KR102391451B1 - face mask - Google Patents

Abstract

The face mask 10 has an outer casing 12 and a filter element 14 . A fan module 20 is used to define an active face mask. When the face mask 10 is worn by a user, a mask cavity is defined inside the filter member 14 , and a chamber 15 is defined between the outer casing 12 and the filter member 14 . A battery module 23 is located in the chamber 15 .

Description

face mask

The present invention relates to a face mask for providing filtration of contaminants.

Air pollution is a global problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 million people die each year from air pollution. Some of these problems are outdoor air quality in cities. Nearly 300 smog-hit cities do not meet national air quality standards.

Official outdoor air quality standards define particulate matter concentrations as mass per unit volume (eg, μg/m3). Of particular concern is contamination by particles having a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (referred to as “PM2.5”), as they can penetrate into the gas exchange region (alveoli) of the lung, and very small particles (< 100 nm) can pass through the lungs and affect other organs.

Since this problem will not be significantly improved in a short period of time, the usual way to tackle this problem is to wear a mask that provides cleaner air by filtration, and the market for masks in China and other regions has recently It has seen a significant surge over the years.

Such a mask may be made of a material that acts as a filter for contaminant particles, or may have a filter for only a portion of the mask surface, and such a filter may be replaceable when it becomes clogged.

However, during use, the temperature and relative humidity inside the mask rises, combined with the pressure difference inside the mask relative to the outside, which makes breathing uncomfortable. This can be partially mitigated by providing an outlet valve or check valve that allows exhaled air to exit from the mask with little resistance, but these valves prevent inhaled air from being drawn through the filter. in need. To improve comfort and effectiveness, a fan may be added to the mask, which fan provides assistance in drawing in and/or exhaling air through the filter.

One possible advantage for the wearer of using a fan-powered mask is that the slight tension induced by inspiration against the resistance of the filter in conventional non-powered masks is relieved in the lungs. In addition, in conventional non-powered masks, inhalation also causes a slight pressure drop in the mask, which leads to leakage of contaminants into the mask, which can prove to be hazardous if they are toxic.

Thus, a fan-assisted mask can improve breathing comfort by reducing temperature, humidity, and breathing resistance.

In one arrangement, an inlet (ie, intake) fan may be used to provide continuous intake of air. In this way, the slight tension induced by inhalation against the resistance of the filter in conventional non-powered masks is relieved in the lungs. A continuous stream of air may then be provided to the face and, for example, providing some positive pressure to ensure that any leaks are outward rather than inward. However, it provides additional resistance to breathing when exhaling.

In another arrangement, an exhaust (ie, exhalation) fan may be used to provide a continuous release of air. It instead provides breathing assistance when exhaling. An exhalation fan can be combined with a series of check valves so that no flow can enter the mask through the fan.

The fan also creates a continuous flow of air through the mask. Air is drawn into the mask cavity through the filter by a flow induced by a fan or intake. This improves the comfort of the wearer.

Another alternative is to provide both inlet and exhaust fans, and to time the control of the fans synchronously with the user's breathing cycle. Respiratory cycle may be measured based on pressure (or differential pressure) measurements. This provides improved control of temperature and humidity, as well as a reduction in respiratory resistance for both inspiration and exhalation.

Accordingly, several types of masks for preventing routine exposure to air contaminants are available, including passive masks, passive masks with exhalation valves, and masks with at least one active fan. Available.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to active masks. They are battery operated devices, and battery life is of fundamental importance. In particular, it is desirable to obtain maximum battery life from a given battery mass. One problem is that the performance of the battery is temperature dependent. This is particularly problematic for face masks as they are used outdoors and are needed year-round.

The invention is defined by the claims.

According to examples according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a face mask comprising:

outer casing;

A filter member for mounting inside an outer casing, wherein when the face mask is worn by a user, a mask cavity is defined between the filter member and the user's face, and a chamber is formed between the outer casing and the filter member. defined, a filter element;

a fan module for creating flow between the mask cavity and the surrounding environment; and

a battery module;

The battery module is provided with a face mask, positioned within the chamber.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a face mask design having a two-layer structure of a filter element and an outer casing. The filter element is flexible (thus, the filter element can conform to the contours of a user's face).

This mask design forms a chamber between the filter element and the outer casing. Part of the wearer's exhaled breath passes through this chamber. As a result, the chamber is maintained at an elevated temperature during cold periods as the air content of the chamber is continuously replenished by the user's breathing. By placing the battery module in the chamber, the battery module is exposed to higher temperatures and thus has a longer lifespan in those conditions.

