IT202000010987A1 - IMPROVED FILTERING FACE MASK - Google Patents

Description

Description of the Industrial Invention entitled:

?PERFECTED FILTERING FACE MASK?

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved filtering facial mask.

Numerous types of face masks are known in the art, configured as full face or half mask, typically equipped, as well as obviously with one or more masks. elastic straps or other similar means to allow a user to wear them to cover at least the mouth and nose (the half masks) if not the whole? of the face (full face masks), an exhalation group and usually two inhalation filtering groups: in particular, in these face masks they are equipped with one or more? group of inspiration replaceable that for? do not allow, indifferently, the use of filtering systems that guarantee a degree of protection against fine particles (P1-P2-P3 between 0.02 and 1 ?m and antibacterial and antiviral medical filters.

Furthermore, hospital antiviral filters known as HME (filters with heat and humidity exchanger) are already known in the art. used for lung ventilators and antiviral/bacterial filters for spirometric measuring devices but, due to the particular shape of their unified attachments, they are not suitable for use with half masks regulated by UNI EN 140: in fact, the mere replacement of a filtering unit inspiration of a UNI EN 140 category mask with a HME type filter unit does not guarantee sufficient stability? mechanism between the latter and the mask itself, also not preventing the "rebreathing" phenomenon, i.e. the user's exhalation respiratory reflux also towards the HME type filtering group, affecting the performance of the latter and no longer respecting ? n? the legislation on the construction (presence of valves both in input and output) n? the maximum CO2 content inside the face piece due to rebreathing.

Furthermore, in the known masks, there is no? guarantee that droplets of saliva (the so-called ?droplets?) can escape through the exhalation unit, which are expelled when the user wearing these masks speaks, coughs and sneezes, and/or there are small flows from the outside towards the ?inside the mask through the same exhalation group.

Furthermore, since there are no standard 22M/15F medical type attachments in the current half masks, it is not? It is possible to use the facepiece as a low-cost ventilation system for the patient as it is not possible to insert (for example) the oxygen supply in the right connection, the antiviral filter in the left connection for the protection of the external environment and a simple cap in place of the outlet filter.

Furthermore, in existing masks, usually when dealing with half masks, their surface portion covering the nasal area? shaped in such a way as to adapt to any general shape of a generic user's nose: ? clear that this feature does not guarantee n? an optimal seal on the face nor, much less, an adequate comfort of use.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention ? that of solving the aforesaid problems of the prior art by providing an improved filtering face mask which can allow the use of an HME filter unit, in particular of the hospital type, in addition to proprietary filters, guaranteeing adequate stability? mechanics of the fluid connection between the mask and the filter unit themselves and, at the same time, preventing the phenomenon of ?rebreathing?.

Another object of the present invention ? to provide an improved filtering face mask including an exhalation assembly that prevents the expulsion of ?droplets? and the passage of flows from the outside to the inside of the mask itself through the same exhalation group even in the absence of respiratory back pressure.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention ? that of providing a filtering face mask that allows to shape the superficial covering portion of the nasal area in such a way as to accommodate the specific shape of the user's nose, consequently increasing its seal on the face and the comfort of use, even for long periods .

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with an improved filtering face mask such as the one described in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the object of the claims employees.

It is understood that all the attached claims form an integral part of the present description.

will result? it is immediately obvious that innumerable variations and modifications may be made to what has been described (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functions) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as appears from the attached claims.

This invention will come better described by some preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the improved filtering face mask according to the present invention;

- FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the improved filtering facemask of FIG. 1;

- FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded front perspective view of the improved filtering face mask according to the present invention of FIGS. 1 and 2;

- FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded side perspective view of a component of the improved filtering facemask according to the present invention;

- FIG. 5 shows a partially exploded side perspective view of another component of the improved filtering facemask according to the present invention; And

- FIG. 6 shows a partially exploded side perspective view of a further component of the improved filtering face mask according to the present invention.

