ES2849673A1 - Two-part mask (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Two-part mask. The present invention refers to a mask that has two parts: a fixed part (1) that covers the nose and a removable part (2) that covers the mouth and chin so that it is only necessary to remove the removable part (2) to carry out activities such as eating, drinking or going to the dentist's office, the nasal mucosa remaining protected in such circumstances against the inhalation of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, each of the parts has its own fastening elements (11, 21) to the user's head, which facilitates the removal and repositioning of the removable part (2) without the need to remove the complete mask. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

TWO-PART MASK

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention falls within the field of medical technology. More specifically, in the field of devices or elements to ensure the protection of the individual against pathogenic microorganisms by inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to the current pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the use of masks has spread throughout the world. The masks protect other people by retaining respiratory droplets containing the virus when the user exhales and can also protect the user when breathing in, blocking the passage of the virus present in droplets or aerosols in the surrounding air.

There are 3 different types of masks on the market, with different uses and different target populations.

The main function of surgical masks is to prevent the transmission of infectious agents from the inside to the outside to reduce the spread of microorganisms normally present in the mouth, nose or throat and thus avoid contamination of the patient. They also protect the wearer against splashes of potentially contaminated liquids. They serve in the case of COVID 19 to reduce the risk of its spread, but they do little for the user's self-protection, especially against aerosols.

Protective masks are PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), as they protect the person wearing them from inhaling dangerous particles. They are designed to work from the outside in. This is the case with the FFP2 AND FFP3 masks. They are also indicated to prevent the spread of aerosols.

Hygienic masks are not a medical device or personal protective equipment, but if they are properly tested, they must guarantee an efficacy of quite high bacterial filtration both inside to outside and outside to inside in aerosols.

Apart from these three large groups, there are countless varieties and models of mask that exist. As examples, the following patent documents are indicated: US5699792A, US20200298031A1, US4802473A, ES2295757T3, US10744351B2, FR2908050A1, CN1636610A, US6568392B1, US6394090B1.

The masks used by the population cannot be the same as those used by health workers because they must be used for use in all vital situations and not only in hospitals. Given the situation of a pandemic and a new normal, a subject must live with the use of the mask in different contexts such as work, public transport, restaurants, gyms, being with relatives at home, etc. None of the masks that we have described above allows its use in spaces where it must be adapted to these requirements. In general, people completely remove the mask when eating, smoking, going to a dentist's office, etc. Therefore, the masks for coexistence with the virus must have the sufficient capacity to adapt to these contexts without ceasing to protect, if not, the population will simply not use them or will neglect the correct protocols to remove the protection material, which may cause more infections.

Finally, it is worth highlighting the importance of the correct placement of the mask as a key to avoid contagion. The placement of a mask is not an easy thing to do, in addition, with the new theories of aerosols, all masks must be correctly adjusted to the face of the subject who uses them, something that the masks that we can see in the population, in general , they do not comply. This requires that the mask allow an optimal adaptation to the subject who is going to use it to be really useful. In fact, in the Spanish regulation Order CSM / 115/2021, of February 11, which establishes the information and marketing requirements for hygienic masks, there are some essential aspects that every mask must have; For this, the following elements must be taken into account, as a minimum: “absence of visible defects; a correct fit of the product both to the nose and below the chin and to the sides of the face; the impossibility of accidental misalignment in the foreseeable conditions of use; the inclusion of a head restraint system strong enough to withstand the stress of normal use without breaking ”.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

Two-part mask.

Currently existing masks are one-piece that covers the nose and mouth. Therefore, when they are removed to eat, drink, or any other circumstance in which it is necessary to have a free mouth, such as a consultation at the dentist, they expose both the nasal mucosa and the mouth to the possible entry of pathogenic microorganisms. , including SARS-CoV-2. Due to economy of effort and because they can be easily stained or wet, in which case the mask would cease to be effective, people who use them in restaurants and bars do not put them back on during the time when they are not eating drinks or meals. in these closed spaces.

In order to increase the protection of individuals in these circumstances in which the mask is usually removed, one aspect of the present invention refers to a mask for the protection of individuals against pathogenic microorganisms by inhalation composed of two pieces: one Fixed piece on the part of the nasal mucosa and another removable piece, which covers the mouth and chin, and can be removed independently when it is necessary to uncover the mouth. In this way, the fixed piece of the mask is always covering the nose while the removable piece that covers the mouth and chin can be removed and repositioned correctly with greater ease than the current ones due to the fact of not having to adapt to the user's nose. A feature that provides security to this two-part mask refers to the fact that the upper edge of the removable part does not overlap the lower edge of the fixed part, thus avoiding possible contamination of the fixed part. Similarly, the lower edge of the fixed part does not overlap the upper edge of the removable part, which can thus be easily removed and put on.

Preferably, the fixed part, which covers the nose, has a triangular shape and the removable part, which covers the mouth and chin, has a fusiform oval shape.

Being in two parts, this mask allows a greater adjustment because it can be more easily adapted to the characteristics of the users' faces by having elements clamping and independent adjustments for each of the two pieces. In addition, the fastening elements are preferably selected from those that are tied to the head or surround the head, which favors that time and use do not deteriorate their adjustability as, on the other hand, it happens with fastened masks. to the ears by elastics. Tensioners can also be added to the fastening elements, to properly adjust their measurements and other adjusting elements can be used, especially in the fixed part, such as foam and / or silicone strips so that the edges of the part fixed parts do not separate from the face, or wires or malleable metal strips, such as aluminum, to adapt the upper edge of the fixed part to the shape of the bridge of the nose of each user.

