WO2021228630A1

WO2021228630A1 - System for protecting persons from airborne pathogens

Info

Publication number: WO2021228630A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/061751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Schärer
Original assignee: Alh-As Holding Ag
Priority date: 2020-05-13
Filing date: 2021-05-04
Publication date: 2021-11-18

Abstract

A system (1) for protecting persons in a room from airborne pathogens, the room comprising a multitude of seats (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) for persons within the room, wherein the system includes at least one supply of fresh air, wherein the system comprises at least one connection element (7) for each seat (3.1, 3.2, 3.3), said at least one connection element including at least one first coupling (8) having a first shape for connecting a first tube of at least one breathing mask to said connection element, wherein at least one first duct (10) connects the at least one supply of fresh air to each of the connection elements. A breathing mask for use in the system, comprises a facepiece for covering the nose, mouth and chin of a person, at least one strap to hold the facepiece on the face of the person and a first tube which is connected to the facepiece at a first end and which comprises a first plug element on a second end, said first plug element having a third shape.

Description

System for protecting persons from airborne pathogens

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system for protecting persons in a room, in particular in a concert hall, a theatre hall, a schoolroom, a lecture hall, a sports hall and/or in a waiting room, from airborne pathogens, the room comprising a multitude of seats for persons within the room, wherein the system includes at least one supply of fresh air. The invention further relates to a breathing mask for use in the system.

Background Art

In a crowd of people, persons are at risk of being infected with an airborne pathogen being present in aerosols exhaled or secreted by other persons. The risk is especially high in closed rooms, where many people stay close together for several hours, having only confined space between them, for example in a concert hall, a theatre hall, a schoolroom, a lecture hall, a sports hall and/or in a waiting room. In such rooms, a single person infected with a disease spread by an airborne pathogen may infect a large number of persons during the stay in the room, for example during a concert visit, a cinema visit etc..

Especially when faced with an epidemic or pandemic of an airborne pathogen suitable protection of people is crucial for the safe operation of an event. Further, an operator of a room comprising such a protection systems would have an economical advantage in such a situation compared to competitors operating rooms without a protection system. The protection system may also be an advantage during flu season, as it would offer people the possibility to protect themselves if wanted. Further, vulnerable people, like visitors suffering from immunodeficiency could protect themselves during the visit of a concert or the like. Summary of the invention

It is the object of the invention to create a system for a room, comprising a multitude of seats, offering the possibility to persons sitting on a seat to protect themselves from being infected with airborne pathogens during the stay in the room. The solution of the invention is specified by the features of claim 1. The system comprises a multitude of seats. The seats can for example be arranged in rows within the room. The system further includes at least one supply of fresh air as well as at least one connection element for each seat or for each row of seats, said at least one connection element including at least one first coupling having a first shape for connecting a first tube of at least one breathing mask to said connection element, said at least one first duct connecting the at least one supply of fresh air to each of the connection elements.

When using such a system, a person, e.g. a concertgoer or a cinemagoer etc., may connect a breathing mask with a connection element located near his seat or row of seats. By doing so, the person is able to breathe uncontaminated fresh air, thus reducing the risk of being infected by another person in the room significantly.

The room may be any kind of room, simultaneously used by a multitude of persons. The system is particularly useful in closed rooms, where many people sitting for a long time relatively close together. The room may be a concert hall, a theatre hall, a schoolroom, a lecture hall, a sports hall and/or in a waiting room. The skilled person is aware of other rooms, where the system could be used to protect people form a possible infection by one another.

The number of seats may heavily vary depending on the type of room. For example, a waiting room may have between 5 and 20 seats, while a concert hall may have up to several thousand seats. In particular at concert halls or the like, there may be also standing rooms. In each case, the room preferably comprises a number of first couplings which at least corresponds to the maximal number of persons which may be placed in the room. The term airborne pathogens is understood as encompassing any bacteria, spore, virus or parasitic microorganisms which may be spread from human to human by aerosols. This includes influenza viruses, coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses human parainfluenza viruses, mycobacteria, streptococci and enterococci.

The seats in a room are preferably arranged in rows. The rows may comprise any suitable number of seats, especially from one to twenty seats per row. The number of seats per row may vary within the room. For example, depending on the booking class or booking category to which a row of seats belongs, the number of seats in a row may increase from a high booking class to a low booking class (such as first class, second class etc.). The seats are preferably all oriented such as to face the stage, the arena or the like. Therewith, the seats are not necessarily aligned parallel. Alternatively, for example in a waiting room, some of the seats may be oriented opposite to each other or they may be arranged in a circle.