The battery module is preferably located in the path of the user's exhaled air when the mask is worn by the user. In this way, the warmth of the user's exhaled breath is used directly to heat the battery module.

The battery module is located, for example, in the front region of the face mask. This means that it is the entire area in front of the mouth and nose, rather than at the top, bottom or sides of the face mask. In this way, it is in the path of exhaled air from the user's nose or mouth.

The battery module and the fan module are, for example, separate units mounted to be spaced apart from each other. By separating the fan module and the battery module (which supplies power to the fan module), heavy components are avoided from being concentrated in separate locations of the face mask.

The mask body includes opposing sides configured to face at least partially laterally outward, for example when the mask is worn by a user, the fan assembly mounted on one of the opposing sides, the battery The modules are mounted on the other of the opposite sides.

By providing the fan module and battery module on opposite sides, balance is improved.

The fan module preferably includes an exhaust fan for exhausting air from the mask cavity. However, only part of the exhaled air passes through the fan; Another part passes through the chamber to raise the chamber temperature. Thus, even if an exhalation fan is used, the exhaled air can still be used to heat the battery.

The fan module may include a centrifugal fan having an axial inlet in communication with the inside of the mask cavity and a radial outlet outside the mask cavity. The centrifugal fan is compact and the radial outlet can be easily hidden from view to provide the desired aesthetic appearance.

The battery module is, for example, part of the control unit, the control unit further comprising a fan control circuit for the fan module.

An electrical connector is preferably provided between the fan module and the battery module, and is located in the chamber. The electrical connection forms, for example, a bridge between opposite sides of the face mask. The battery module (or control unit) is for example attached to the inner surface of the outer casing or removably attached to the filter element.

The filter member may include a first connector portion and the fan module may include a second connector portion for connection to the first connector portion to releasably secure the fan module to the filter member. Accordingly, the fan module can be detached from the filter member so that the filter member can be replaced or cleaned without the need to replace the fan module.

The first connector portion and the second connector portion are push fit together, for example to allow the filter member to be attached to and detached from the fan module. This enables easy assembly and disassembly.

The outer casing, for example, has an opening, and the fan module extends through the chamber and through the opening in the outer casing. This is one way of fitting the module and the casing together with the casing fitted over the fan module. This provides a simple assembly method.

The fan module may include a third connector portion, and the outer casing includes a fourth connector portion for connection to the third connector portion to secure the outer casing to the fan module with the fan module protruding through the opening. can do it

This further engagement between the fan module and the outer casing, for example around the inner edge of an opening in the outer casing, provides a positional fixation of the position of the fan module relative to the outer casing. Accordingly, the characteristics of airflow to or from the fan module remain consistent regardless of any shape adjustment of the flexible filter element. The set of connector parts also prevents leakage and improves user comfort.

The third connector portion may be press-fitted to the fourth connector portion.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) set forth hereinbelow.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how the present invention may be practiced, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings by way of example only.
1 is a view showing an example of a mask design to which the present invention can be applied.
Fig. 2 shows the design of Fig. 1 in an assembled state from one front side;
Fig. 3 shows the design of Fig. 1 in an assembled state from the opposite front side;
Fig. 4 is a diagram used to illustrate the manner in which a component interfaces with a wearer and to illustrate an alternative design;
5 is a diagram illustrating battery temperature measurements and ambient temperature for a mask design according to the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows the outlet of the centrifugal fan;
7 shows a first cross-sectional view of a design of a third and a fourth connector part;
Fig. 8 shows a second cross-sectional view of the design of Fig. 7;
9 shows a possible design for a first and a second connector part;

The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

While the detailed description and specific examples represent exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems, and methods, it is to be understood that they are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, appended claims, and appended drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are only schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a face mask having an outer casing and a filter member housed within the outer casing. A fan module is used to define an active face mask. When the face mask is worn by a user, a mask cavity is defined inside the filter member (ie, between the filter member and the user's face), and a chamber is defined between the outer casing and the filter member. A battery module is positioned within the chamber.

1 shows an example of a mask design according to the present invention. The mask 10 is shown in exploded view and includes an outer casing 12 functioning as the mask body and a filter element 14 mounted inside the outer casing (ie, on the side of the outer casing facing the user's face). do. The outer casing is rigid or semi-rigid with an ear strap 13 , while the filter element 14 is formed, for example, of cloth so that the outer edge can be easily deformed to conform to the shape of the wearer's face. do.

