ES2875530A1 - PROTECTION MASK (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Protective mask for fluid intake comprising a coupling (2) configured to incorporate at least one unidirectional inlet valve for the fluid to be ingested, said coupling (2) with a mouthpiece (2.1) at its inner end to the mask (1) and with a receiver (2.2) at its other end that protrudes from the mask (1) in a conical shape. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

PROTECTION MASK

Technical sector

The present invention is related to protective masks, and more specifically to protective masks that allow fluid intake without removing the mask.

State of the art

At present, protective masks such as simple surgical masks are widely known, which protect the user from being splashed in the mouth with body fluids, as well as from splashing and infecting other people around them. They also prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, an action that could cause transfers of viruses and bacteria if you have had contact with a contaminated surface. Therefore, they reduce the spread of bacteria or virus-bearing particles generated by sneezing or coughing, but are not designed to protect the user from inhaling these particles or other external agents harmful to health.

Surgical masks with special protection (identified by the acronyms FFP2 and FFP3) protect from possible infections, while preventing the wearer from infecting them.

With this type of mask, when the user needs hydration, it is required to remove the mask frequently. With this action, the user is exposed to contaminated external agents, being able to inhale or come into contact with viruses and bacteria, or contaminate surfaces or other people. Especially, if the use of a mask is linked to the practice of sports, it is common for the user to frequently remove the device when hydration is needed, increasing the chances of contagion.

Ideally, a mask suitable for training should be able to seamlessly adapt to the user's conditioning simultaneously without involving complicated operations, and allow an adequate amount of hydration without removing or interrupting a training session.

To achieve this, masks are already known that incorporate, in the area facing the mouth, a window with a cover element that, at a given moment and when the user of the mask needs to hydrate, is opened to allow the mouth of the mouthpiece to pass through. Container container for water or hydration fluid, this container that, in the sports field, is often called a drum.

Although this solution allows hydration without removing the mask, it does not offer the user protection against possible infections, since it is exposed to the entry and exit of viruses and bacteria that can pass through the window once its cover element.

To avoid this, masks are also known that incorporate a tube with a valve for coupling to the corresponding container of the hydration liquid, but these masks present a complicated handling, especially when the user wears gloves and, in addition, implies that the user must carry hanging of the mask the tube in question which is, to say the least, cumbersome.

In view of the described disadvantages or limitations that presently existing solutions present, a solution is necessary that allows the user to ingest water or other liquids, while maintaining the protection conditions typical of the mask without it has to be totally or partially removed.

Object of the invention

In order to meet this objective and solve the technical problems discussed so far, in addition to providing additional advantages that may be derived later, the present invention provides a protective mask for fluid intake that comprises a coupling configured to incorporate at least a unidirectional inlet valve for the fluid to be ingested, said coupling with a mouthpiece at the inner end of the mask and with a conical-shaped receiver at the other end of the coupling that protrudes from the mask.

In this way, the mask incorporates in an opening, made in the area facing the user's mouth or on one side of it, the coupling that allows the safe entry of liquids. This coupling attached to the mask, preferably is a one-piece with a receiving end and a mouth end. With the conical shaped receiver, at the end of the coupling protruding from the mask like a funnel, it is easier to insert the mouthpiece of a container of moisturizing liquid into it, which for descriptive ease we will identify from now on as a drum.

Said coupling has a one-way valve that, at a given moment, will allow the liquid to pass through it, but without the mask losing its own protective conditions. In this way, without the need to totally or partially remove the mask, the user can put his mouth around the mouthpiece and bring the bottle of moisturizing liquid closer to the outside in a conical shape. At that moment, pressing on the bottle enables the moisturizing liquid to enter the interior of the mouth, without the user's mouth having maintained any contact with the external element and without the mask having lost its protection conditions at any time. that are his own.

The mask object of the invention thus facilitates the practice of sports, facilitating in a simple way hydration by means of containers containing the hydrating liquid. This functionality is not only limited to its use during sports, but it may also be possible to use it in other areas, such as in the health sector where constant hydration is necessary during long working hours.

The aforementioned coupling is attached to the mask by means of joining such as by welding, gluing, sewing, elastic clipping, or by molding in the manufacturing process itself. In this way, and the coupling being a single piece that preferably has a configuration of revolution, it results in a simple production process.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the mask comprises an adapter element configured to adapt to the user's mouth and fixable to the coupling at its mouthpiece end. With this adapter the user can access with the mouth, acting as a pacifier. This configuration adapted to each user, in shape and length, can be practiced in the mouth of the coupling itself, making it necessary to produce a different mask for each user. Or as it derives from this configuration, with an adapter element, the mouthpiece can be adapted to each user by replacing only said adapter, so that the adapter is fixed to the coupling in its mouthpiece. Said fixing can be clipped for ease of replacement, not ruling out other types of joints such as threading.