The room may comprise any suitable number of rows of seats, preferably from 1 row to 1000 rows of seats. The room, in particular a concert hall usually comprises a floor where the rows of seats are arranged. However, it may comprise several balcony in addition to the floor, where further rows of seats may be arranged.

The at least one supply of fresh air preferably is an intake for air from the outside of the room, in particular form the outside of building comprising the room. Alternatively, the at least one supply of fresh air may be a treatment station for recycling air drawn from within the room, said treatment station comprising filters and the like to clean the air from pathogens and other contaminants, such as dust or odor.

Preferably, the at least one supply of fresh air comprises means to pretreat the air before it is supplied to the at least one first duct. Said means may comprise units to cool or heat the air, or compressors to pressurize the air.

The at least one supply of fresh air may comprise means to enrich the fresh air with oxygen. For example, the supply of fresh air may be connected to an oxygen tank or the like, preferably by means of a regulation valve allowing to regulate the amount of oxygen supplied to the at least one supply of fresh air. Preferably, the system comprises more than one supply of fresh air for redundancy. In this case, each of the fresh air supplies should be able to provide enough fresh air for the maximal number of persons in the room. If more than one fresh air supplie is present, the fresh air supplies may be of the same or of a different type. For example, in the case that the system comprises to supplies for fresh air, one supply may be an intake for air from outside of the vehicle while the second supply may be a treatment station for recycling air from the room.

Each connection element may comprise one or more first couplings. For example, if only one connection element is present for every row of seats, the connection element comprises at least one coupling for each seat of the row. Preferably, however, the system comprises at least one connection element with at least one first coupling for every seat in the room.

The couplings preferably comprise means to form a releasable connection with a first tube of a breathing mask, thereby bringing this first tube in fluid connection with the at least one first duct in order to supply fresh air to said breathing mask.

The connection elements may be arranged on a side or partition wall in the room. Preferably, however, the connection elements are arranged on the seats. For example, each seat may comprise a connection element for a person occupying this seat, e.g. located in an armrest of the seat. Preferably, however, each seat comprises a connection element on the backside of backrest providing a coupling for a person sitting in a seat a row further back.

Preferably, each first coupling comprises at least one valve which closes off the coupling when no first tube of a breathing mask is connected to it.

Preferably, the at least one first duct comprises branching points linking all connection elements of the system to the at least one first duct. Further, the system preferably comprises more than one first duct. For example, the system may comprise one first duct spanning along a length of the room on each side thereof. The term first duct is hence to be understood to encompass a single duct as well as a system with several ducts each comprising several branching points. Each person may connect a first tube of a breathing mask to a first coupling of a connection element such as to be able to breathe fresh air uncontaminated by any pathogens stemming from another person in the room.

Preferably, the system, in particular the building comprising the room, comprises at least one exhaust to expel air from the room to the outside of the room, wherein at least one second duct connects each of the connection elements to the at least one exhaust.

In this way, air exhaled by the persons into the breathing mask may be expelled to the outside of the room. Of course, in the case that the at least one supply of fresh air is an intake the exhaust has to be placed on the outside of the building in such a way as to insure that air expelled from the exhaust is not drawn in to the intake.

Preferably, the at least one second duct comprises branching points linking all connection elements of the system to the at least one second duct. Further, the system preferably comprises more than one second duct. For example, the system may comprise one second duct spanning along a length of the room on each side thereof or along a corridor of the room. The term second duct is hence to be understood to encompass a single second duct as well as a system with several second ducts each comprising several branching points.

Preferably, each connection element comprises at least one valve which allows to selectively connect the first coupling with either of said at least one first duct or said at least one second duct, preferably in function of an air pressure applied within said first coupling.

Hence, when a breathing mask is connected with the at least one first coupling of a connection element, the first tube of the breathing mask will be connected selectively either to the at least one first duct when the person breaths and to the at least one second duct when the person exhales.

In an alternatively preferred embodiment, each connection element comprises at least one second coupling for connecting a second tube of the at least one breathing mask to the connection element, said second coupling being connected with the at least one second duct. Preferably, each connection element comprises the same number of first couplings and of second coupling. The first couplings and the second couplings are preferably arranged pairwise, such that for each first coupling there is a second coupling close by. This allows to connect a breathing mask having a first and a second tube to the connection element, whereby the first tube is connected to a first coupling and the second tube is connected to a second coupling.

Preferably, each seat of the room comprises at least one connection element.

Preferably, the second coupling has a second shape being different from said first shape. Hence it can be ensured that when using a breathing mask having a first and a second tube each of the tubes is connected to correct coupling. The shapes can be designed to implement a poka-yoke system, wherewith a wrong coupling will not be possible at all. In variants, the couplings can be marked by colors in order to ensure correct coupling.

