GB2109246A - Anti-pollution mask - Google Patents

Abstract

An anti-pollution mask 30 is mountable on a person's face to cover the nose and mouth and comprises an air-purifying mechanism in series with a gas compressor 27 also mounted on the mask causing polluted air to flow into and through the air-purifying mechanism and such that purified air is discharged on the breathing side of the face mask at a pressure elevated to slightly greater than atmospheric but sufficiently low as to not injure lung tissues nor inhibit exhaling carbon dioxide by the person there being a discharge valve 30-c through which excess gas and is discharged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-pollution mask This invention relates to an anti-pollution mask of improved design and benefits.

Prior to the present invention there have been many disadvantages associated with filtering or purifying masks associated with obtaining breathable air from polluted air or air in a polluted environment, whether in the military or in industry as anti-pollution to which this invention in principally directed, such as a feeling of claustrophobia or being inhibited because principally of the fact of breathing through conventional masks requires greater effort on the person's inhaling and exhaling muscles than is normally experienced when in and under normal atmospheric pressure conditions devoid of a mask. The additional strain on the person as well as the mask being clamped over the nose and mouth cause often a feeling of discomfort and general unpleasantness.Also, the additional stress on the body of the person wearing a typical prior gas or anti-pollution mask makes it impossible for some persons having more sensitive lungs or bronchial tubes such as those afflicted with asthma or the like in varying degreas, impossible or certainly undesirable to be burdened with such conventional gas masks. Also, with the conventional gas masks and the accompanying normal labouring efforts of the breathing mechanisms of the human being, it is not possible to always gain a desired or sufficient amount of air or oxygen, which deficiency adds to the person's feeling of frustration as well as decreasing the mental and/or physical efficiencies of the person wearing the mask.Moreover, there are situations such as at high altitudes where conventional anti-pollution or gas masks are not suitable because of the thinness of the environmental air, such as for a mountain climber or an aviator or the like. The same is true for persons at other locations and conditions such as in mining operations for coal, or the like, and/or in smoke conditions frequented by firemen, for example.

An object of this invention is to obtain a novel anti-pollution gas mask overcoming one or more of the difficulties and disadvantages of the general types discussed above, together with obtaining novel advantages not heretofore available.

Another particular object of this invention is to obtain an anti-pollution mask that is capable of providing improved breathing ability under a plurality of differing conditions and situations.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide an anti-pollution mask suitable for use by any and all persons equally.

Another object of the invention is to obtain improved anti-pollution or gas mask providing greater ease of breathing and a higher concentration of breathable air or oxygen per unit of breathable gas or air.

Another object is to obtain an improved antipollution or gas mask of small and convenient and portable size and nature in so far as all operative and necessary parts and elements thereof.

Other objects become apparent from the preced ing and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the invention are obtained by the invention as disclosed in the preceding and following disclosure and accompanying drawings.

The preceding objects are obtained by a antipollution mask that includes a gas mask face structure and associated accessories thereof that is mounted or mountably sealable sealably in association with and operatively with a person's mouth and/or nose on or about the person's face to permit that person to breath solely purified air on the breathing-side of the mask face structure, and an air-purifying mechanism mounted thereon adapted to remove pollutants from air passing there-through, and a gas compressor mechanism of a motorised type for compressing larger volumes of gas into a smaller volume and for causing the polluted air or gas to pass through the air-purifying mechanism to result in a compressed purified air being discharged on the breathing-side of the mask for breathing by the person utilising the mask.

In a preferred embodiment, the anti-pollution mask or gas mask includes an electric motor in association with a gas compressor for the driving of the compressor thereof. There also more preferably is a combination of the electric motor with a battery and circuitry thereof, with the electric motor being a type drivable by the battery, together with switch elements for turning on and off and/or altering speed of the compressor, and for all being a portable unit as a whole.

The air compressor is arranged preferably in series behind the air-purifying mechanism such that polluted air is sucked or forced through the airpurifying mechanism and thereafter the purified air is caused to flow into the vacuum-side of the air-compressor whereby solely the purified air is subjected to compression and discharged from the air-compressor on the air-breathing side of the mask.

The air-compressor is adjusted to run and function at a compression ratio such that discharged compressed air is at a compression pressure only slightly greater than atmospheric pressure sufficiently elevated to facilitate inhalation without being too great as excessive undesirable damaging pressure that could be damaging to lung or other tissue of an inhaling person, and not too great as to unduly inhibit exhaling by the person wearing the mask.

