JP4891877B2 - mask - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mask effective for, for example, hay fever countermeasures and house dust countermeasures in daily life.

  Filter methods used to remove pollen and fine dust floating in the air include (a) a filtration type that collects pollen using filter media, and (b) positively or negatively charges pollen. In addition, there are known an electrostatic type that is attracted to an electrode having a charge opposite thereto, and (c) a collision adhesive type that collects pollen and the like by collecting and colliding with a medium coated with an adhesive.

  The method (a) is widely applied to masks used to prevent inhalation of pollen and the like. However, this type of mask does not yet have sufficient adhesion between the mask and the face, and a gap is likely to be formed between the mask and the face. Therefore, complete removal of pollen and the like is not easy. On the other hand, when trying to increase the adhesion between the mask and the face, it becomes difficult to breathe. Moreover, if the filter material is closed or the filter materials are stacked in order to increase the performance of collecting pollen or the like, breathing difficulty increases. Since the mechanism of (b) has a complicated mechanism, it is not easy to apply it to a mask from an economical viewpoint.

  Regarding the method (c), an example is known in which this method is applied to an allergic rhinitis prevention device that is used by being inserted into the nasal cavity (see Patent Document 1). This allergic rhinitis prevention device is equipped with an inertia dust collector, and the inertia dust collector is used to remove pollen and the like. In this inertia dust collector, the sucked outside air is accelerated by passing it through a tapered nozzle, then it is made to collide with the collecting part to change its direction, and further provided in a cylindrical support cylinder surrounding the nozzle. Outside air is inhaled through the opening. Pollen and the like are collected when they collide with the collection unit. As the collecting part, foamed polyurethane, a water-absorbing polymer, fats and oils, grease and the like are used.

  However, the allergic rhinitis-preventing device described in Patent Document 1 has a disadvantage that the air resistance flowing therethrough is meandering, so that the ventilation resistance is large and it is difficult to breathe. Thus, the present condition is that the mask with high pollen etc. collection performance and low ventilation resistance has not been obtained yet.

  In addition to the technique described in Patent Document 1, a mask having a valve mechanism has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). According to this mask, the painfulness when exhaling is eliminated, but when breathing in, there is a suffocation. Further, since the valve mechanism is mounted in a state of protruding from the outer surface of the mask, it does not have a clean appearance.

JP-A-61-228883 JP 2005-510314 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mask that can eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

The present invention provides a mask body having a substantially cup shape capable of covering a portion from the nose to the chin of a wearer and having a first ventilation opening at the center, and the ventilation body inside the mask body. A particle collecting portion disposed at a position facing the opening,
The portion of the particle collection portion that faces the ventilation opening is a particle collection surface,
A second ventilation opening is provided adjacent to the particle collection surface;
A mask configured such that inhaled air that has flowed into the mask through the first ventilation opening flows out through the second ventilation opening after colliding with the particle collecting surface and is inhaled by the wearer. Is to provide.

  According to the mask of the present invention, fine dusts such as pollen and house dust can be collected with high efficiency, and since the ventilation resistance is low, breathing can be performed easily.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the mask of the present invention as seen from the front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask body of the mask shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. The mask 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on the wearer's face and used mainly for collecting and removing fine dust (hereinafter also referred to as pollen) such as pollen and house dust. The mask 10 is roughly divided into a mask main body 20 and a particle collecting unit 30. The mask 10 collects and removes pollen and other particles using the principle of inertial collision.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mask main body 20 has a substantially cup shape having a smooth curved surface. This shape is a shape that can cover the part from the nose of the wearer to the chin. The mask body 20 is used so that the convex side faces outward and the concave side faces the wearer's face. The mask body 20 has a first ventilation opening 21 (hereinafter also referred to as the first opening 21) at the center, that is, at the most convex position.

  The 1st opening part 21 consists of an aggregate | assembly of the some small opening part 21a. Each small opening 21 a has a hexagonal shape, and they are arranged in a honeycomb shape to form the first opening 21. In the wearing state of the mask 10, exhaled air and inhalation circulate in and out of the mask through the first opening 21. That is, in the mask main body 20, only the first opening 21 is a flow part for exhalation and inspiration, and there is no circulation of exhalation and inspiration through other parts of the mask main body 20.