The outer casing is porous to allow air to flow through the outer casing. The outer casing improves the appearance of the mask. The outer casing may be made from a material that is itself porous, for example it may be an air mesh, a polyurethane layer, a cotton blend, or other porous material. However, it could instead be manufactured from a non-porous material, such as a plastic material, but with openings to allow air flow. A gap between the outer casing and the filter element, around the edge of the outer casing, may alternatively or additionally be used to enable air flow.

The present invention recognizes that a chamber 15 is defined between the outer casing 12 and the filter element 14 and that such a chamber can be used to provide protection to the battery by raising the temperature of the battery, particularly in winter. based on Chamber 15 is an air chamber around the battery in which hot air is partially captured. Also, the placement of the battery is preferably chosen so that it is in the path of the user's exhaled air and is most effectively heated by the exhaled air.

The filter element 14 is sealed around the connector module 16 . The connector module 16 is for connection to the fan module 20 , in particular to a corresponding connector part 17 of the fan module. This connection may be circular such that it allows relative rotation between the fan module 20 and the filter member 14 . The fan module includes a centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan has a small form factor and can overcome the flow resistance of the check valve.

The fan module is generally for creating a flow between the mask cavity and the surrounding environment, ie the air outside the outer casing 12 .

In this particular example, the connector module 16 includes a check valve. The connector module 16 and the fan module 20 together can be considered to constitute a fan assembly, and the two modules can be connected together and manually disconnected, for example, with a simple press fit. For example, a lip around one part may cooperate with a recess around another part.

A control module 18 is coupled to the outside of the filter element 14 . The control module comprises a fan module 20 of the fan assembly and also a control unit 22 . The control unit includes a battery module and other control circuitry. The control unit 22 is inside the outer casing (ie on the side facing the user's face) and outside the filter element (ie on the side facing away from the user's face), and thus between the two parts is located in a chamber 15 defined in

The control unit 22 and thus the battery module are positioned in the path of the user's exhaled air when the mask is worn by the user. For this purpose, it is placed in the anterior region of the face mask. The illustrated design has a fan module offset to one side and a control unit offset to the opposite side. However, they are both generally positioned to be in front of the user's mouth and/or nose. The face mask includes a side region over the user's cheek and connected to the ear strap 13 , a top region extending over the user's nose, a bottom region extending below the user's mouth (and chin), and a top, bottom and side region of the face mask. It has an anterior region that defines a boundary. The battery module is in this front area. The front area of the outer casing can be considered, for example, to be an area corresponding to 50% or even 33% of the total surface area of the outer casing. The front region is symmetrical about the vertical centerline, for example having a width of less than 60% or less than 50% of the overall width of the outer casing. The front region has, for example, a height of less than 60% or less than 50% of the overall height of the outer casing.

The control unit 22 comprises, for example, a sensor. Note that the control circuitry may instead be on the fan module side and be integrated into the fan module. Accordingly, various additional circuit elements and battery modules may be partitioned in different ways between the fan module and the control unit.

There may be a single module that integrates all of the components. In the more preferred example shown, the battery module is separate from and remote from the fan module. This means that the weight of the component can be split between different positions, providing better balance of the mask and reduced local loading.

This also means that the battery module is in a region that is not directly exposed to the fan-driven exhaust flow (ie, flow through the fan) but is exposed to exhaled air that has passed through the filter. Thus, the battery module is in a chamber that is at least partially insulated to maintain the higher temperature caused by the user's exhaled breath. Such air may have a lower moisture content, for example as a result of the action of the filter element.

Thereby, the battery module of the control unit is protected from the surrounding environment by the outer casing 12 and is exposed to the breath of the user downstream of the filter element. This allows the battery module to be maintained at an elevated temperature relative to its surrounding environment.

The connector module 16 is permanently fixed to the filter element 14 so that when there is a filter replacement, it is discarded together with the filter element 14 . The fan module 20 of the fan assembly is reusable and includes (at least) a fan drive circuit and a fan impeller.

The outer casing 12 has an opening 24 in which the fan module 20 of the fan assembly is received.

The inner surface of the outer casing may also have a receiving dock area for the control unit 22 , or alternatively on the outer surface of the filter element for positioning the control unit 22 (shown in FIG. 1 ). as) a receiving dock area 26 . The control unit may be connected to the filter element or to the outer casing by magnetic coupling and, or alternatively, a mechanical alignment feature.

