FR3053256A1 - ANTI-POLLUTION MASK - Google Patents

Abstract

Facial mask (1), of the anti-pollution mask type, comprising a filter holder (2) and an interchangeable removable filter (11), the filter holder being in the general shape of a shell comprising air passages, presenting a front face, said outer face, and a rear face, or inner face of concave shape, adapted to envelop the nose, mouth and chin of the user, and having side portions to which are attached straps (8) of holding around the head of the user, the filter (11) being positioned against the inner concave face of the filter holder (2), preferably matching the shape of said concave face of the filter holder, characterized in that the straps (8) for holding the filter holder (2) cooperate with said filter for its positioning against the concave face of the filter holder.

Description

(57) face mask (1), of the anti-pollution mask type, comprising a filter holder (2) and a removable interchangeable filter (11),

the filter holder being in the general form of a shell comprising air passages, having a front face, called the external face, and a rear face, or internal face of concave shape, capable of enveloping the nose, the mouth and the chin of the user, and comprising lateral parts to which are attached straps (8) for holding around the head of the user,

the filter (11) being positioned against the inner concave face of the filter holder (2), preferably matching the shape of said concave face of the filter holder, characterized in that the straps (8) for holding the filter holder (2) cooperate with said filter for its positioning against the concave face of the filter holder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of protective masks, and more particularly anti-pollution masks.

PRIOR ART

Anti-pollution face masks, such as those used by cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians, currently marketed can be classified into two main categories.

In the first category are masks in the general shape of a shell, made up of a body entirely made of filter material and holding straps around the ears or behind the user's head. Due to its simple design, this filter is lightweight, but is not placed on the wearer's face. In addition, it must be changed regularly: either the filter with its retaining straps if these are integral with the filter, or only the filter body if the straps are removable. In the latter case, there is a risk that the straps may be lost or lost.

In order to keep the filter in place and more flattened on the user's face, masks have been developed comprising a filter holder and at least one internal filter as well as one or more filter cartridges.

Concerning these masks which belong to the second category, the problem arises of maintaining or fixing the filter and / or the cartridges in the filter holder. In some of these masks the cartridges are formed of a generally cylindrical periphery of rigid material which is secured to the filter holder, sometimes by simultaneously maintaining the filter lining the inside of the filter holder. These rigid parts can come into contact with the wearer's face and cause unpleasant friction if the filter holder is pressed against his face. For masks that do not have a filter cartridge (s), various attachment devices have been proposed, such as clips, or press studs, or Velcro® type fasteners (hook-and-loop straps) . In all cases, these are added elements, either directly on the filter (press button or Velcro®), thus making its manufacture more complex, and therefore its cost, or indirectly, i.e. removable attachment elements, increasing the risk of losing these elements, when changing the filter for example.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION A first aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned masks and to propose a mask of the second category, simplified, not comprising removable elements other than the filter itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mask incorporating a filter of simple, light and economical structure, easily adaptable to its filter holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These goals are achieved by the facial mask, of the anti-pollution mask type, comprising a filter holder and an interchangeable removable filter,

the filter holder being in the general form of a shell comprising air passages, having a front face, called the external face, and a rear face, or internal face of concave shape, capable of covering (wrapping) the nose, the mouth and chin of the user, and having lateral parts to which are attached support straps (around the head of the user)

the filter being positioned against the inner concave face of the filter holder, preferably matching the shape of said concave face of the filter holder; according to the invention this mask is characterized in that the straps for holding the filter holder cooperate with said filter for its positioning against the concave face of the filter holder.

Thus, placing and holding the filter inside the concave part of the filter holder, facing said air passages, does not require any additional holding or hooking element, since these are said straps that perform this function. There is therefore no risk of loss of removable elements. The design of the mask is also simplified.

Advantageously, the filter has a central part and lateral extensions, each lateral extension having at least one opening for the strap passage of the filter holder.

These openings provided in the filter, in the form of lateral gills, have the main role of allowing the straps of the filter holder to be threaded through said openings, then maintaining the positioning of said filter, in the mounted state in the filter holder.

According to a first alternative embodiment, said passage openings for the straps of the filter holder can be openings formed in said extensions of the filter, being in the form of slots or eyelets. Openings in the form of eyelets are preferred on the one hand to allow easier sliding of the straps during their insertion, and on the other hand allow a better adaptation to the different morphologies of the users (nose-ear angle) and / or variations in the positioning of the straps around the head.

According to a second variant, said passage openings for the straps of the filter holder can be in the form of loops, or flanges, secured to the lateral extensions of said filter, for example secured to the lateral edges of said filter.

Advantageously, the lateral extensions of the filter are formed from a reinforced material with respect to the central part of the filter, preferably by folding back the material constituting the filter. The filter can thus be made from a single material, without adding any material different from the filter material itself.

The straps are preferably fixed to the filter holder by welding or sewing, thus preventing any loss of the straps. Only the filter is removable. These straps are preferably made of elastic material.

For better sealing of the mask, the filter holder may comprise, in its upper part, an element comprising a metal part forming a nasal clip, said element forming a nasal clip preferably being inserted between the outer and inner faces of said filter holder. Such a device also makes it possible to limit the appearance of fogging when the user wears glasses.

The filter holder advantageously comprises a central part for the passage of breathing air. It can be a more or less wide central opening, or a central zone formed by a cellular material or a woven or non-woven fiber material.

Around said central part, the filter holder may comprise a peripheral part made of flexible material, of reference made of extensible material, such as rubber or of neoprene type, allowing the adaptation and plating of the filter holder on the face of the user, said peripheral part possibly comprising ventilation orifices.

