) or inside (3), respectively; the base of the mask (6); the exhalation elements (7) and finally, a holding element (8).

These components make up the germicidal filter mask (1) and work in coordination in two phases. The first is the inhalation phase of respiration, in which air enters the outer encapsulation (2) through the various existing holes (5). Then it goes through the conventional filter element (4) and reaches the interior encapsulation (3) through which it ends up leaving the user's respiratory system through the various existing holes (5), which are analogous to those in the outer encapsulation (2). The second is the exhalation phase of respiration, in which air is evacuated from the germicidal filter mask by the exhalation valves (7) that may exist. Said exhalation valves are not essential, and the exhaled air can follow exactly the same path as the inhaled one, but in the opposite direction, thus ensuring that the exhaled air is also sterilized. The germicidal operation of the conventional filter (4) is also carried out inside the encapsulates, as already described in previous sections.

In figures number 2-A, 2-B, 2-C and 2-D, you can see an optional embodiment of the filter element and the germicidal element of the mask, the main parts of which are:

An outer encapsulation of the mask (2); an inner encapsulation of the mask (3); a conventional particle filter (4); various air inlet or outlet vents (5), located in the outer encapsulation (2) or inside (3), respectively; Ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) with germicidal power, preferably of the LED type and finally, blockers of the light output (10) of the encapsulates, located in the holes (5).

These figures show as the main novelty the location of the ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9), normally of the LED type of the invention, and it can be seen how both those that are located in the outer encapsulation (2), and those that are Located in the inner encapsulation (3), they are constantly irradiating the filter element (4), to prevent the passage of any germ. Depending on the use and final needs of the germicidal filter mask, the ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) may be located both in the outer encapsulation (2) and in the inner encapsulation (3) or both at the same time, the latter being the preferred configuration.

Furthermore, these figures also show the light output blockers (10) of the packages, located in the holes (5), which are intended to confine the light inside the packages (2, 3). The location, shape and quantity of both the holes (5) and the light outlet blockers (10) may vary and will depend on the use for which the germicidal filter mask is designed (1).

The encapsulates have been graphed with a cylindrical composition, whose dimension of total height (A) and diameter (B), can also vary and will depend on the use for which the germicidal filter mask is designed (1). In turn, although not the preferred configuration, the package could also have a quadrangular prism configuration or any other.

Depending on the germs to be eliminated, the radiation dose to be emitted must be determined, and this will depend on the distance to the conventional filter (4) of the installed ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9), the number of installed ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9), the intrinsic characteristics of installed ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) and the radiation time. In any case, having ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) immersed in the fluid to be treated and irradiating the conventional filter element (4) and the germs retained therein, on one or both sides, guarantees the achievement of the objectives proposed by the invention.

Based on figure 3, the electronic circuit that supplies the ultraviolet light emitting LEDs (9) can be seen. The LEDs (9) to be used will preferably be powered in parallel, by a source of DC power supply (11), so that if one of them fails it does not have a greater effect on the rest of the circuit. The entire device will be governed by a switch (12), which can be replaced by a fluid flow detector, so that the LEDs (9) are only lit for as long as necessary and use less energy. And finally, there will be the connection of the LEDs that will be perfectly integrated into the encapsulations (2, 3) of the device. The LED power supply battery, depending on its application, may be integrated into the device itself or be an external element and therefore is not shown in the figures.

To finish the explanation of the invention, it should be noted that, preferably, the germicidal filter mask meets the following characteristics:

- All the components of the germicidal filter mask (1) are designed to allow easy cleaning and maintenance, including the replacement of any of its components. This ease of cleaning and maintenance means that the germicidal filter mask (1) can be considered as a multipurpose personal protective equipment (PPE).

- All components can be cleaned with soap and water, alcohol or any other disinfectant product with equivalent properties, with the exception of the conventional filter element (4), which will have to be replaced when it reaches its saturation with dirt.

- The encapsulates (2, 3) are designed to allow the correct evacuation of heat that may be generated by ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9).

- The encapsulations (2, 3) are made of materials that do not transmit Ultraviolet (UV) light does not corrode and does not add flavor, odor, color or toxic materials to the air, because all these events could be harmful to people's health.

- The germicidal filter mask (1) will be equipped with the necessary safety measures, which prevent the operation of the ultraviolet LEDs, if the encapsulates (2, 3) are not properly closed and confine all the light generated.

- Optionally, in addition, the germicidal filter mask (1) incorporates sensors and meters (not shown) necessary to guarantee its monitoring and correct operation.

- Optionally, in addition, the germicidal filter mask (1) incorporates fans (not shown) that facilitate the passage of air through it, in any direction.

- It should be noted, on the other hand, that, although at all times it has been said that germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) will be light sources of LED technology, it can be replaced by any other light source (UV) with similar functionality.

- The area where the LEDs are (9) is finished with a highly reflective material, so that all the direct and indirect light generated ends up having the desired germicidal use and there are no dark spots where the light does not fall within of the encapsulates (2, 3).

Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the way to put it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the matter understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Claims (8)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S 1 germicidal filter mask, comprising: • an element that covers the mouth and nose, and optionally the rest of the user's face (6) and prevents the passage of air through it, • a particle filter (4) that must be crossed by air to breathe for the user, • holding means (8) and characterized by understanding; • at least one ultraviolet (UV) light emitter (9) that irradiates at least one side of the conventional particle filter (4); • an encapsulation (2, 3) that houses the particle filter (4) and the emitter or emitters of ultraviolet (UV) light (9), and that includes holes (5) that allow the entry and exit of air to once the mask has passed through the conventional particle filter (4), in such a way that the germs coming from the outside of the mask are trapped in the particle filter (4) and are neutralized by ultraviolet (UV) light. 2.- Germicidal filter mask, according to claim 1, characterized in that the ultraviolet (UV) light emitter (9) irradiates both sides of the conventional particle filter (4) and in that the encapsulation (2, 3) comprises holes (5) that allow air to enter and exit to the outside of the mask, once it has passed through the conventional particle filter (4), in such a way that germs from inside the mask are trapped in the particle filter ( 4) and are neutralized by ultraviolet (UV) light. 3. - Germicidal filtering mask, according to claims 1-2, characterized in that it comprises an exhalation valve (7) that allows air to escape from inside the mask to the outside, but prevents air from entering the outside of the mask inland. 4. - Germicidal filter mask, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the ultraviolet (UV) light emitters (9) are ultraviolet LEDs with germicidal capacity. 5. - Germicidal filter mask, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer (2) and inner (3) encapsulates, comprise confining elements (10) that prevent light from leaving the encapsulates (2, 3) through the holes (5) existing. 6. - Germicidal filter mask, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that at least part of its encapsulates (2, 3) have a finish with highly reflective material. 7. - Germicidal filter mask, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that its encapsulations (2, 3) allow the heat generated by the ultraviolet light emitters (10) to exit through the existing holes (5) or through the conductivity of the material that compose them. 8. - Germicidal filter mask, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the encapsulation comprises means to allow its opening and to be able to change the conventional filter element (4), as well as to perform easy hygiene of the rest of the elements.