To avoid the production of adapters of different lengths, provision is made for the adapter to be adjustable in length at its junction to the mouth of the coupling. Thus, the adapter has a telescopic configuration, preferably adjustable by clipping in respective grooves made in correspondence in the mouth, defining different length positions of the adapter, being possible other adjustment configurations such as a guide. Furthermore, said adapter can be configured to adapt to the mouth, for example in a curved shape, in the event that the coupling is located on one side of the mask. In this way, the user of the mask adapt it to the ideal size for their own morphology.

Additionally preferably, the valve of the coupling that allows fluid entry is a bite valve. That is, an elongated hollow body elastic member having a closing end, with an opening means in the form of a normally closed slit. So, when pressing with the teeth, said groove opens allowing the passage of the liquid. Said bite valve can be arranged in the mouth of the coupling itself, or in the case that the mask comprises the aforementioned adapter, it will be arranged in said adapter.

According to another aspect of the invention, the mask coupling comprises an inner housing configured to house the fluid inlet valve, the fluid inlet valve being a membrane valve. Membrane valve being understood as a membrane made of flexible material with a groove preferably in the shape of a cross, so that the pressure of the fluid deforms the groove allowing it to pass through.

In this configuration, it is not necessary to bite the valve to ingest the liquid, but simply with the pressure applied to the drum the membrane valve opens, being a more comfortable design for the user.

Preferably, the diaphragm valve comprises a cup that can be housed in the coupling housing, with one end open and the other end configured to house a diaphragm. Thanks to this configuration, the membrane embedded in the bowl is secured in such a way that it remains fixed during operation.

According to a characteristic of the invention, for the connection of the coupling to the mask, it is provided that it comprises a fixing washer which is arranged fixed to the coupling internally to the mask for the connection of said coupling to the mask. Preferably, said fixing washer is threaded in a thread of the coupling by pressing on the inner surface of the mask to produce the union between the two. To facilitate said attachment, preferably the receptor of the outer coupling to the mask comprises a projection in contact with the outer surface of the mask, so that the mask is trapped between the fixing ring and the projection of the receptor.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing is manufactured in two parts so that the mouthpiece is attached to the receiver, the mask being trapped between them. It is envisaged that both elements of the coupling are joined together through any conventional joining solution such as threading, gluing, fitting, welding, or by elastic clipping. In such a way that the two parts catch the contour of the opening of the mask body together to establish the mounting therein of the coupling. In this case, this joint performs the function of a joint, being a simple joint that avoids the use of a complementary joint for the joint between the coupling and the mask, guaranteeing the protection properties of the mask itself.

In order to improve the seal between the hydrating liquid canister and the mask, the mask preferably comprises a sealing gasket that can be fitted into the canister, the sealing gasket being conical in shape in correspondence with the taper of the receiver of the mask coupling. Said sealing gasket, preferably made of silicone or similar material, perfectly adapts the nozzle of the canister to the conical outer part of the coupling of the mask, so that the canister remains fitted without the liquid escaping.

Preferably, the sealing gasket is arranged fixed on the receiver of the coupling. In this way, the sealing gasket is incorporated in a fixed way in the conical part of the receiver, preferably being a false element that is mounted integrally on the receiver, or even more preferably, leaving the coupling molding process itself, making it in bimaterial. . In this way, a mask with all its elements fixed together is obtained, preventing the gasket from being lost. sealing, and therefore being a fully functional set that facilitates the practice of sports or any other activity in a comfortable and safe way.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a schematic exploded sectional view of a mask object of the invention, with a coupling that includes a membrane valve inside.

Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the mask object of the invention, with an internal housing for a valve.

Figure 3 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a membrane valve used in the mask object of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a front schematic view of the membrane of the membrane valve used in the mask of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a schematic exploded sectional view of the membrane valve.

Figure 6 shows a schematic exploded sectional view of a mask with an adjustable adapter with a bite valve.

Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the bite valve of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a schematic exploded sectional view of a mask in which the coupling is divided into two pieces, the body of the mask being trapped between them.

