GB2465612A

GB2465612A - Seal for mask and hood

Info

Publication number: GB2465612A
Application number: GB0822493A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Anthony Griffiths
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-18
Filing date: 2008-12-10
Publication date: 2010-05-26
Also published as: GB0822493D0; GB0821044D0

Abstract

An adaptor seal 20 for attachment to a peripheral edge of a conventional full-face respirator mask 11 and a hood 18. The adaptor seal 20 comprises a first surface 21 to bond against the respirator mask 11, and a second surface 22 to face outwardly from the respirator mask 11. The second surface 22 is configured for engagement with a hood 18 of a protective suit such that, in use, the adaptor 20 seal does not leave gaps G and provides better protection.

Description

Peripheral Seal for a Respirator Mask

Description

The present invention relates to a respirator breathing mask and, more particularly, to a respirator breathing mask operable to engage with a hood of a protective suit, and to a retro-flt seal for attachment to known respirators to enable engagement with a hood of a protective suit.

Emergency service personnel, such as fire-fighters or law enforcement officers, are often required to enter hazardous environments which require them to wear breathing apparatus such as full-face respirators. These known respirators generally comprise an oro-nasal mask which seals around the nose and mouth, and a full face visor surrounding the oro-nasal mask, wherein the outer periphery of the respirator includes a seal to seal against the wearer's face around their forehead, sides of the face, and under the chin.

In addition to the above respirators, service personnel may also be required to wear a protective suit if the environmental conditions are particularly hazardous, to protect them from fire, chemical, biological and/or radiation contamination. Such protective suits (known as CCBRN suits' -Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear protection) are generally all-in-one suits covering the entire body and comprising a hood portion to cover the wearer's head, leaving only the face exposed. In situations where both a respirator and protective suit are to be worn, it is often the case that, in use, the edge of the hood of the suit and the perimeter edge of the respirator cannot remain in contact with each other, thereby leaving gaps and/or portions of the wearer's skin exposed and vulnerable to damage by the hazardous environmental conditions. Furthermore, known respirators do not include means to cooperate with hoods of known protective suits to retain the hood in contact with the respirator to fully protect the wearer.

One known mask that suffers from the aforementioned disadvantage is the Avon FM53 Respirator and derivatives thereof as it is impossible to securely attach it to the hood of a protective suit so as to provide an effective seal between the hood and the mask without leaving gaps.

In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a respirator that substantially alleviates or overcomes the problems mentioned above and, in particular, the problems associated with the Avon FM53 mask and derivatives thereof. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a retro-fit seal attachable to known respirators to substantially alleviate or overcome the problems mentioned above.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an adaptor seal for attachment to a peripheral edge of a conventional full-face respirator mask, the adaptor seal comprising a first surface to bond against the respirator mask, and a second surface to face outwardly from the respirator mask, wherein the second surface is configured for engagement with a hood of a protective suit such that, in use, the adaptor seal secures the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask.

The second surface of the adaptor seal may be contoured to aid a hood of a protective suit to engage therewith, and the contoured surface may comprise a stepped surface, a recess extending around the periphery of the adaptor seal, or a projecting bead extending around the periphery of the adaptor seal.

The bead may be bonded to said second surface, or any of the contoured surfaces of the adaptor seal may be formed integrally therewith.

The adaptor seal may be configured to taper outwardly and rearwards once attached to the peripheral edge of a conventional full-face respirator mask and may further comprise a plurality of strengthening members to prevent the adaptor seal from deflecting under a constrictive force when, in use, a hood of a protective suit is secured thereto. The strengthening members may include a plurality of ribs extending radially relative to the adaptor seal and may be bonded to the adaptor seal or may be formed integrally with the adaptor seal.

The invention may further comprise a secondary seal attachable to a peripheral edge of a hood of a conventional protective suit, wherein the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal are configured to cooperate with each other to secure the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask.

One of the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal may comprise a grooved recess extending around the periphery thereof, and the other of the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal may comprise a projecting bead extending around the periphery thereof, receivable in the grooved recess.