As a result of the study by the present inventors, it has been found that the area of the first opening 21 affects the collection rate of pollen and the like. Specifically, it was found that increasing the area of the first opening 21 increases the collection rate of pollen and the like. When utilizing the principle of inertial collision described above, it is theoretically considered that it is advantageous from the viewpoint of achieving a high collection rate to increase the flow velocity of the intake air by reducing the area of the first opening 21. On the contrary, it was an extremely surprising finding that the collection rate increases when the area of the first opening 21 is increased. Specifically, pollen and the like can be collected with high efficiency by setting the area of the first opening 21 to preferably 1.5 to ⁶ cm ² , more preferably ² to 4 cm ² . In addition, by setting the opening area within this range, the ventilation resistance can be made sufficiently low, and breathing can be performed easily. In addition, the area of the 1st opening part 21 is a total area of these some opening part, when there are two or more opening parts.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first cylindrical wall 22 is provided on the back side of the mask body 20, that is, on the concave side so as to surround the first opening 21. The first cylindrical wall 22 has a substantially circular cross section. The first cylindrical wall 22 has a function of regulating the flow of the intake air by preventing the intake air flowing in through the first opening 21 from diffusing laterally. In addition to this, it also has a function as a guide tube for reliably guiding the intake air to a particle collecting unit to be described later. From these viewpoints, the height of the cylindrical wall 22 is determined. Specifically, the height of the cylindrical wall 22 is 30 to 80%, particularly 50 to 70% with respect to the distance between the first opening 21 and a particle collecting unit described later. Is preferred.

  On the back side of the mask body 20, a second cylindrical wall 23 is provided so as to surround the first cylindrical wall 22 described above. The second cylindrical wall 23 has a substantially circular cross section. The second cylindrical wall 23 is concentric with the first cylindrical wall 22 described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the open end 23a of the second cylindrical wall 23 is located closer to the wearer's face than the open end 22a of the first cylindrical wall 22 described above. The 2nd cylindrical wall 23 becomes an attachment site | part of the particle | grain collection part mentioned later. Further, the second cylindrical wall 23 is a flow path for intake air from the first opening 21 to the second opening 34 described later (and from the second opening 34 described later to the first opening 21). Used to form part of the exhalation flow path). Accordingly, the intake air flows to the wearer through the second opening 34 described later. In addition, exhaled air flows from the wearer side through the second opening 34 to the first opening 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the peripheral portion on the back side of the mask main body 20 is a face contact portion, and the mask main body 20 comes into contact with the wearer's face in a planar shape at the peripheral portion. Yes. As shown in FIG. 1, the mask body 20 is provided with a substantially wedge-shaped cut portion 25. The cut portion 25 has a shape along the wearer's nose. Due to the peripheral portion 24 and the cut portion 25, the mask body 20 comes into close contact with the wearer's face, and no gap is generated between them. As a result, the flow of exhaled air and inhaled air is performed exclusively through the first opening 21.

  A pair of fixing portions 27 for fixing the end portions of the ear straps 26 are provided on both the left and right sides of the mask body 20. By fixing each end of the ear strap 26 to the fixing portion 27, the ear strap 26 becomes a loop shape. The ear strap 26 is generally made of a material having elastic elasticity. In particular, if the ear strap 26 is detachably fixed to the fixing portion 27, even if the ear strap 26 is damaged due to repeated use, it is only necessary to replace the ear strap 26. Since the mask body 20 can be used repeatedly, it is economical.

  The mask body 20 is made of a non-breathable or hardly breathable material. Moreover, since the mask main body 20 is a member which touches a wearer's face directly, it is preferable to be comprised from the material which was rich in the touch and the softness | flexibility. From these viewpoints, the mask body 20 is preferably a molded body made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate, or a synthetic resin such as a thermoplastic elastomer. Alternatively, it is also possible to use a three-dimensionally molded pulp mold or a non-woven fabric which has been conventionally used for a mask because of its low air permeability.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the particle collection unit 30, which is a member that constitutes the mask 10 together with the mask body 20, connects the disk-shaped collection plate 31, the mounting unit 32 that surrounds the collection plate 31, and both of them. And a connecting portion 33 that is disposed at a position facing the first opening 21. These members are integrally formed by resin molding. The particle collecting part 30 is detachably attached to the mask body 20 by fitting the attachment part 32 to the second cylindrical wall 23 in the mask body 20.

  The collection plate 31 in the particle collection unit 30 has a flat plate shape and has a first surface 31a and a second surface 31b located on the opposite side as shown in FIG. 4B. . In a state where the particle collection unit 30 is attached to the mask main body 20, the first surface 31 a of the collection plate 31 faces the first opening 21 of the mask main body 20. The collection plate 31 has a size sufficient to project the entire area of the first opening 21 onto the collection plate when the first opening 21 is projected onto the collection plate 31. ing. A viscous particle collecting agent (not shown) is applied to the first surface 31a. The first surface 31a coated with the particle collecting agent acts as a particle collecting surface. The particle collection surface is a part facing the first opening 21 in the particle collection unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the attachment portion 32 in the particle collecting portion 30 includes an annular portion 32a and a cylindrical wall portion 32b that stands up from the periphery of the annular portion 32a. The annular portion 32a and the disk-shaped collection plate 31 described above are in concentric positions. A pair of fitting projections 32c and 32d extends upward from the upper end of the wall 32b. The fitting protrusion 32c and the fitting protrusion 32d face each other by 180 degrees. The fitting protrusions 32c and 32d can be fitted to the second cylindrical wall 23 of the mask main body 20, whereby the particle collecting part 30 is detachably attached to the mask main body.