While the present invention may be used for conventional gas mask purposes, a primary utility thereof is in industry in the use by and protection of workers in dusty or polluted or infectious or chemically hazardous air or environment, including also as above-noted use in a smoky environment such as for firemen. In so far as use in a smoky environment, not only is breathing made easy and comfortable for the rescuer, but both the advantages are achieved of excluding smoke and concentrating breathable oxygen or air where in such smoky environment there is a high concentration of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.In particular, rescued survivors or heart attack patients expecially at a timely moment at the scene of the accident or seizure, use of the motorised air compressor a part of the mask could be the small link to save the life of the victim until more sophisticated treatment is available. For high altitude use, likewise there is a low concentration of oxygen in available air per unit volume of space, reducing available oxygen to the brain of a pilot, construction worker or mountain climber or the like, whereas by the use of the motorised mask of the present invention the person's mental acuity is enhanced by making concentrated air or oxygen available together with a nominal but helpful forcefeed thereof by the compressor thus making breathing easy.

While a major aspect of novelty of the present invention is the presence of the motorised compressor in a mask for breathing environmental air, other primary features arise in the electric motor drive and the battery-driven nature thereof together with the small portable battery. But also the particular arrangement in series for first filtering or purifying the air before compressing the purified air is novel with its advantages of excluding the pollutants from contact with the compressor and as well the utilisation more effectively of the compressor to concentrate solely the breathable purified air. As above-noted, the exhaustion or vacuuming side of the compressor serves in such arrangement to suck the environmental polluted air through the air purifying structure and mechanism.While it is within the scope of the invention to have the compressor suck-in polluted air for compression and to discharge the compressed polluted air directly to the air purifier to thus by the compressor's compression to force the concentrated polluted air through the purifier, the other above-noted arrangement is preferred for reasons already stated. Likewise, the advantage of the preferred mask that does not cover the eyes to thereby provide improved feeling of freedom and lack of confinement, may in some instances be off-set by having a full-face mask with see-through plastic or glass for the improved protection of the eyes. However, more often, the presence of a mask over the eyes impedes visual acuity interfering rather than helping the wearer of the mask.

The invention may be better understood by making reference to the following Figures, in which: Figures 1 and 4 are exploded views of the air-purifying elememts and mounting and holding structure therefor, in perspective side view.

Figure 2 illustrates a continuation of the Figure 1 illustration and discloses mounting structure for and the motor and compressor, mounted in flow series with the air-purifying structure and its support structure, also shown in exploded perspective side view.

Figure 3, a further continuation of the prior Figures, illustrates a perspective side view of other mounting elements and the electric motor and compressor, together with the gas mask face structure and its aperature for receiving the elements aforementioned. This Figure also illustrates the gas mask excessive pressure outlet valve structure and mounting elements thereof in association with another aperature of the mask face structure.

Figure 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the mask face structure and the air-purifier structure and the motorised compressor all in an assembled state together with the extension cord and plug, extending therefrom, in side perspective view.

Figure 6 illustrates a representative battery assembly, and points of attachment for the plugs, and typical representative levers for control of amount of electricity to the electric motor to regulate speed of the compressor, shown in side perspective view, with the battery compartment shown in an open state.

Figure 7 illustrates in side perspective view a typical head harness strap combination for the mounting of and support of the gas mask face structure sealably onto the face of the wearer.

Figure 8 illustrates the typical appearance of a person wearing the anti-pollution mask of the present invention.