Preferably, the at least one first duct and preferably said at least one second duct is/are arranged in or on a ceiling or wall of the room or below a flooring of the room or in a corridor between the rows. For ease of access, the at least one first duct and preferably said at least one second duct are preferably arranged behind a removable panel covering the ceiling or at least one wall or a corridor between the rows in the room.

Preferably, the system comprises an emergency oxygen supply system which is connected to said at least one first duct. Emergency oxygen supplies are known in the art and provide people with sufficient oxygen in case of a fire emergency or the like. However, the emergency oxygen supply can also be omitted.

The present application also relates to a combination of a system according to the above and at least one breathing mask. The breathing mask includes a facepiece for covering the nose, mouth and chin of a person, at least one strap to hold the facepiece on the face of the person and a first tube which is connected to the facepiece at a first end and which comprises a first plug element on a second end, said first plug element having a third shape which is complementary to the first shape in order to plug said first plug element into the at least one first coupling. By connecting the first plug element into the at least one first coupling a person wearing the breathing mask may be supplied with fresh air. Preferably, the first plug element comprises a valve which is in the closed state when said first plug element is not connected to a first coupling. This prevents the inhalation of air possibly contaminated with an airborne pathogen by a person wearing the breathing mask when the first plug element is not connected to the system, e.g. when the person is moving in the room. Preferably, the valve of the first plug element is moved between a closed position and an open position by mechanical means interacting with the at least one first coupling.

The facepiece is preferably made of a flexible material, such as a nonwoven fabric, a flexible polymer, a textile material or a combination thereof. The facepiece preferably comprises sections with a deformable, non-resilient material which may be manually adapted to conform to contours of the face, e.g. to the contour of the bridge of the nose. Such a section may comprise a strip of a metal band which may be integrated into the material of the facepiece. Further, the facepiece may preferably be pre-formed to match the contours of a face, e.g. by injection moulding a polymeric material with an appropriate mould.

Preferably, the at least one strap is made of an elastic material. Use of an elastic material ensures that the breathing mask may be securely hold on heads with different diameters. Further, by using an elastic material, the facepiece is tightly drawn onto the face of a person wearing the breathing mask.

The at least one strap and/or the facepiece preferably comprises means to adapt the length of the at least one strap. This allows to adapt the at least one strap to the size of the head of the person wearing the breathing mask.

Preferably, the breathing mask comprises more than one strap. For example, the breathing mask may comprise two straps which are arranged to be put on a head at two different heights.

Preferably, the at least one strap is connected to the facepiece on two lateral sides thereof, i.e. the at least one strap forms a sling. Alternatively, when two straps are present, each strap may be connected to the facepiece on opposing lateral sides thereof. Flence, when putting the breathing mask on, the two straps may be interlaced at the backside of the head. This allows for an easy adaptation of the straps to the size of the head of a person wearing the breathing mask.

The facepiece comprises an opening which is in fluid connection with the first tube, such that air may flow from the first tube through the facepiece. The first tube is preferably made of a flexible polymeric material, such as to allow a person wearing the breathing mask some degree of freedom of movement. Accordingly, the first tube preferably has a length which is at least 50 cm. Preferably, however, the first tube has a length of at least 80 cm, more preferably of at least 1 meter.

The diameter of the first tube is chosen such as to provide an adequate level of air to a person wearing the breathing mask, preferably at a flow rate of more than 3 liters per minute, more preferably of more than 5 liters per minute. Preferably, the first tube has a diameter of at least 4 mm, but less than 10 mm.

To facilitate the exhalation of air, the facepiece may preferably comprise a return valve.

Preferably, said breathing mask comprises a second tube connected at a first end to the facepiece and comprising a second plug element at a second end, said second plug element having a fourth shape which is complementary to the second shape in order to plug said second plug element into the second coupling.

By connecting the second plug element into the at least one second coupling air exhaled from a person wearing the breathing mask may be discharged via the at least one second duct of the system. Preferably, the second plug element comprises a valve which is in the closed state when said second plug element is not connected to a second coupling. This prevents the inhalation of air possibly contaminated with an airborne pathogen by a person wearing the breathing mask when the second plug element is not connected to the system, e.g. when the person is moving in the room. Preferably, the valve of the second plug element is moved between a closed position and an open position by mechanical means interacting with the at least one second coupling. The first and the second tube preferably have the same length and the same diameter. Preferably said first tube and said second tube are connected to each other over their entire length, e.g. by welding or gluing. Alternatively, said first tube and said second tube are unitary, i.e. formed as single element having two channels, each channel forming a tube. The second tube preferably has the same diameter as the first tube.