  The connecting portion 33 that connects the collection plate 31 and the attachment portion 32 extends radially from the periphery of the collection plate 31 and is coupled to the attachment portion 32. The connection part 33 is arrange | positioned with respect to the center of the collection board 31 every 90 degree | times. As a result, a second ventilation opening 34 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the second opening 34) is formed between the adjacent connecting portions 33. Since the particle collecting unit 30 has four connecting portions 33, the particle collecting unit 30 is provided with four second openings 34. Since the second opening 34 is provided between the collection plate 31 and the annular portion 32 a of the attachment portion 32, the second opening 34 is a particle formed by the collection plate 31. Adjacent to the collecting surface, it is provided on the same plane as the particle collecting surface.

Unlike the first opening 21 described above, the area of the second opening 34 is not critical for improving the collection rate of pollen and the like. The area of the second opening 34 can be appropriately determined in consideration of a reduction in ventilation resistance, the design of the mask 10 and the like, and is generally 6 to 15 cm ² , particularly preferably 7 to 12 cm ² . Moreover, it is preferable from the point of reduction of ventilation resistance that the ratio of the area of the 2nd opening part 34 with respect to the area of the 1st opening part 21 is 100 to 1000%, especially 175 to 600%.

  As the particle collecting agent constituting the particle collecting surface, a viscous substance capable of collecting pollen or the like by adhesive force is used. Examples of such substances include viscous liquids such as petrolatum, fats and oils, and semi-solids. Of these, petrolatum is widely used as a base for medicines (such as ointments) and is preferably used because it has little effect on the human body. The amount of the particle collecting agent used is not critical in the present invention, and it is sufficient if it is the minimum amount that can collect pollen and the like.

The particle collecting agent is desirably in the entire region of the first surface 31 a of the collecting plate 31. The particle collecting agent may be directly applied or sprayed on the first surface 31a of the collecting plate 31, or the particle collecting agent coated on the film is attached to the first surface 31a together with the film. May be. In addition, a sheet impregnated with a particle collecting agent may be attached on the first surface 31a.

  In the case where the particle collecting agent is directly applied to the first surface 31a of the collecting plate 31, the first particle collecting agent is stably adhered to the first surface 31a. Rather than smoothing the surface 31a, it is preferable to make it a fine uneven surface. From this point of view, the first surface 31a is preferably formed into a satin finish, or the first surface 31a is preferably subjected to roughening processing such as sanding or sandblasting. The same applies to a particle collecting surface 42 described later.

  A mechanism for collecting and removing pollen and the like by the mask 10 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the wearing state of the mask 10, the intake air 41 including the pollen 40 flows into the mask 10 through the first opening 21. The inflowing intake 41 is guided by the first cylindrical wall 22 and collides with the particle collection surface 42 of the collection plate 31. Although depending on the type, the particle diameter of pollen 40 is generally relatively large, around 30 μm. Therefore, when the intake air 41 including pollen 40 collides with the particle collecting surface 42, inertia acts on the pollen 40 and pollen. Etc. 40 are collected on the particle collecting surface 42 having adhesiveness and removed from the intake air. In addition, the traveling direction of the intake air 41 (pollen etc. 40 is removed from the intake air 41) is bent by the particle collecting surface 42. The intake air 41 whose traveling direction is bent is then guided to the second cylindrical wall 23, and the traveling direction is further bent. And it flows out through the 2nd opening part 34, and is inhaled in a wearer's body. In the case of exhalation, exhalation is released out of the mask through this reverse path.

  As described above, in the mask 10 of this embodiment, the intake air 41 that has flowed into the mask 10 through the first opening 21 collides with the particle collection surface 42 and then flows out through the second opening 34. It is configured to be inhaled by the wearer. As a result, since the intake air 41 only passes through the crank-shaped flow path until it flows in from the first opening 21 and flows out of the second opening 34, the ventilation resistance is extremely low. Become. The same applies to exhalation. Therefore, breathing with the mask 10 attached becomes extremely easy. In addition, the collection and removal of pollen and the like 40 using inertial collision is extremely efficient.

  From the viewpoint of further efficiently collecting and removing pollen 40 using inertial collision, the distance between the first opening 21 and the particle collecting surface 42 is set to 5 to 25 mm, particularly 7 to 15 mm. It is preferable.