With particular reference to the several Figures, designated numerals and indicia identify structures and elements as follows; 1: an antigas case cover, having 1-a: nut; and 2: a disinfectant case; and 3: a rubberwasher; and 4: a disinfectant case hoider, having 4-a: a tap; and 5: a disinfectant casing; and for each of 6, 8, 10 and 11: discs of compressed mixed staple of resin and wool, i.e. in this instance formed and shaped into a disc form as shown in the Figures; and for each of 7 and 9: discs of carbon fibre, i.e. shaped or formed into disc shape in this instance; and 12: disinfectant case base cover; 13: rubber washer; 14 a disinfectant case disc receptacle, having 14-a: an outletforthe wire extension from a power source, in a sealed outlet state, and 14-b; a wire extension from power source as circuitry from 14-c: holes for motor receptacle connectors; and 15: a motor-securing holder, having 15-a: the electrical source leads connection, and having for each of 15-b and 15-c: motor fixing screw(s) hole (s), and having 15-d: a motor-securing key, and having 15band 15-f respectively: motor securing screw(s); and 16: a motor outer casing, having 16-a: a brush spiral cover, and having 16-b: a compression balance, and having 16-c: a brush, and having 16-d: a brush holder, and having 16-e: a motor bearing, and having for each of 16-f and 1 6-g: motor securing screw hole(s), and having 16-h: an armature power-source circuitry wire extension, and having 16-i: a snap slot; and 17: a permanent magnet for maintaining a permanent magnetic field; and for each of 18 and 24: bearing pads; and 19: an armature rectifier; and for each of 20 and 22: insulation (electrical insulation); and 21: a silicone-steel plate; and 23: an armature mandrel; and 25; a snap ring; and 26: an armature insulation ring, as a turbine securing base; and 27: a turbine; and 28: an antigas case base cover, as a basic motor receptacle, including 28-a: a suction valve holder, and includig 28-b: a securing hole- connection for securing the motor holder, and including 28-c: a wire extension from a power source; and 29: a suction valve; and 30: a mask, including 30-a an installation hole for suction valve, and including 30-b: an exhaust outlet valve mask aperture, and including exhaust outlet valve elements 30-c, 30-d, 30-e, and including each of wea ring buckles 30-f and 30-9; and 31: the entire combination of the motorised compressor gas mask, and including 31-a: the power source lead wire, and including 31-b: the plug; and 32: a head band; and 33: a head band buckle; and the power box battery assembly 34, including 34-a: a socket, and including 34-b: a switch, and including 34-c: a power-box sliding door, and including 34-d: a 1.5 V 8 sections "AA" mini battery and 35: the combination of the wearing-person and the worn mask.

While preceding disclosure is believed sufficient for understanding the flow of gas or air, and operation, further comment is now added for clarity.

In particular, the portable battery is placed typically into a shirt pocket and the electric motor is manually energised by manual manipulation of the switch, whereupon the wearer places the mask upon his face over the mouth and nose, mounting it securely and sealably by the head bands properly adjusted.

Thereupon, the electrified compressor sucks-in polluted air and under slight compression pressure discharges and feeds purified air to the breather and wearer, the polluted air having been sucked or forced to pass through the purifying structure or mechanism, namely the discs above-note, for example. It is within the scope of the invention to make variation and modifications obvious to a person of ordinary skill in this particular art, and to substitute obvious mechanical or chemical equivalents for stated elements of th is invention.

With regard to the discs of wool and resin, the resin may vary in type to some extent, but preferably is petroleum resin and is characterised by the property that when mixed with and/or compressed with the wool fibres, their contact therewith result in a static electricity; the existence of the static electricity facilitates the purifying of polluted gas or polluted air being passed through the disc of wool and resin.

Claims (10)

1. An anti-pollution mask comprising in combination: a gas mask face means for mounting sealably in association with a person's mouth or nose permitting breathing of air located on a breathing-side of the gas mask face means, an air purifying means for removing pollutants from air passed therethrough and mounted on said gas mask face means such that pollutants in exterior air are removed providing cleansed breathable air on a breathing-side of the gas mask face means, and a gas compression motorised means for receiving and compressing and discharging compressed gas and mounted in flow series with said air purifying means such that purified air in a compressed state is provided on a breathing-side of the gas mask face means.

2. An anti-pollution mask of claim 1, in which said gas compression motorised means comprises an electric motor and a gas compressor mounted to be drivable by the electric motor, and a battery element connectable to drive the electric motor.

3. An anti-pollution mask of claim 2, in which said gas compression motorised means is mounted to suck by exhaustion polluted air through said air purifying means into said gas compression motorised means.

4. An anti-pollution mask of claim 3, in which said gas compression motorised means is adjusted to discharge compressed air at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure as to facilitate inhalation without damaging excessive gas pressure on lung tissues of an inhaling person and such that exhaling of a person is not unduly inhibited.

5. An anti-pollution mask of claim 4, in which said air purifying means comprises mixed staple of resin and wool positioned in flow series with carbon fibres.

6. An anti-pollution mask of claim 5, in which said mixed staple of resin and wool are compressed into a disc form and shape, and in which said carbon fibres are formed into a disc shape.

7. An anti-pollution mask of claim 6, in which said gas mask face means is of a size and shape adapted to cover each of nose and mouth when mounted in a sealed state on a face of a person breathing purified air passed from said air purifying means.

8. An anti-pollution mask of claim 7, including a gas-exhaust means mounted within the gas mask face means for relieving gas excessive pressure when carbon dioxide is exhaled by a person having the gas mask face means mounted on that person's face.

9. An anti-pollution mask of claim 1, including a gas exhaust means mounted within the gas mask face means for relieving gas excessive pressure when carbon dioxide is exhaled by a person having the gas mask face means mounted on that person's face.

10. An anti-pollution mask substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.