BRIEF 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, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, in which, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented. following:

Figure 1. Front view of a two-part mask with the fixed part (1) and the removable part (2).

Figure 2. Side view of a mask in two parts with the fixed part (1) and the removable part (2). Also represented are: a first clamping (11) corresponding to the fixed part (1), a first tensioner (12) of the clamping (11) of the fixed part (1), a second clamping (21) corresponding to the removable part (2) and a second tensioner (22) for the second fastening (21) of the removable part (2).

Figure 3. Side view of a mask in two parts, with the removable part (2) moved to the neck.

Figure 4. Front view of a mask in two parts, with the removable part (2) moved to the neck.

Below is a list of the different elements represented in the figures that are integrated into the invention:

1: fixed part;

11: first clamping, of the fixed part (1);

12: first tensioner, of the first fastening (11) of the fixed part (1);

2: removable part;

21: second fastening, of the removable part (2);

22: second tensioner, second fastening (21), removable part (2).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not intended to be limiting of its scope.

Example 1. Two-part masks were made using Spunbond 40 g nonwoven fabric and hydrophobic polypropylene as material.

Example 1.1. A large-size, two-part mask was made with 40 g Spunbond non-woven fabric and hydrophobic polypropylene. As can be seen represented in figure 1, the upper part had a triangular shape, with dimensions in the fixed part (1) of 14 cm long and 6 cm wide. The removable part (2) was made with a spindle-shaped oval shape, with dimensions of 17 cm long and 13 cm wide. At the ends of each of the parts, the fasteners with sufficient length to surround the user's head were joined by sewing, in the case of the first fastening (11), with which the fixed part ( 1) covering the wearer's nose; and with sufficient length to surround the neck of the user, in the case of the second fastening (21), with which the removable part (2) is fastened (Figures 2 and 3). The material used for the fasteners was 0.50 cm thick nylon rubber. Also included were a first tensioner (12) at the back of the first clamp (11) and a second tensioner (22) at the back of the second clamp (21). In addition, a plastic coated aluminum wire was added to the fixed part (1) to better adapt to the nose and give the fixed part (1) a more anatomical shape.

Example 1.2. A two-part mask was made like the one described in Example 1.1, but the dimensions were modified to fit a medium size. The fixed part (1), triangular in shape, was made with dimensions of 11 cm long and 6 cm wide. The dimensions of the removable part (2), with a spindle-shaped oval shape, were: 15cm long and 13cm wide

Example 1.3. A mask was made in two parts like the one described in example 1.1., But modifying the dimensions to fit a small size. The fixed part (1), triangular in shape, was made with dimensions of 9 cm long and 4 cm wide. The dimensions of the removable part (2), with a spindle-shaped oval shape, were: 12cm long and 10cm wide.

Example 2. Two-part masks were made, using single-layer cotton and polyester cloth as material.

Examples 2.1., 2.2. v 2.3. Large, medium and small size masks were made, as described in examples 1.1., 1.2. and 1.3., using a single layer cotton and polyester fabric for both the fixed part (1) and the removable part (2). The aluminum wire was replaced by a strip of the same material, 2 mm wide.

Example 3. Using masks made as described in examples 1 and 2 as a base, a silicone and foam edge was included in the fixed piece (1) to guarantee maximum hold of the mask to the nose and prevent air from entering. contaminated. The foam edge was arranged by means of a foam strip surrounding the upper edge of the fixed part (1), using foam with measurements of 1 cm wide and 10 cm long, and leaving the lower edge free, so as not to impede the air flow in the area of the mask that filters the air from the nose. The silicone edge, on the contrary, was arranged by means of a silicone strip placed around the entire fixed part (1) of the mask in two parts to ensure adherence of the mask to the user's face.

Example 4. Tests were carried out with 3 individuals, two male and one female, using the two-part masks described in Examples 1.1. for one of the males (1.77 m tall and 100 kg in weight) and 1.2. for the female and the second male (1.75 m in height and 80 kg in weight, and 1.80 m and 65 kg, respectively).

In the first place, it was found that the two parts of the mask fitted correctly to the face of the three individuals and, especially, that the upper edge of the removable part (2) and the lower edge of the fixed part (1) did not fit. they overlapped in the space between the nose and the mouth, neither one way nor the other.

Next, the users were offered food and drink and were asked to behave normally, removing the removable part (2) but not the fixed part (1) of the mask in two parts (Figures 3 and 4). Participants said that the two-part mask was comfortable to wear. The removable part (2) remained on the neck without causing discomfort and, due to the elasticity of the second support (21), it did not bulge too much, which allowed participants to eat and drink without staining.

Claims (5)

1. Mask in two parts, for the protection against pathogenic microorganisms by inhalation, consisting of: - a fixed part (1) that covers the user's nose and includes a first fastening (11) to the user's head, - a removable part (2) that covers the user's mouth and chin and includes a second attachment (21) to the user's head, where the fixed part (1) and the removable part (2) do not overlap each other. A two-part mask according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part (1) has a triangular shape and the removable part (2) has a spindle-shaped oval shape. A two-part mask according to any preceding claim, wherein the first clamp (11) surrounds the head and the second clamp (21) surrounds the neck of the wearer. A two-part mask according to claim 3 wherein the first clamp (11) and the second clamp (21) are elastic and are adjusted by a first tensioner (12) and a second tensioner (22). A two-part mask according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fixed part (1) includes elements for adjusting and adhering to the user's face selected from the group consisting of: foam strips, silicone strips and / or wires or malleable metal strips.