  Also, according to the mask 10 of the present embodiment, unlike the mask described in Patent Document 2 described above, since no member is attached to the outer surface side of the mask main body 10, it has a clean appearance. Furthermore, according to the mask 10 of the present embodiment, the mask 10 can be repeatedly used by simply replacing the particle collecting agent of the particle collecting unit 30, which is extremely economical.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Regarding the points that are not particularly described with respect to the second embodiment, the description with respect to the first embodiment is applied as appropriate. In FIG. 6, the same members as those in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The mask 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 collects and removes pollen and the like using the principle of inertial collision as in the first embodiment. The structure of the mask body 10 in the mask 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The mask 10 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the particle collecting unit 30. Specifically, the particle collection unit 30 includes a disk-shaped collection plate 31 and a cylindrical wall portion 35 that stands up from the periphery of the collection plate 31. The wall portion 35 is substantially orthogonal to the collection plate 31. A portion of the collection plate 31 that faces the first opening 21 is a particle collection surface 42 to which a particle collection agent is applied. A large number of second openings 34 are formed in the wall 35 at positions adjacent to the collection plate 31. The second openings 34 are provided regularly or irregularly over the entire outer peripheral surface of the wall 35. Since the wall 35 is substantially orthogonal to the collection plate 31 as described above, the second opening 34 is adjacent to the particle collection surface 42 and substantially orthogonal to the particle collection surface 42. It will be provided on the surface.

  The mechanism for collecting and removing pollen and the like by the mask 10 of the present embodiment is as follows. In the wearing state of the mask 10, the intake air 41 including the pollen 40 flows into the mask 10 through the first opening 21. The inflowing intake 41 is guided by the first cylindrical wall 22 and collides with the particle collection surface 42 of the collection plate 31. At the time of the collision, the inertia acts on the pollen 40 and the like, and the pollen 40 is collected on the particle collecting surface 42 having adhesiveness and removed from the intake 41. The direction of travel of the intake air 41 from which pollen 40 has been removed is bent by the particle collection surface 42. The intake air 41 whose traveling direction is bent flows out through the second opening 34 and is sucked into the wearer's body. In the case of exhalation, exhalation is released out of the mask through this reverse path.

  As described above, in the mask 10 of the present embodiment, the intake air flows through the L-shaped simple flow channel until it flows in from the first opening 21 and flows out of the second opening 34. Just pass through. As a result, the ventilation resistance is extremely low as in the first embodiment. The same applies to exhalation. Therefore, breathing with the mask 10 attached becomes extremely easy.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the particle collecting unit 30 is detachably attached to the mask main body 20 by fitting. Instead, the particle collecting unit 30 is attached to the mask main body via a hinge mechanism. May be. The collection plate 31 is not limited to a flat plate shape, and may be a concave surface so as to face the first opening 21. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back side of the mask body 20, that is, the concave side, surrounds the first opening 21 (collection of small openings 21 a), Although the 1st cylindrical wall 22 was provided, it replaced with this and the 1st cylindrical wall 22 may be provided in each of the small opening parts 21a. Further, in the above embodiment, the portion of the particle collecting portion facing the first ventilation opening is a particle collecting surface to which a viscous particle collecting agent is applied, but instead of this, A filter member such as a nonwoven fabric may be attached to the first surface 31a. In this case, it is preferable that the filter member is impregnated with water or the particle collecting agent from the viewpoint of improving the particle collection rate. The surface of the filter facing the first ventilation opening in the particle collecting portion acts as a particle collecting surface.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the mask of the present invention as seen from the front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask body of the mask shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a particle collecting portion of the mask shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line bb in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a mechanism for collecting and removing pollen and the like by the mask shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 5) at the center in the width direction of the mask according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mask 20 Mask main body 21 1st ventilation opening 30 Particle collection part 31 Collection board 34 2nd ventilation opening 40 Pollen etc. 41 Inhalation 42 Particle collection surface

Claims (4)

A mask body having a substantially cup shape and having a first ventilation opening in the center, and a particle collecting portion disposed at a position facing the ventilation opening inside the mask body,
A cylindrical wall is provided on the back side of the mask body so as to surround the first ventilation opening,
A second cylindrical wall 23 is provided so as to surround the cylindrical wall, and the opening end of the second cylindrical wall is closer to the wearer's face than the opening end of the cylindrical wall. Yes,
The particle collecting part is attached to the second cylindrical wall;
The portion of the particle collection portion that faces the ventilation opening is a particle collection surface,
A second ventilation opening is provided adjacent to the particle collection surface;
The second ventilation opening is provided on substantially the same plane as the particle collection surface, or provided on a surface substantially orthogonal to the particle collection surface;
A mask configured such that inhaled air that has flowed into the mask through the first ventilation opening flows out through the second ventilation opening after colliding with the particle collecting surface and is inhaled by the wearer. .   2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the particle collecting portion facing the first ventilation opening is a particle collecting surface to which a viscous particle collecting agent is applied. The mask according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the particle collecting part is detachable from the second cylindrical wall . Mask according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the particle collector is attached to the mask body through a hinge mechanism.

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