The adaptor seal may include an adhesive on the first surface to enable the adaptor seal to be bonded to a conventional respirator mask, and the secondary seal may include an adhesive on a surface thereof to enable the secondary seal to be bonded to an edge of a conventional protective suit.

The present invention also provides a respirator mask including an adaptor seal as described above.

The present invention also provides a respirator mask including a seal formed integrally therewith around the peripheral edge of the respirator mask, the seal comprising an outwardly facing surface configured for engagement with a hood of a protective suit such that, in use, the seal secures the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask The outwardly facing surface may be contoured to aid a hood of a protective suit engaging therewith and the contoured surface may comprise a stepped surface, a recess extending around the periphery of the seal, or may comprise a projecting bead extending around the periphery of the seal.

The bead may be bonded to said outwardly facing surface, or the contoured outwardly facing surface of the seal may be formed integrally therewith.

The seal may taper outwardly and rearwards.

The respirator mask may further comprise a plurality of strengthening members to prevent the seal from deflecting under a constrictive force when, in use, a hood of a protective suit is secured thereto. The strengthening members may include a plurality of ribs extending radially relative to the seal, and may be bonded to the seal or may be formed integrally with the seal.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 4-11 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a known respirator in place on a wearer's head; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the respirator of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a respirator of Figure 1 in use with a hood of a known protective CBRN suit; Figure 4 shows a side view of a respirator with an adaptor seal of the present invention bonded thereto; Figure 5 shows the respirator of Figure 4 in use with a hood of a known protective CBRN suit; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the adaptor seal and hood seal of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a close up view of a portion of the adaptor seal shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an adaptor seal and hood seal similar to that shown in Figure 5, but of a variant of the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a close up view of a portion of the adaptor seal shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 6, but of an adaptor seal and hood seal arrangement of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 11 shows a close up view of a portion of the adaptor seal shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figures 1 -3, a known respirator 1 is shown comprising an oro-nasal mask 2 which surrounds the user's nose and mouth, and an outer respirator body 3, including a visor 4, the respirator body 3 including a peripheral seal 5 which seals against the user's face/head around the forehead, sides of the face and under the chin. The outer edge of the respirator 1 includes straps 6 which secure the respirator 1 in place on the user's head.

Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement in which a user is required to wear the respirator I in combination with a full CBRN protective suit 7, having a hood portion 8. The hood 8 includes an edge seal 9 around the opening thereof in the form of a straight rubber flange.

When the respirator 1 is to be used in combination with the CBRN suit 7, the user first dons the suit 7, with the hood 8 around his neck, not pulled over his head. He then dons the respirator 1 and secures it to his head using the straps 6. He then pulls the hood 8 over his head. However, the uneven perimeter of the respirator I having the various straps 6 means that the edge seal 9 of the hood 8 cannot make a complete and effective seal against the respirator I and so gaps G remain which can allow the hazardous ambient atmosphere to seep into the suit 7 and contact the user's hair and skin, potentially having damaging or lethal results.

A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 4 -7, wherein a known respirator 11, the same as that shown in Figures 1 -3, is worn by a user, and includes an oro-nasal -15 mask 12 which surrounds the user's nose and mouth, and an outer respirator body 13, including a visor 14, the respirator body 13 including a peripheral seal 15 which seals against the users face/head around the forehead, sides of the face and under the chin. The outer edge of the respirator 11 includes straps 16 which secure the respirator 11 in place on the user's bead. However, the respirator 11 differs from that shown in Figures 1 -3 in that it includes an adaptor seal 20 of the present invention around the outer peripheral edge of the respirator body 13. The adaptor seal 20 is a continuous moulding which is bonded to the respirator 11 and extends around the entire circumference thereof. The adaptor seal 20 includes a bonding surface 21 at which it is attached to the peripheral edge of the respirator 11 and an opposite outer surface 22. The adaptor seal 20 generally tapers outwards and rearwards from the peripheral edge of the respirator 11.

