WO2021199091A1

WO2021199091A1 - Protective mask with a sterilising device

Info

Publication number: WO2021199091A1
Application number: PCT/IT2021/050087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valter Mazzarolo
Original assignee: Valter Mazzarolo
Priority date: 2020-03-31
Filing date: 2021-03-30
Publication date: 2021-10-07
Also published as: IT202000006799A1

Abstract

Individual protective mask (1), suitable for being worn and applied on to the face of a person, by covering at least the mouth and the nose thereof, lending itself for being used for protecting and preventing from the inhalation of virus and bacteria present in the environment and in case transmitted by infected persons by aerial way, and which when inhaled by the persons could cause some infections, even serious and sometimes unfortunately also mortal. Mask with a sterilizing device (7) against the bacteria and the virus, fixed to the same mask and comprising air filtering means (8), of replaceable type with other means, valve means (15, 16) for the one-way passage of the air respectively inward and outward the mask, and comprising some led (17, 18, 19, 20) for emitting the ultraviolet radiation, connected in an electronic control circuit with microprocessor, for sterilizing the air in which bacteria and virus are present. Mask comprising moreover other components, provided for performing further functions.

Description

PROTECTIVE MASK WITH A STERILISING DEVICE

The present industrial invention concerns a protective mask with a sterilizing device, suitable for eliminating in an effective and continuous manner the presence of bacteria and vims which could be inhaled by aerial way in the persons.

This device lends itself for the prevention and active protection of the bacterial and viral infections with a protection which is higher with respect to the common surgical protection masks.

At the present time, for the individual protection of the persons against the contagion of the same with virus and bacteria present in the environment, is case transmitted by the infected persons by aerial way, there are used some masks of passive type, which are constituted by high filtering special fabrics or, alternatively, protection masks with removably filters which can be replaced, and which are including a visor. The first type of masks is made with a plurality of layers of natural and/or soft synthetic fabrics, such as for example microfiber or non-woven fabric, which are overlapped to each other and positionable adhering to the face of each person, by covering the mouth and the nose of the same face, and which are kept in position by one or more elastics which are supported by the user’s head. Unfortunately, after a certain period of exposure to the bacteria and the vims which are diffused in the environment, the same vims and bacteria may, owing to their reduced sizes, enter the fibers of the overlapped fabrics or along the mask edges, so as to arrive with the person breathing to the pulmonary alveolus of the same person, where they deposit themselves and may produce some infections even serious, and sometimes unfortunately also mortal.

The second type of mask, always applicable on to the face by covering the mouth and the nose, which is kept in position by at least an elastic, is always constituted by a plurality of natural and/or synthetic fabrics overlapped to each other, but of the half-stiff type, and is provided with special filters constituted by further different types of fibers and fabrics, even with filtering products such as for example the coal or other products adapted to filter in an extremely effective manner the air flow and they are associated with a visor.

This second type of mask guarantees a greater protection against the possible inhalation of bacteria and virus present in the environment with respect to the first type of mask, but it is too heavy and cumbersome, therefore its use may be tolerated by the person for a short period, and moreover it limits the mobility of the same person.

Besides, such two types of masks have a very limited duration of use.

The object of the present invention is to realize a protective mask provided with a sterilizing device, which is made in a manner different than that known from the above described state of the art, so as to overcome the above described drawbacks.

This protective mask provided with a sterilizing device is made with the constructive characteristics which will be described by way of a not limiting example only, for obtaining an effective protection against the virus and bacteria diffused in the environment, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which :

- Fig. 1 shows a front view of the protective mask provided with a sterilizing device worn by a person, according to the invention ;

- Fig. 2 shows a front view of the protective mask of Fig. 1, not worn by a person ;

- Fig. 3 shows a perspective front view of the sterilizing device which is a part of the protective mask according to the invention, in the assembled condition thereof ;

- Fig. 4 shows a perspective front view of the sterilizing device, with a component element in the removal/insertion step thereof ;

- Fig. 5 shows a perspective front view of the sterilizing device with the removed component element of the Fig. 4 ;

- Fig. 6 shows a cutaway plan view of the protective mask according to the invention.

The individual protective mask according to the invention, provided with a sterilizing device, and adapted to be worn and applied on to the face of a person, by covering at least the mouth and the nose thereof, lends itself to be utilized for the protecting and preventing from the inhalation of the vims and bacteria present in the environment, and in case transmitted by infected persons by aerial way, and which if are inhaled by the persons could cause some infections, even serious, and unfortunately sometimes also mortal.

As visible from the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, it is noted that the protective mask 12 is realized with a half stiff material such as a compressed and thermoformed fabric or alternatively made by means of a mold for injecting a plastic material of not allergic type for human being, with characteristics of high flexibility, and constituted by a shell shaped body adaptable to the face of a person, for covering the mouth and the nose thereof, and supported by two elastics 2-3 applies to and supported by proper holes 9-10-11-12 provided in the body of the mask 1, which elastics have the function to be supported by the head of the person wearing the mask 1, for keeping the mask 1 adherent to the face of the same person. For increasing the adherence of the protective mask 1 and sealing in a larger extent its outer edge on to the user’s face, when it is positioned on to the face of this latter, around the entire said edge a gasket of not allergic gummy foam 6.