Referring to the Figures, ? It can be noted that the improved facial filtering mask 1 according to the present invention comprising at least one exhalation group 3 and at least one connection element 5 provided to allow fluidic connection with at least one inhalation filtering group: advantageously, at least one such inhalation filtering group ? provided to be connected to a respective connection element 5 by means of the interposition of at least one first non-return valve means 9, this first non-return valve means 9 being provided to allow a fluid passage during the inhalation of the user wearing said mask 1 from the inhalation filter unit towards this connection element 5 and, vice versa, prevent a reverse flow of fluid during the exhalation of the user from this connection element 5 towards this inspiration filter assembly: the first non-return valve means 9 therefore advantageously prevents the exhalation respiratory reflux (?rebreathing?) of the user wearing the mask 1 according to the present invention towards the respective inspiration filtering unit.

In a preferred embodiment thereof, the fluid connection between the connection element 5 and the inhalation filter unit takes place by means of a connection of the 22F/15M type.

In one of his favorite embodiments, cos? as can be noted in particular in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, this inhalation filtering group comprises at least one antiviral and/or antibacterial filtering group and, even more? preferably, this antiviral and/or antibacterial filtering group ? consisting of at least one HME 7a filter unit.

even more preferably, this filter group HME ? hospital type.

In one of his favorite embodiments, cos? as can be noted in particular in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, this inspiration filter unit comprises at least one P1, P2 or P3 category filter unit 7b of a type substantially known in the art.

In particular, what? as ? can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first non-return valve means 9 comprises at least one tubular support body 11 comprising at least one tubular portion 13 intended to be inserted, at least partially, inside the fluid outlet duct 15 of the respective inspiration filter unit 7a , 7b and at least one flexible non-return membrane 17, this flexible non-return membrane 17 being arranged in such a way as to flex under the pressure action of the direction of the fluid passage determined by the inhalation or exhalation of the user wearing the mask 1, to open at least partially this tubular portion 13 and allow the passage of fluid during the user?s inspiration from the inspiration filter unit 7a, 7b towards the respective connection element 5 and, vice versa, almost occlude? completely said tubular portion 13 and prevent the reverse fluidic passage during exhalation of the user from this connection element 5 towards this inhalation filter unit 7a, 7b.

The first non-return valve means 9 also comprises at least one undercut portion 19 intended to engage the respective connection element 5 under pressure and ensure adequate stability. connection mechanism between the inhalation filter unit and the connection element 5 itself: in particular, this undercut portion 19 is made in such a way as to guarantee resistance to extraction of the inhalation filter unit from the connection element 5 to which it is connected? connected greater than 50N, as required by the reference standards.

Preferably, what? as ? can be noted in particular in FIG. 6, the exhalation group 3 comprises at least one pre-chamber 21 comprising in succession at least one fluid connection duct 23 through a respective connection opening 25, at least one second non-return valve means 27, at least one filter element 29 and at least one external grille 31.

In particular, this second non-return valve means 27 is provided to allow a fluidic passage during the exhalation of the user from the fluidic connection duct 23 towards the outside of the mask 1 and, vice versa, to prevent a reverse fluidic passage during the inhalation of the user from the outside towards the connection duct fluidic system 23 itself: the first non-return valve means 9 therefore advantageously prevents the passage, potentially dangerous, of flows from the outside to the inside of the mask itself through this exhalation unit 3.

Preferably, the second non-return valve means 27 is consisting of an elastic valve 33 with a conical shape (for example in silicone) inserted in the fluidic connection conduit 23 and connected to the latter, for example, by at least one connection stem 34 provided for engaging a respective seat 36 along the conduit fluidic connection 23 same: even more? preferably, this elastic valve with conical shape 33? equipped with at least one perimetric elastic rib 35 intended to press only on the respective abutment surface of the fluidic connection duct 23 and thus increase? the seal of the elastic valve with conical shape 33 without the need? of back pressures (as instead necessary in the reed valves normally adopted for reasons of economy in the standard face masks).

Advantageously, the filter element 29 has a dual purpose:

<- >ensuring a safe pre-chamber 21 even in the event of any fluid leakage through the second non-return valve means 27;

- prevent the external emission of ?droplets?.

The mask 1 according to the present invention can obviously be composed, cos? as known in the art, by suitably shaped and provided surface portions, when the user wears such a mask suitably, to respectively cover at least the oral area, the nasal area and and a suitable surface width of the respective adjacent skin areas of the face of such a user.