Figures 5 to 7 show the respirator II being worn by a user in combination with a full CBRN protective suit 17, having a hood portion 18 which includes an edge seal 19 around the opening thereof in the form of a straight flange. The edge seal 19 is made of rubber or similar material and is elastic. It can be seen that once the user has donned the respirator 11 and pulled the hood portion 18 fully over his head, the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 is elastically tensioned against the outer surface 22 adaptor seal 20 around the entire perimeter of the respirator 11 to create a continuous and uniform interface. This enables the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 to form an airtight seal against the outer surface 22 of the adaptor seal 20, thereby preventing any of the hazardous ambient atmosphere from seeping into the suit 17 across the interface between the respirator 11 and the hood 18 of the suit 17, thereby keeping the user safe.

It can be seen from Figures 4 to 7 that the outer surface 22 of the adaptor seal 20 is contoured to provide a recess or gutter 23 which helps the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 to engage with the adaptor seal 20 as it is elastically biased thereagainst to create a more secure interface and prevent the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 from slipping off the adaptor seal 20.

As the hood edge seal 19 is elastically tensioned over the adaptor seal 20, it deforms into engagement with the gutter 23 and holds the hood 18 firmly in position, and prevents the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 from slipping over the adaptor seal 20 and out of engagement with the periphery of the respirator 11. Furthermore, the outwardly tapering shape of the adaptor seal 20 prevents the edge seal 19 of the hood from slipping off the adaptor seal 20 due to the elasticity of the edge seal 19 keeping it constricted and held against the adaptor seal 20.

Although the above embodiment shows the outer surface 22 of the adaptor seal 20 having a gutter 23 formed therein, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the adaptor seal may alternatively be provided without any gutter 23. The outwardly tapering shape of the adaptor seal, together with the elastic edge seal 19 of the hood would ensure that the hood 18 would still be firmly held in place around the periphery of the respirator 11 and would not slip off. Furthermore, other un-illustrated configurations are possible within the scope of the invention which would make the hood seal 19 engage with the adaptor seal 20 to make an air-tight seal and prevent slippage of the hood seal 19 over the adaptor seal 20.

Such possible configurations could include a stepped outer surface, or ridged outer surface.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the outwardly tapering seal 19 of the hood 18 from folding and deflecting inwards, thereby risking the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 slipping over and out of engagement with the adaptor seal 20, the adaptor seal 20 could be provided with a plurality of strengthening ribs. Such ribs could be formed integrally with the adaptor seal 20 during its manufacture, or could be bonded to the surface of the adaptor seal 20 as a subsequent step after its manufacture.

A variant of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9, where like features retain the same reference numerals. The adaptor seal 20 remains the same, having a bonding surface 21 at which it is attached to the peripheral edge of the respirator 11 and an opposite outer surface 22 having a gutter 23 formed therein. However, the edge seal 19 around the peripheral edge of the hood 18 includes a projecting bead I 9A which is shaped and configured to correspond to the shape of the gutter 23 in the adaptor seal 20. This provides an improved security of the hood 18 attached to the respirator 11, as when the user pulls the hood over his head, the bead 19A projecting from the hood edge seal 19 csnaps into engagement with the gutter 23 formed in the adaptor seal 20. In this embodiment, the edge seal 19 of the hood 18 could be formed of a stiffer less elastic rubber so that the bead would more securely remain in engagement with the gutter 23.

Further, the cooperating edge seal 19 of the hood 18 of the CBRN suit 17 could be retro-fitted to a conventional CBRN suit, or could be moulded integrally with the hood edge of a CBRN suit specifically manufactured for use with a respirator having an adaptor seal of the present invention.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 10 and 11 and corresponds largely to the first embodiment shown in Figures 4 -7. As with the first embodiment of the invention, the respirator mask 31 of the second embodiment includes an oro-nasal mask 32, an outer respirator body 33 including a visor 34, a peripheral seal 35 and straps 36 which secure the respirator 31 in place on the user's head. The respirator 31 includes an adaptor seal 40 around the outer edge of the respirator body 32. The adaptor seal 40 is a continuous moulding which is bonded to the respirator 31 and includes a bonding surface 41 at which it is attached to the peripheral edge of the respirator 31 and an opposite outer surface 42. The adaptor seal 40 generally tapers outwards and rearwards from the peripheral edge of the respirator 31. However, the adaptor seal 40 of the second embodiment includes an upstanding bead 43 which extends around the entire length of the adaptor seal 40. The bead 43 is moulded integrally with the adaptor seal 40, although it may equally alternatively be bonded to the adaptor seal 40 after the adaptor seal 40 is initially produced.