As for the filter, it can be made of one or more layers of nonwoven fiber material. For example, it can be composed of one or more layers of a nonwoven material called "meltblown", for the filtration function of polluted air, inserted in an envelope also made of nonwoven material called "spunbond".

The mask according to the invention makes it possible to use in the filter holder a filter made of very light and thin material (which is very comfortable for the user) while avoiding tensions on this material, and therefore without risk. tearing (can occur with filters requiring rigid holding elements such as clips, hooks, pressure closure ...).

The facial mask according to the invention is mainly intended for cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians with the objective of protecting them from atmospheric pollution during their movements, but can also, with a filter of an appropriate nature, be worn by other categories of 'users, in a professional context for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description of examples of embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the mask according to the invention, in the state positioned on the face of a user;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mask of Figure 1, with its open top showing the location of the nose clip;

Figure 3 is a side view of the filter holder of Figure 1, the strap being unfolded;

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the two parts of the mask according to the invention showing the threading of the straps of the filter holder in the filter openings;

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the mask according to the invention in the mounted state of the filter in the filter holder;

Figure 6 is a view of the filter in the unfolded state;

Figure 7 is a side view of the filter in the formed state, before insertion into the filter holder.

EXAMPLE

As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mask 1 according to the invention has the general shape of a shell and is intended to be placed on the face of a user 20 by enveloping his nose, his mouth and his chin, as well that part of his cheeks and being held at the back of his head by straps 8.

This mask consists of a filter holder 2 and a removable filter 11, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Said filter holder 2 comprises a central part 3 surrounded by a peripheral part 4. In the example presented here, the central part hides and protects the filter 11, while allowing easy passage of the air entering or leaving the mouth and nose of the user 20. For this purpose, this central part may be in the form of a cellular material, of a woven or nonwoven fiber material. It can also play a role of pre-filter, for example for dust present in the air.

The peripheral part 4 of the filter holder here constitutes in a way the skeleton of said filter holder, by supporting the central part, the clip 7 for the nose as well as the end for fixing the straps 8. This peripheral part 4 is made of material flexible and extensible, for example made of rubber or neoprene, enable the mask 1 to be pressed onto the user's face. It nevertheless has a series of ventilation holes 6, communicating directly with the underlying filter 11.

A first end of each strap is, in the example presented in the appended figures, fixed near a lateral edge of the peripheral part 4 of the filter holder 2, by means of a seam 9. The other ends of the straps are join at the back of the user's head by means of a self-gripping strip 10.

The nose clip 7, of the nose clip type, comprising a metal element is disposed in the upper part 5 of the peripheral part of the filter holder, between the internal and external faces of said filter holder. Figure 2 shows its location with the upper part open (this clamp 7 is not visible in the normal state: see Figure 3).

The filter 11 also has the general shape of a shell so as to match the shape of the concave internal face of the filter holder 2. This filter consists of a body 17 and two lateral extensions 18 in which are formed openings 12 in the form of eyelets, for example of circular shape as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. These openings are used for the passage of the straps 8, threaded according to the arrows F of FIG. 4. The diameter of these openings 12 is preferably slightly greater than the width of said straps 8.

Thus the filter 11 is easily positioned against the concave face of the filter holder 2, as visible in FIG. 5.

An example of a filter is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the unfolded state, before assembly, the filter has two left and right wings 15g and 15d which are then assembled by welding along their upper edge 14. The peripheral edge 16 of the filter 11 is also welded to reinforce this peripheral zone and optionally join together the different constituent layers of the filter, if necessary. Finally, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lateral extensions 18 of the filter can be, in the area where the openings are made in the form of eyelets, made of a reinforced material 13, for example by folding at least one layer of the material component of the filter.

Claims (10)

1. Facial mask (1), of the anti-pollution mask type, comprising a filter holder 5 (2) and a removable interchangeable filter (11), the filter holder (2) being in the general form of a shell comprising air passages, having a front face, called the external face, and a rear face, or internal face of concave shape, capable of covering the nose, the mouth and chin of the user, and comprising lateral parts to which are attached retaining straps (8), the filter (11) being positioned against the inner concave face of the filter holder (2), preferably matching the shape of said concave face of the filter holder, characterized in that the straps (8) for holding the filter holder cooperate with said filter (11) for its positioning against the concave face of the filter holder (2). 2. Mask (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter has a central part (17) and lateral extensions (18), each lateral extension having at least one opening (12) for passage of 20 strap (8) of the filter holder (2). 3. Mask (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said openings (12) for the straps (8) of the filter holder (2) are openings formed in said extensions of the filter, being under 25 in the form of slits or eyelets, preferably in the form of eyelets. 4. Mask (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said openings (12) for passage for the straps (8) of the filter holder (2) are in the form of loops, or flanges, integral with the lateral extensions of said filtered. 5. Mask (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the lateral extensions (18) of the filter are formed of a reinforced material (13) relative to the central part of the filter, preferably by folding the constituent material of the filter (11). 6. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the straps (8) are fixed to the filter holder (2) by welding or sewing. 7. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter holder (2) comprises, in its upper part (5) an element comprising a metal part forming a nose clip (7), said element forming a nose clip preferably being inserted between the outer and inner faces of said filter holder (2). 8. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter holder (2) comprises a central part for passage of the breathing air, preferably formed of a cellular material or a woven or nonwoven fiber material. 9. Mask (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the filter holder (2) comprises, around said central zone, a peripheral part made of flexible material, of reference made of extensible material, such as rubber or neoprene type, allowing the adaptation and plating of the filter holder (2) on the face of the user, said peripheral part possibly comprising ventilation orifices. 10. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (11) is made of one or more layers of non-woven fiber material.