In particular, these surface portions comprise a surface portion covering the nasal area 37 comprising at least one mouldable elastic element 39 in order to be suitably shaped in such a way as to accommodate the specific shape of the nose of the user wearing the mask 1, and therefore adhere perfectly to it providing, at the same time, greater comfort than what is proposed by the prior art: for example, this mouldable elastic element 39 can? be made of elastic metal or a plastic material which, once heated to a suitable temperature, can be molded into the desired shape, a shape which can be held elastically once this material has returned to room temperature: in particular, a preferred but non-limiting material for realize the mouldable elastic element 39 ? the polyoxyacetal technopolymer for example of the Derlin 100 type due to its crystallinity? and very low creep.

Although in the Figures an embodiment of the improved filtering face mask according to the present invention as a half mask has been shown, by way of a complete example , it is quite clear that it can be made, with the same characteristics described above, as a full face mask without, therefore, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Obviously, the mask 1 according to the present invention can be equipped with one or more elastic straps or other similar means (not shown) to allow a user to wear it properly.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, but naturally they are susceptible to further modifications and variations within the scope of the same inventive idea. In particular, numerous variants and modifications, functionally equivalent to the previous ones, which fall within the scope of protection of the invention as evidenced in the attached claims in which any reference signs placed in brackets cannot be interpreted in the sense, will be immediately evident to those skilled in the art. to limit the claims themselves. Furthermore, the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements and/or phases other than those listed in the claims. The article ?un?, ?uno? or ?a? previous an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality? of such elements. The mere fact that some features are mentioned in different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (11)

1. Improved facial filtering mask (1) comprising at least one exhalation group (3) and at least one connection element (5) provided to allow a fluidic connection with at least one inhalation filtering group, characterized in that at least one said filtering group of inspiration ? provided to be connected to a respective connection element (5) by the interposition of at least one first non-return valve means (9), said first non-return valve means (9) being provided to allow a fluid passage during the flow? inhalation of a user wearing said mask (1) from said inhalation filter unit towards said connection element (5) and, conversely, to prevent a reverse flow of fluid during exhalation of said user from said connection element (5) towards called inhalation filter group. 2. Mask (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fluidic connection between said connection element (5) and said inhalation filter unit takes place by means of a connection of the 22F/15M type. 3. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inhalation filter unit comprises at least one antiviral and/or antibacterial filter unit. 4. Mask (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said antiviral and/or antibacterial filtering group ? consisting of at least one HME filter group (7a). 5. Mask (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said HME filter unit is hospital type. 6. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inhalation filter unit comprises at least one filter unit of category P1, P2 or P3 (7b). 7. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first non-return valve means (9) comprises at least one tubular support body (11) comprising at least one tubular portion (13) intended to be inserted, at least partially, inside a fluid outlet duct (15) of a respective inspiration filter unit (7a, 7b) and at least one non-return flexible membrane (17), said non-return flexible membrane (17) being arranged in such a way as to flex under the pressure action of the direction of the fluidic passage determined by the inhalation or exhalation of said user, to at least partially open said tubular portion (13) and allow the fluidic passage during inspiration of said user from said inspiration filter group (7a, 7b) towards said respective connection element (5) and, vice versa, almost occlude? completely said tubular portion (13) and prevent the reverse fluidic passage during the exhalation of said user from said connection element (5) towards said inhalation filter unit (7a, 7b). 8. Mask (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first non-return valve means (9) comprises at least one undercut portion (19) intended to engage said respective connection element (5) under pressure. 9. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said exhalation assembly (3) comprises at least one prechamber (21) comprising in succession at least one fluidic connection duct (23) via a respective connection opening ( 25), at least one second non-return valve means (27), at least one filter element (29) and at least one external grid (31), said second non-return valve means (27) being provided to allow a fluid passage during the ?exhalation of said user from said fluidic connection duct (23) towards the outside of said mask (1) and, vice versa, preventing a reverse flow of fluid during inhalation of said user from the outside towards said fluidic connection duct ( 23). 10. Mask (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second non-return valve means (27) ? consisting of a conical-shaped elastic valve (33) inserted in said fluidic connection conduit (23), said conical-shaped elastic valve (33) being provided with at least one perimetric elastic rib (35). 11. Mask (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a surface portion covering the nose area (37) comprising at least one mouldable elastic element (39).