An electrical connector 28 in the form of a bridge provides an electrical connection between the control unit 22 and the fan module 20 of the fan assembly for the transmission of power and control signals.

The fan module 20 and control unit 22 of the fan assembly are on opposite sides of the mask, ie, one on each side of the wearer's nose. This provides a balanced weight distribution. By having two modules, the weight of each individual part is reduced, thereby reducing the load in any one position.

In a preferred design, the fan module is an exhaust fan. In its simplest design, it operates continuously to provide a continuous supply of air to the face (using air drawn through a mask filter). It provides temperature and humidity control. However, it can be actuated synchronously with the wearer's breathing (by suitable breath sensing), and it can be controlled in both directions. Alternatively, there may be separate inlet and exhaust fans, eg one on each side.

The use of an exhaust fan is preferred. That means the fan doesn't need a filter just before or after the fan, which reduces airflow. Users also find blowing air on their face uncomfortable. The fan must be made waterproof because the exhaled air is humid and condensation will form at the air outlet and fan.

All of the various known options for the control of the fan are applicable, since the invention relates in particular to the location of the battery module.

Fig. 2 shows the design of Fig. 1 assembled from one front side and Fig. 3 shows the design of Fig. 1 assembled from the opposite front side.

The mask design shown has a V-shape when viewed from above. Thus, it has two opposing sides, and a ridge between the opposing sides.

Figure 4 is used to show how the components interface with the wearer, showing an alternative design with the control circuitry on the fan module side and only the battery module 23 on the opposite side.

The wearer's face 30 is shown in cross-section viewed from above.

The filter element 14 is connected to the outer casing 12 by means of a fixing 32 . These are, for example, press-fit poppers. The outer perimeter of the filter element also has an inwardly projecting seal 34 to form a substantially closed volume between the filter element and the face 30 .

When inhaling, air is drawn through the filter element 14 as shown by arrow 36 . The exhaust fan may be running during this time to provide flow 38, or it may be turned off to conserve power. On exhalation, the exhaust fan is operating to create flow 38 , but there is also outward flow through the filter element as shown by arrow 40 .

This flow 40 heats the chamber 15 between the filter element 14 and the outer casing 12 .

Flow 36 can also be continued (depending on how the fan is being operated), but such flow is not drawn in at such times, but instead cycles out through the fan. Breathing comfort is particularly improved because the fan removes the exhaled air from the mask cavity to prevent re-breathing (recirculation) of previously exhaled and thus stale air.

A fan module may include, for example, a fan, a one-way check valve, and a printed circuit board with control circuitry. The fan is on top of the check valve.

In the example of FIG. 4 , the connector module 16 and the fan module 20 are also detachable, so that the filter member can be replaced (or cleaned) while reusing the module.

5 shows battery temperature measurements as plot 42 and ambient temperature as plot 44 for a mask design according to the present invention over time. The mask is used in a -10 degree environment, moved into the room at time t1 and peeled off.

In this example, the battery temperature appears to be maintained at a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees above the ambient temperature.

In the preferred design shown, the fan module comprises a centrifugal fan having an axial inlet inside the mask cavity and a radial outlet outside the mask cavity.

6 shows a front view of the mask, showing the radial outlet 50 . The positioning of the outlet is chosen, for example, so that it is not visible from the front and above of the mask body, ie from a possible position of the eye of another person. For example, the radial exit may face downwards or backwards (ie, backwards towards the user).

In a basic design, the fan module 20 protrudes through an opening in the outer casing, but fits loosely within the opening. It has been found that movement of the fan module causes different flow characteristics, for example, because the outlet flow can impinge on the outer casing and create altered turbulence.

A further connection is therefore preferably provided between the fan module 20 and the outer casing 12 , in particular around the inner rim of the opening 24 in the outer casing 12 . The use of a rim around the opening 24 in the outer casing also provides stability to the edge of the opening.

7 shows an example of the design for the design of the connection arrangement around the opening in the outer casing. 8 shows a cross-section along the line VII-VII to show the connection between the fan module and the outer casing;

7 shows an outer casing 12 with a main structural layer 60 .

The mask has four connector parts.

The filter element 14 includes a first connector portion 16 (ie, a connector module), and the fan module 20 includes a second connector portion 17 for connection to the first connector portion. (20) is fixed to the filter member (14). These parts are shown in FIG. 1 and also in FIGS. 7 and 8 .