Such a gasket has the scope to increase the comfort of the person wearing the mask for a long time. In the front part of the body of the protective mask 1 at least a sterilizing device 7 against the bacteria and the virus is present and adequately secured thereto.

Such sterilizing device 7 comprises a filtering means 8 (see Figs. 2 and 3) constituted by a filter cartridge of extractable type, constituted by a body having a plurality of front and lengthened through holes 14, and by a front one way valve 15, secured to the body of the sterilizing device 7, and in the interior of the valve 15 at least a filter of high density fabric 13 (see Fig. 6) is housed and with this arrangement the air being inhaled passes through the front holes 14 of the cartridge 8 and the one way valve 15, which is made of a not allergic flexible silicone material and allows the air to enter only and not to go out, while the air breathed out is expelled through a further one way valve 16 (see Figs. 3 and 5) made of a not allergic flexible silicon material always secured on to the body of the sterilizing device 7, in a position different than that of the valve 15, and this further valve 16 allows the air to go out through some side channels 27-28 (see Fig. 3) turned toward the rear part and not to enter during the breathing in. The filter 13 contained into the cartridge 8 will be struck by the UVC (ultraviolet) sterilizing light emitted by led devices 17-18-19-20 (see Fig. 6) welded into a printed circuit 21 (see Figs. 5 and 6), where an electronic control circuit with a microprocessor, of traditional type, is included, having the function to activate an acoustical signaling device 23, when the level of the supply battery 24 of the assembly will be decreased below the level which has been established for the correct operation of the assembly. The battery 24 is housed in the interior of the cartridge of the filter 8, which when is introduced into the cartridge y means of some contacts 25-26 will provide for supplying electrically the printed circuit 21, by permitting therefore to replace such cartridge of the filter 8 whenever the acoustical signaling device 23 will be activated and inform the user of this condition, and the replacement of the cartridge will be effected by extracting it while sliding it on to guide members 4-5 (see Fig. 4), one of which is fixed on to the body of the sterilizing device 7 and the other one on to the body of the cartridge 8, and wherein each time the cartridge will be replaced the new cartridge which will replace the previous one will therefore have a new filter and a new battery therein, so that each replacement of a filtering cartridge 8 it will be always warranted the correct and effective filtering of the filtering system, and of the body of the mask 1 and consequently the sterilizing device 7 can be re-used by cleaning it, and can be sterilized by submitting it to the ultraviolet (UVC) radiation of UVC operating sterilizing devices of traditional type, or it can be sterilized with some alcohol based liquids or with other medical devices. The LED 17-18-19-20 emit an ultraviolet light, the electromagnetic radiation of which has some wavelengths shorter than the visible light. The ultraviolet radiation (UVC) comprise various ranges of wavelengths, of which the range of the short wavelength is considered to be germicide, and in particular at the wavelength of 2,537 Angstrom (254 nm) the ultraviolet radiation destroys the molecular linkages of the DNA of the microorganisms, by producing thymine dimers in their DNA, which destroy them by making such microorganisms harmless or by preventing the development and the growth and reproduction thereof in the filtering part of the entering air.

The LED 17-18-19-20 with ultraviolet radiation which are utilized and applied in the protective mask 1 according to the invention, in particular, generate for each LED an ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength comprised preferably between 100 nm and 280 nm and a power comprised between 10 mW up to 2 Watt, of their supply circuit with battery, and under these conditions the ultraviolet radiation directed toward the inlet air filters and against the microorganisms to be destroyed and/or to be neutralized performs an effective germicide sterilizing action and does not produce some damages to the persons who utilize it, in that the light is directed outwards and therefore is directed exclusively into the “cartridge” of the filter of the inhaling air.

The protective mask 1, by producing an active and continuous sterilization, may be utilized for many cycles, simply by replacing the supply battery.

The mask may have also an electronic pressure sensor (see Fig. 5), situated near the discharge valve, which will detect the pressure of the area of the valve and will generate correspondent electric signals, which are transmitted to the microprocessor, which will provide to light up the sterilizing led only when the person will breathe out or inhale, depending on the firmware program downloaded into the microprocessor, with consequent increase of the life duration of the battery. This pressure sensor is moreover provided with an inner temperature measuring device suitable to adjust it for correcting the error of the pressure reading, and this may be utilized also for activating the acoustical signaling device with a continuous signal, if the temperature of the emitted air of the lungs exceed 37,5 °C or 38 °C, by warning the user that the body temperature is being increasing over the normal value.