Figure 9 shows a schematic sectional view of the mask object of the invention corresponding to the embodiment with a membrane valve and comprising the fixing washer.

Figure 10 shows a schematic sectional view of the mask object of the invention corresponding to the embodiment with a bite valve and comprising a fixing washer.

Detailed description of the invention

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen in them, which comprises the parts and elements that are indicated and described in detail below.

The present invention relates to a protective mask for fluid intake that comprises a coupling (2) configured to incorporate at least one one-way valve for the inlet of the fluid to be ingested. This coupling (2) has a mouthpiece (2.1) at its inner end to the mask (1) and a receiver (2.2) at its other end that protrudes from the mask (1) in a conical shape.

In figure 1 you can see an example of a preferred embodiment, in which the mask (1) comprises, in an opening facing the user's mouth, the coupling (2) that allows liquids to be ingested during a workout without having to remove the mask. mask (1) totally or partially. Thus, said mask (1) comprises inside the coupling conduit (2) a valve, preferably a membrane valve (5) in charge of allowing the passage of fluid when it receives liquid under pressure.

In this way, when the user takes a bottle with hydrating liquid, he faces it against the receiver (2.2) of the end of the coupling (2) that protrudes from the mask (1). Given the funnel-shaped conical shape of said receiver (2.2), the drum is perfectly coupled to said coupling (2) by centering the nozzle of the drum on the receiver (2.2).

At this moment, when the user presses the bottle, the liquid falls directly on the membrane valve (5) so that the membrane (5.1), which can be seen in more detail in Figures 3 to 5, thanks to its slit In the shape of a cross and being made of an elastic material, preferably silicone, it opens allowing the passage of liquid. Said membrane (5.1) is attached to a cup (5.2) by fitting, so that said cup (5.2) is fixed in a housing (6) preventing the movement of the membrane valve (5) and ensuring its correct operation.

The aforementioned housing (6) that can be seen in figure 2, can house any type of one-way valve that allows the entry of the liquid when the drum is pressed, preventing the entry or exit of particles when the action of intake of liquid.

The coupling (2) comprises at its inner end a mouthpiece (2.1) which according to a preferred embodiment is configured to adapt to the user's mouth, so that when pressing the drum and the liquid enters through the internal conduit of the coupling, the liquid is directed directly into the user's mouth. In this way, each coupling (2) will have its mouth end (2.1) with a shape and length adapted to each user.

To achieve a more versatile mask (1), it is foreseen that, for adaptation to the mouth of each user, the mask (1) comprises an adapter element (3) that can be fixed to the coupling (2) at its mouth (2.1), preferably by clipped. Thus, each adapter (3) will act as a pacifier, adapting in length and shape for each user, being able to form part of a kit of several adapters of different longitudinal measurements, or even more preferably being the adapter (3) adjustable in length, with a guided or telescopic mounting. Said adapter (3) adjustable in length, will preferably be adjustable by clipping in grooves made in the mouth (2.1) of the coupling (2) in correspondence with a projection or fin of the adapter (3).

A mask (1) is obtained that allows the ingestion of liquid with a bottle in a comfortable and safe way during exercise, completely avoiding the entry or exit of viruses or bacteria without the need for total or partial removal of the mask.

However, if the user does not have great dexterity in adapting the nozzle of the canister against the receiver (2.2) of the coupling (2) of the mask (1), it is possible that liquid will spill when pressing the canister. To solve this drawback, it is foreseen that the mask (1) comprises a sealing gasket (7) conically shaped in correspondence with the funnel shape of the receiver (2.2) and configured to fit into the nozzle of the can. This sealing gasket (7) is a piece of revolution that allows the user to face the canister against the mask (1), fitting said canister being perfectly joined and ensuring tightness, preventing liquid spillage when pressing the canister to ingest the moisturizing liquid.

In Figure 6, another preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen. In this case, the valve used to allow the passage of liquid when pressing the drum is a bite valve (4). Said bite valve (4) can be shaped in the mouth (2.1) of the coupling (2) itself, or preferably as can be seen in figure 6, said bite valve (4) is included in the adapter (3) of the mask (1). So that when the user wants to drink, he must bite the bite valve (4), which as can be seen in figure (7) comprises a slit at its end, which when pressing with the teeth on the body of the bite valve (4), said slit opens allowing the passage of liquid when the user presses the drum.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, instead of the coupling (2) being a one-piece, it is intended to be divided into two pieces. As can be seen in figure 8, one piece will be the mouthpiece (2.1) corresponding to the inner part of the mask (1) and the other piece will be the receiver (2.2) corresponding to the outer part of the mask (1) in funnel shape. Thus, both pieces will preferably be fixable by elastic clipping, the body of the mask (1) being trapped between them. In this way, a perfect fixation of the coupling (2) to the mask (1) is achieved, not being necessary to use a sealing gasket at the junction between the coupling (2) and the mask (1), as could be the case in which the coupling (2) is a single piece attached to the mask (1).