Figures 10 and 11 show the respirator 31 being worn by a user in combination with a full CBRN protective suit 37, having a hood portion 38 which includes an edge seal 39 around the opening thereof, as shown with the first embodiment in Figures 5 to 7. It can be seen that the edge seal 39 of the hood 38 is elastically tensioned against the outer surface 42 of the adaptor seal 40 around the entire perimeter of the respirator 31 to create a continuous and uniform interface, and the edge seal 39 of the hood 38 deforms over the bead 43 and engages with the adaptor seal 40 as it is elastically biased thereagainst to create a more secure interface and prevent the edge seal 39 of the hood 38 from slipping off the adaptor seal 40. Furthermore, the outwardly tapering shape of the adaptor seal 40 also helps to prevent the edge seal 39 of the hood 38 from slipping off the adaptor seal 40.

In the second embodiment described above, the edge seal 39 of the hood is a straight flange which deforms around the bead 43 to provide a secure seal. However, it is intended within the scope of the invention that an edge seal for the hood could include a corresponding recess which could cooperate with the upstanding bead 43 of the adaptor seal 40 (like the reverse of the arrangement of the variant of the first embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9). This would provide an improved security of the hood attached to the respirator, as when the user pulls the hood over his head, the recess in the hood edge seal would csnap into engagement with the bead 43 of the adaptor seal 40. In such an embodiment, the edge seal of the hood could be formed of a stiffer less elastic rubber so that the recess would more easily remain in engagement with the bead 43.

In any of the embodiments described above where the edge seal of the hood includes a recess or a bead, such feature could be moulded integrally with the edge seal of the hood, or could be retro-fitted to an edge seal of a hood of a known CBRN suit, in order to be able to cheaply and effectively adapt known CBRN suits to be operable with an adaptor seal of the present invention retro-fitted to a respirator mask. Therefore, a single adaptor kit could be provided comprising a retro-fittable adaptor seal to bond around the periphery of a conventional respirator, and a cooperating retro-fittable edge seal to bond around the periphery of a hood of a conventional CBRN suit, thereby economically and effectively adapting conventional respirator and CBRN suit technology to engage with one another to provide a secure and safe seal therebetween.

In all embodiments described above and their respective alternatives, it is shown and described that the adaptor seal is retro-fitted to a known respirator by bonding around the peripheral edge of the respirator, thereby cost-effectively adapting known respirators to greatly improve their ability to engage with hoods of existing CBRN suits, without having to manufacture entire new respirators. However, it is intended within the scope of the invention that such hood-engaging features of the adaptor seals could alternatively be formed integrally with a purpose-made respirator having such features.

Although not illustrated, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the adaptor seal could include a clip or latch at some point around its periphery, for example on the top, or bottom under the chin, or both. In such an un-illustrated embodiment, a user may don the CBRN suit after putting on the respirator, by pulling the hood up and clipping one part, for example, the top of the hood, into the clip in the adaptor seal, and then as that part of the hood edge is held in place, pulling the rest of the hood over his head into engagement with the adaptor seal on the respirator, possibly completing the fitment by clipping the bottom edge of the hood seal into an additional clip at the bottom of the adaptor seal edge. Alternatively, the process could begin with clipping the hood edge into a clip at the bottom of the adaptor seal and possibly finishing with a clip at the top of the adaptor seal.