Claims

1. Individual protecting mask, suitable for being worn and applied on to the face of a person, by covering at least the mouth and the nose thereof, lending itself for being used for protecting and preventing from the inhalation of virus and bacteria present in the environment and in case transmitted by aerial way by infected persons, and which when inhaled by the persons could cause some infections, even serious and sometimes unfortunately also mortal, which is made with half stiff material such as a compressed and thermoformed fabrics or alternatively by means of a mold for injecting a plastic material of not allergic type for human being, having characteristics of high flexibility, and constituted by a shell shaped body adaptable to the face of a person for covering the mouth and the nose thereof and supported by elastics (2-3) applied into and supported by proper holes (9-10-11-12) provided in the body of the mask (1), which elastics have the function to be supported by the head of the person wearing the mask (1), for keeping the mask (1) adherent to the face of the same person, characterized in that for increasing the adherence of the protective mask (1) and sealing in a larger extent its outer edge on to the user face, when it is positioned on to the face of the user, around the entire said edge a gasket of not allergic gummy foam or of silicone (6) is applied, that at least a sterilizing device (7) for the bacteria and the virus is provided, which is suitably secured on to the front part of the body of the protective mask (1), and comprises a filtering means (8) constituted by a filter cartridge of extractable type, formed by a body having a plurality of front and lengthened through holes (14), and by at least a front one way valve (15), secured to the body of the sterilizing device (7) and in the interior of the valve (15) at least a filter of high density textile (13) is housed, in a manner that with this arrangement the air being inhaled passes through the front holes (14) of the cartridge (8) and the one way valve (15), which is made of a not allergic flexible silicone material and allows the air to enter only and not to go out, while the air breathed out be expelled through a further one way valve (16) made of a not allergic flexible silicone material, always secured on to the body of the sterilizing device (7), in a position different than that of the valve (15), and this further valve (16) allows the air to go out through some side channels (27-28) turned toward the rear part and not to enter during the breathing in, said filter (13) contained into the cartridge (8) being struck by the UVC (ultraviolet) sterilizing light emitted by led devices (17-18-19-20) welded into a printed circuit (21) where an electronic control circuit with a microprocessor, of traditional type, is included, having the function to activate an intermittent acoustical signaling device (23), when the level of the supply battery (24) of the assembly will be decreased below the level which has been established for the correct operation of the assembly, which battery (24) is housed in the interior of the cartridge of the filter (8), which when is introduced into the cartridge by means of some contacts (25-26) provides for supplying electrically the printed circuit (21), by permitting therefore to replace such cartridge of the filter (8) whenever the acoustical signaling device (23) be activated and informs the user of this condition, and the replacement of the cartridge being effected by extracting it while sliding it on to guide members (4- 5), one of which is fixed on to the body of the sterilizing device (7) and the other one on to the body of the cartridge (8), and wherein each time the cartridge (8) is replaced the new cartridge which will replace the previous one will therefore have a new filter and a new battery therein, so that at each replacement of a filtering cartridge (8) it will be always warranted that the cartridge which will replace the previous one will therefore have a new filter and a new battery therein, so that each time a filtering cartridge (8) will be replaced it will be always warranted the correct and effective filtering of the filtering system, and of the body of the mask (1) and consequently the sterilizing device (9) can be re-used by cleaning it and can be sterilized by submitting it to the ultraviolet (UVC) radiation of UVC operating sterilizing devices of traditional type, or it can be sterilized with some alcohol based liquids or with other medical devices.

2. Protecting mask according to claim 1, characterized in that said LED (17-18-19-20) emit an ultraviolet light, the electromagnetic radiation of which has some wavelengths shorter than the visible light, of which the range of short wavelength is considered to be germicide, and in particular at the wavelength of 2,537 Angstrom (254 nm) the ultraviolet radiation destroys the molecular linkages of the DNA of the micro-organisms, by producing thymine dimers in their DNA, which destroy them by making such micro-organisms harmless or by preventing the development and growth and reproduction thereof in the filtering part of the entering air, wherein the LED (17-18-19-20) with ultraviolet radiation which are utilized and applied in the protective mask (1), in particular, generate for each LED an ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength comprised preferably between 100 nm and 280 nm and a power comprised between lOmW up to 2 Watt of their supply circuit with battery, and under these conditions the ultraviolet radiation directed toward the inlet air filters and against the micro-organisms to be destroyed and/or to be neutralized performs an effective germicide sterilizing action and does not produce some damages to the persons who utilize it, in that the light is directed outwards and therefore is directed exclusively into the “cartridge” of the filter of the inhaling air.

3. Protective mask according to claim 1, characterized in that to be able to have even at least an electronic pressure sensor, situated near the discharge valve, adapted to detect the pressure of the area of the valve and to generate correspondent electric signals, which are transmitted to the microprocessor, for lighting up said sterilizing LED only when the person will breathe out or inhale, depending on the firmware program downloaded into the microprocessor, with consequent increase of the life duration of the battery, said pressure sensor being also provided with an inner temperature measuring device suitable to adjust it for correcting the error of the pressure reading, and for being utilized also for activating the acoustical signaling device with a continuous signal, if the temperature of the emitted air of the lungs exceeds 37,5 °C or 38°C, by warning the user that the body temperature is being increasing over the normal value.