The fan module also has a third connector portion 70 shown in FIG. 8 .

The outer casing 12 has a fourth connector portion 72 for connection to the third connector portion 70 so as to attach the outer casing 12 to the fan module 20, with the fan module protruding through the opening. Fix it.

Thus, the fan module is connected to the filter in the manner already described above, and there is a further coupling between the fan module and the outer casing. In this way, the fan module is positionally fixed relative to the outer casing. Accordingly, the characteristics of airflow to or from the fan module remain consistent regardless of any shape adjustment of the flexible filter element.

The fourth connector portion 72 of the illustrated example includes a ring around the inner edge of the opening 24 . The fan module 20 is pushed through the opening 24 during assembly of the face mask, which is then locked into a fixed position.

Note that the connection is not intended to be disengaged by the user, as the fan module and outer casing may remain attached when the filter element is removed for cleaning. However, the connection may be reversible, for example the user may have a different outer cover design.

The fourth connector portion may be a single component, but for ease of assembly, the example shown is a fourth connector having a first ring 74 on the outside of the outer casing and a second ring 76 on the inside of the outer casing. have a part A structural layer 60 is interposed between the first and second rings. Accordingly, the first and second rings provide terminations for the openings 24 in the structural layer 60 . Structural layer 60 may have some flexibility, but it is more rigid than the filter element.

The first and second rings 74 , 76 may be mechanically snap fit together, glued together or welded together (eg, ultrasonically). They are plastic parts. For example, they can be formed from a thermoplastic material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) suitable for ultrasonic welding. Other plastics may be used, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate.

The first and second connector portions 16 , 17 are press fit together to allow the filter member to be attached to and detached from the fan module as described above. The third connector portion 70 is also press-fitted to the fourth connector portion 72 . This enables easy assembly of the fan module to the outer casing.

The third connector portion 70 is, for example, a recess around the outer sidewall of the fan module, and the fourth connector portion 72 is a sprung tab 78 for engaging the recess, more preferably and a set of spring loaded tabs. This provides a snap-fit connection. The recesses may all be around the outer sidewall, or there may be only a set of recessed portions in place of the spring loaded tab.

Figure 8 shows the tab and recess arrangement in more detail. The spring-loaded tab 78 is biased outwardly (ie towards the center of the opening). It is pushed back by insertion of the fan module and then protrudes back into the recess 70 . There may be a set of tabs around the opening, for example three or more. However, successive taps are also possible.

The appearance of the (visible) first ring 74 is uniform, so that the tab design does not compromise the visual appearance. The second ring 76 has an area in which a tab is formed, where the connection between the first ring and the second ring is interrupted. In the example shown, the tab is at the end of a folded leg, which projects into a cavity formed in the first ring 74 as shown in FIG. 8 .

When the fan module is in place and protrudes through the opening, the radial outlet 50 is positioned beyond the outer casing, eg, extending outwardly beyond the outermost surface of the first ring 74 . Thus, the radial outlet is positioned with minimal obstruction to the outlet flow. An alternative, however, is for the radial outlet to be positioned in a desired positional relationship with respect to the flow deflecting member 80 as schematically shown in FIG. 6 .

Possible designs of the third and fourth connector parts are presented above. For completeness, FIG. 9 shows a possible design for the first and second connector parts. In FIG. 9 , the third and fourth connector parts are schematically represented as only units 70 , 72 .

The fan module 20 of the fan assembly includes a main housing 86 , an outer housing 82 , a fan control circuit board 84 , and a fan motor 88 . There is also a fan impeller, not shown.

In this example, the connector module 16 includes an annular channel 90 and the fan module includes a spring biased engagement feature 92 .

The left image of FIG. 9 shows the connector module 16 and fan module 20 separated, and the right image shows the connector module and fan module coupled together. When mated together, feature 92 engages annular channel 90 to provide attachment of the connector module to the fan module by a press fit.

The connector module 16 is connected to the filter element 14 , for example by ultrasonic welding, to create a seal around the connector module 16 . In this example, the connector module 16 defines a check valve 94, such as a rubber flap valve.

The annular channel 90 creates a larger diameter ring 96 above the channel. When the connector module 16 is pushed into the fan module 20 (the arrows are only intended to show relative movement), the feature 92 is biased radially outward by the ring 96 , followed by the channel 90 . ) snaps back into place.