The adaptor seal may be extruded or moulded, and may be formed as a continuous loop, or as single piece having opposite distal ends, wherein the adaptor seal has a specific length such that when it is bonded to the respirator, the distal ends meet so that the adaptor seal makes a continuous loop round the periphery of the respirator.

Claims

-10 -Claims 1. An adaptor seal for attachment to a peripheral edge of a conventional full-face respirator mask, the adaptor seal comprising a first surface to bond against the respirator mask, and a second surface to face outwardly from the respirator mask, wherein the second surface is configured for engagement with a hood of a protective suit such that, in use, the adaptor seal secures the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask.
2. An adaptor seal according to claim I wherein the second surface of the adaptor seal is contoured to aid a hood of a protective suit to engage therewith.
3. An adaptor seal according to claim 2 wherein the contoured surface comprises a stepped surface.
4. An adaptor seal according to claim 2 wherein the contoured surface comprises a recess extending around the periphery of the adaptor seal.
5. An adaptor seal according to claim 2 wherein the contoured surface comprises a projecting bead extending around the periphery of the adaptor seal.
6. An adaptor seal according to claim 5 wherein the bead is bonded to said second surface.
7. An adaptor seal according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the contoured surface of the adaptor seal is formed integrally therewith.
8. An adaptor seal according to any preceding claim configured to taper outwardly and rearwards once attached to the peripheral edge of a conventional full-face respirator mask.

-11 -
9. An adaptor seal according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of strengthening members to prevent the adaptor seal from deflecting under a constrictive force when, in use, a hood of a protective suit is secured thereto.
10. An adaptor seal according to claim 9 wherein the strengthening members include a plurality of ribs extending radially relative to the adaptor seal.
11. An adaptor seal according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the strengthening members are bonded to the adaptor seal.
12. An adaptor seal according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the strengthening members are formed integrally with the adaptor seal.
13. An adaptor seal according to any preceding claim, further comprising a secondary seal attachable to a peripheral edge of a hood of a conventional protective suit, wherein the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal are configured to cooperate with each other to secure the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask.
14. An adaptor seal according to claim 13 wherein one of the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal comprises a grooved recess extending around the periphery thereof, and the other of the secondary seal and the second surface of the adaptor seal comprises a projecting bead extending around the periphery thereof, receivable in the grooved recess.
15. An adaptor seal according to any preceding claim including an adhesive on the first surface to enable the adaptor seal to be bonded to a conventional respirator mask.
16. A respirator mask including an adaptor seal according to any preceding claim.-12 -
17. A respirator mask including a seal formed integrally therewith around the peripheral edge of the respirator mask, the seal comprising an outwardly facing surface configured for engagement with a hood of a protective suit such that, in use, the seal secures the peripheral edge of the hood in engagement with respirator mask
18. A respirator mask according to claim 17 wherein the outwardly facing surface is contoured to aid a hood of a protective suit engaging therewith.
19. A respirator mask according to claim 18 wherein the contoured surface comprises a stepped surface.
20. A respirator mask according to claim 18 wherein the contoured surface comprises a recess extending around the periphery of the seal.
21. A respirator mask according to claim 18 wherein the contoured surface comprises a projecting bead extending around the periphery of the seal.
22. A respirator mask according to claim 21 wherein the bead is bonded to said outwardly facing surface.
23. A respirator mask according to any of claims 18 to 21 wherein the contoured outwardly facing surface of the seal is formed integrally therewith.
24. A respirator mask according to any of claims 17 to 23 wherein the seal tapers outwardly and rearwards.
25. A respirator mask according to claim 24 further comprising a plurality of strengthening members to prevent the seal from deflecting under a constrictive force when, in use, a hood of a protective suit is secured thereto.
26. A respirator mask according to claim 25 wherein the strengthening members include a plurality of ribs extending radially relative to the seal.-13 -
27. A respirator mask according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein the strengthening members are bonded to the seal.
28. A respirator mask according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein the strengthening members are formed integrally with the seal.
29. An adaptor seal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A respirator mask substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.