Preferably, said first connection element and said second connection element are affixed to each other. Further preferably, said first connection element and said second connection element are integrated in a unitary connection element. In order to prevent a wrong connection, the unitary connection element comprises the third and the fourth shape on a housing thereof.

Preferably, the facepiece of the breathing mask comprises at least one air filter element. Provision an air filter element allows the safe use of the breathing mask even in cases where the first tube and - if present - the second tube is not connected to the system. This allows the person wearing the mask to move around in the room, for example during searching his seat or to visit a restroom. Further, the presence of an air filter element also provides for a safe entrance and exit from the room.

Preferably, the facepiece of the breathing mask comprises a housing for an exchangeable air filter element. Provision of an exchangeable air filter element allows to use the breathing mask multiple times. Breathing masks with exchangeable filters are known in the art. One such mask for example is the OCOV mask developed by Michelin to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Preferably the at least one air filter element comprises a valve and/or a removable cover element. By providing a valve and/or a removable cover element the air filter element may be closed or opened depending on whether the first tube and - if present - the second tube are connected to the system.

Preferably, the facepiece comprises a connection piece for a drinking bottle. Flence, a person wearing the breathing mask may drink. Preferably, the facepiece comprises a straw on a side facing the face of a wearer of the mask which is in fluid connection with the connection piece. This allows the wearer of the mask to easily drink once a bottle is connected to the connection piece. Preferably, the connection element comprises a valve which closes the connection piece when no drinking bottle is connected.

The present application further relates to a breathing mask for use in a combination as described above. The breathing mask comprises a facepiece for covering the nose, mouth and chin of a person, at least one strap to hold the facepiece on the face of the person and a first tube which is connected to the facepiece at a first end and which comprises a first plug element on a second end, said first plug element having a third shape.

For the skilled person it is clear, that the system can also be used on open places like open arenas, restaurants or the like. The system need not to comprise any seats. The system can also be used in any fields with standing rooms.

Other advantageous embodiments and combinations of features come out from the detailed description below and the entirety of the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings used to explain the embodiments show:

Fig. 1 a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a system according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a schematic drawing of different placements for connection elements in a system according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a breathing mask, which may be used in combination with a system according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a breathing mask, which may be used in combination with a system according to the present invention.

In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols. Preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a system 1 according to the present invention. The system 1 is mounted in a room 2 with several rows of seats 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. Each seat 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 comprises several elements. In the following, these elements are explained in relation to the second seat 3.2 shown. The seats 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 comprise a seat pan 4 which is preferably affixed to a flooring F of the room 2. Further, a backrest 5 is connected to the seat pan 4. The backrest 5 may be pivoted relative to the seat pan 4 by a certain degree to be movable between an upright position and an inclined position. Further, each seat 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 comprises one or two armrest(s) 6. In the embodiment shown, a connection element 7 for each seat 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 is arranged on a wall W of the room 2. The connection element 7 comprises a first coupling 8 and a second coupling 9. The first coupling 8 and the second coupling 9 have a different shape, so that a first tube and a second tube of a breathing mask may only be plugged into the correct coupling 8, 9, respectively. A first duct 10 which is in connection with a supply of fresh air (not shown) is arranged in a ceiling C of the room 2. The first duct comprises first branching points 1 1 linking the first duct 10 to each of the connection elements 7. A second duct 12 is arranged below a flooring F of the room 2. The second duct 12 is connected to an exhaust (not shown) in order to expel air from the room 2 to the outside of the building. The second duct 12 comprises second branching points 13 linking each connection element 7 to the second duct 12.

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of different placements for connection elements 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 in a room according to the present invention. The placement of the first connection element 7.1 for the first seat 3.1 shown corresponds to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1. On the second seat 3.2 two possible locations for connection elements 7.2, 7.3 are shown. The second connection element 7.2 is located on the armrest 6 of the second seat. The third connection element 7.3 is arranged at the backside of the backrest 5 of the second seat 3.2. The third connection element 7.3 is intended to be used by a person sitting on the third seat 3.3 behind the second seat 3.2. As a person having skill in the art will appreciate, connection elements 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 within a room 2 may be arranged at different positions in order to fit the arrangement of seats 3.1 , 3.2, 3.3. Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a breathing mask 20, which may be used in combination with a system 1 as describe above. The breathing mask 20 comprises a facepiece 21, which is formed such that it may be placed over the nose, mouth and chin of a person. Further, the breathing mask 20 includes a strap 22, which is attached to the facepiece 21 at both its lateral sides. The strap 22 thus forms a loop with which the facepiece 21 may be affixed to the head of a person. The strap 22 is made of an elastic material, such that the fecepiece 22 is drawn onto the face of a person wearing the breathing mask 20. The breathing mask comprises a first tube 23. The first tube 23 is attached at a first end to the facepiece 21 via a reinforcement flange 25. At a second end, the first tube 23 comprises a first plug element 24. The first plug element 24 has a third shape which is complementary to the first shape of the first coupling 9. Connecting the first plug element 24 to a first coupling 9 allows to provide a wearer of the breathing mask