Since the channel is annular, relative rotation between the two modules is possible. Thus, the connection can be made without requiring precise angular alignment. This also means that little force is applied to the filter element, for example no significant torsional force that could damage the filter material.

In the example shown, feature 92 includes a tab. The tab includes a support arm and a head. The head is designed to fit into the channel and the support arm provides a radially inward spring bias. The main housing 86 is designed to provide space for the tab to deflect outwardly during engagement as the tab rides over the ring 96 .

There may be only two diametrically opposed tabs, or more preferably three sets, or there may be more than three. The annular channel need not be continuous. In particular, there is a correct orientation relative to the fan module 20 so that the electrical connector bridge 28 is in the correct position. Thus, rather than full angle control, only some angular degrees of freedom for adjustment are needed. Thus, although an annular channel may include a set of annular channel portions (one for each tap), they need not form a continuous channel.

Channels and tabs can of course be reversed, with the channel on the fan module and the tab on the connector module.

Features 92 are preferably metal to provide increased elasticity and durability compared to plastic features.

The use of a spring-loaded connection instead of an interference fit allows for periodic filter replacement (or removal for cleaning).

The filter element 14 may be connected to the outer casing in any suitable manner, and the popper shown is by way of example only. Preferably, a press-fit connection is used as this allows easy connection and disconnection of the filter element from the outer casing.

The above description relates in particular to one design of a face mask having a fan module that protrudes from the filter element through an opening in the outer casing. However, other configurations are possible, for example with a fan module mounted on the outside of the outer casing.

Modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a review of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular form (the indefinite article "a" or "an") does not exclude the plural. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Note that when the term "adapted to" is used in a claim or description, the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to". Any reference signs within the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims (15)

A face mask (10) comprising:
an outer casing 12;
a filter member (14) for mounting inside the outer casing (12), wherein when the face mask (10) is worn by a user, a mask cavity is formed between the filter member (14) and the the filter element (14) defined between the user's face and wherein a chamber (15) is defined between the outer casing (12) and the filter element (14);
a fan module (20) for creating a flow between the mask cavity and the surrounding environment; and
comprising a battery module (23);
The battery module (23) is located within the chamber (15). The face mask (10) according to claim 1, wherein the battery module (23) is positioned in the path of the user's exhaled air when the mask (10) is worn by the user. 3 . The face mask ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the battery module ( 23 ) is located in the front region of the face mask ( 10 ). The face mask (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the battery module (23) and the fan module (20) are separate units mounted spaced apart from each other. 5. The mask body of claim 4, wherein the mask body comprises opposing sides configured to face at least partially laterally outward when the mask (10) is worn by a user, and wherein the fan assembly (20) comprises the opposing sides. and the battery module (23) is mounted on the other of the opposite sides. 3 . The face mask ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fan module ( 20 ) comprises an exhaust fan for exhausting air from the mask cavity. 7. The face mask of claim 6, wherein the fan module (20) comprises a centrifugal fan having an axial inlet communicating with the inside of the mask cavity and a radial outlet (50) outside the mask cavity. (10). The face according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the battery module (23) is part of a control unit (22), the control unit (22) further comprising a control circuit for the fan module (20). Mask (10). 3 . The face mask ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , comprising an electrical connector ( 28 ) between the fan module ( 20 ) and the battery module ( 23 ), located within the chamber ( 15 ). According to claim 8, wherein the battery module (23),
attached to the inner side of the outer casing (12);
a face mask (10) removably attached to the filter element (14). 3. The filter element (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter element (14) comprises a first connector part (16) and the fan module (20) has a second connector part (16) for connection to the first connector part (16). a face mask (10) comprising a connector portion (17) to releasably secure said fan module (20) to said filter member (14). 12. The fan module (20) according to claim 11, wherein the first connector part (16) and the second connector part (17) are press-fit together to allow the filter member (14) to be attached to and detached from the fan module (20). A push fit, face mask 10 . 3. The outer casing (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer casing (12) has an opening (24), and the fan module (20) passes through the chamber (15) and the opening (24) in the outer casing (12) ), extending through the face mask (10). 14. The fan module (20) according to claim 13, wherein the fan module (20) comprises a third connector part (70), and the outer casing (12) is a fourth connector part (72) for connection to the third connector part (70). ) to fix the outer casing 12 to the fan module 20 in a state in which the fan module 20 protrudes through the opening 24, the face mask 10. 15. The face mask (10) of claim 14, wherein the third connector portion (70) is press fit into the fourth connector portion (72).

Images