Figure 9 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the coupling (2) is a single piece, in this case for the embodiment of figure 1 corresponding to the coupling (2) with a membrane valve (5 ). In this case, to avoid the use of a sealing gasket at the junction between the coupling (2) and the mask (1), it is provided that said junction is made by means of a fixing washer (8). So that the fixing washer (8) is threaded in a machined thread in the coupling itself (2) so that at the junction between coupling (2) and mask (1), the fixing washer (8) presses on the inner surface of the mask (1) being trapped between the fixing washer (8) and the receiver (2.2) which preferably comprises a projection in contact with the outer surface of the mask (1) to provide a more watertight joint .

In said figure 9, it can also be seen how according to a preferred configuration of the invention, the sealing gasket (7) is arranged fixed on the receiver (2.2) so that it is attached to the conical part of the receiver (2.2). This arrangement allows the drum to be

1

Attaches directly to the mask (1) on the receiver (2.2) without the need for an additional piece to adapt it. More preferably, said sealing gasket (78) will form part of the membrane (5.1) of the membrane valve being formed in a single piece, ensuring the integrity and tightness of the assembly.

In figure 10 it can be seen the use of said fixing washer (8) as a method of joining between coupling (2) and mask (1), in this case for the realization of figure 6 corresponding to coupling (2) with bite valve (4), producing a watertight fixation in the same way as in the case of figure 9. In this case it can also be seen how the sealing gasket (7) is integrated into the receiver (2.2) and is ready the mask (1) so that the canister is attached directly. As in the previous case, the sealing gasket (7) can be an elastomer insert, preferably silicone that is properly fixed to the receiver (2.2) in its mounting position or be a single piece with it and therefore with the coupling. (2), in which case, the latter would be determined according to a bi-material embodiment.

In the case of masks for use in sports, various embodiments are known, including one in which the general body of the mask is breathable and has two lateral valves for ventilation. There is a second embodiment in which the body of the mask is not breathable and, in this case, in addition to the ventilation valves, there is a breathing valve in the area facing the mouth. Well, in the first case, the coupling (2) of the present invention would go in the area facing the mouth; While in the second embodiment, it can go next to the mask's front respiration valve, in an independent arrangement, or share the latter's fixation structure, either according to an oval embodiment that incorporates the traditional valve and next to it the coupling. (2) of the invention or in a concentric embodiment of both elements.

Claims (10)

1. - Protective mask for fluid intake comprising a coupling (2) configured to incorporate at least one unidirectional inlet valve for the fluid to be ingested, said coupling (2) with a mouthpiece (2.1) at its inner end to the mask (1) and a receiver (2.2) at its other end that protrudes from the mask (1) in a conical shape. 2. - Protective mask (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises an adapter element (3) configured to adapt to the user's mouth and fixable to the coupling (2) at its mouth (2.1). 3. - Protective mask (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the adapter element (3) is adjustable in length at its junction to the mouthpiece (2.1). 4. - Protective mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid inlet valve is a bite valve (4). 5. - Protective mask (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the coupling (2) comprises an interior housing (6) configured to house the fluid inlet valve, the fluid inlet valve being a valve membrane (5). 6. - Protective mask (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the membrane valve (5) comprises a bowl (5.2) that can be housed in the coupling housing (2), with one end open and the other end configured to house a membrane (5.1). 7. - Protective mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fixing washer (8) that is fixed to the coupling (2) internally to the mask (1) for joining the coupling (2) to the mask (1). 8. - Mask (1) protection according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the mouthpiece (2.1) is attached to the receiver (2.2) so that the mask is trapped between them. 9. - Protective mask (1) according to any one of the previous re iv indications, characterized in that it comprises a sealing gasket (7) that fits into a drum with a fluid holder, being the sealing gasket (7) conical in shape in correspondence with the shape of the receiver (2.2). 10. - Protective mask (1) according to the previous indication, characterized in that the sealing gasket (7) is fixed on the receiver (2.2). 1