20 with fresh air. The facepiece 21 further includes a strip 28 of a plastically deformable material to help adapting the facepiece to a contour of the face of a wearer of the mask, especially of the bridge of the nose. The facepiece 21 additionally comprises a return valve 26, which facilitates the exhalation of air through the facepiece 21.

Fig. 4 show a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a breathing mask 20, which may be used in combination with a system 1 as described above. Similar to the breathing mask 20 shown in Fig. 3, this embodiment of a breathing mask 20 comprises a facepiece

21 including a strip of plastically deformable material. In difference to the breathing mask 20 according to Fig. 3, the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 comprises two straps 22.1, 22.2, which allow a tight and secure affixing of the breathing mask 20 on the face of a person wearing the breathing mask 20. Further, this embodiment of the breathing mask 20 comprises the first tube 23 as well as a second tube 29. The second tube 29 runs parallel to the first tube 23 and is affixed thereto over its entire length. At the second end, the second tube 29 comprises a second plug element 30 having a second shape being complementary to the shape of the second coupling 9. Further, instead of a return valve 26 the breathing mask 20 according to this embodiment comprises an air filter element 33, which is removable arranged within a housing. As the air filter element 33 is removable, a used air filter element 33 may be exchanged with a new air filter element 33, which allows to re-use the breathing mask 20 according to this embodiment multiple times. When the first plug element 24 and the second plug element 30 are plugged in, the air filter element 33 is no longer needed. Hence, the breathing mask includes a removable cover element 32, which may be removably connected to the housing 31.

Claims

1. System for protecting persons in a room from airborne pathogens, the room comprising a multitude of seats for persons within the room, wherein the system includes at least one supply of fresh air, characterized in that the system comprises at least one connection element for each seat, said at least one connection element including at least one first coupling having a first shape for connecting a first tube of at least one breathing mask to said connection element, wherein at least one first duct connects the at least one supply of fresh air to each of the connection elements.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the room comprises at least one exhaust to expel air from an inside of the room to an outside of the room, wherein at least one second duct connects each of the connection elements to the at least one exhaust.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that each connection element comprises at least one valve which allows to selectively connect the first coupling with either of said at least one first duct or said at least one second duct, preferably in function of an air pressure applied within said first coupling.

4. System according to claim 2, characterized in that each connection element comprises at least one second coupling for connecting a second tube of the at least one breathing mask to the connection element, said second coupling being connected with the at least one second duct.

5. System according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each seat of the room comprises at least one connection element.

6. System according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the second coupling has a second shape being different from said first shape.

7. System according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one first duct and preferably said at least one second duct is arranged in or on a ceiling or wall or below a floor of said room.

8. System according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one breathing mask, said breathing mask including a facepiece for covering the nose, mouth and chin of a person, at least one strap to hold the facepiece on the face of the person and a first tube which is connected to the facepiece at a first end and which comprises a first plug element on a second end, said first plug element having a third shape which is complementary to the first shape in order to plug said first plug element into the at least one first coupling.

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that said breathing mask comprises a second tube connected at a first end to the facepiece and comprising a second plug element at a second end, said second plug element having a fourth shape which is complementary to the second shape in order to plug said second plug element into the second coupling.

10. System according to any of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the facepiece of the breathing mask comprises at least one air filter element.

1 1. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one air filter element comprises a valve and/or a removable cover element.

12. System according to any of claims 8 to 1 1, characterized in that the facepiece comprises a connection piece for a drinking bottle.

13. Breathing mask for use in a system according to any of claims 1 to 12, comprising a facepiece for covering the nose, mouth and chin of a person, at least one strap to hold the facepiece on the face of the person and a first tube which is connected to the facepiece at a first end and which comprises a first plug element on a second end, said first plug element having a third shape.

14. Room comprising a system according to one of claims 1 to 12.

15. Room according to claim 14, where the room is a concert hall, a theatre hall, a schoolroom, a lecture hall, a sports hall and/or a waiting room.