WO2021229118A1

WO2021229118A1 - Hygienic mouth-and-nose mask

Info

Publication number: WO2021229118A1
Application number: PCT/ES2021/070268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan Carlos RAMOS - VALCARCE MORCILLO
Original assignee: Ramos Valcarce Morcillo Juan Carlos
Priority date: 2020-05-14
Filing date: 2021-04-22
Publication date: 2021-11-18
Also published as: ES1249295Y; ES1249295U

Abstract

The invention describes a hygienic mouth-and-nose mask (1) formed by a first body (2) for covering a user's mouth and a second body (3) for covering the user's nose. The first body (2) and the second body (3) have a size adjusted to the size of the user's mouth and nose, respectively, and are connected by a connecting strip (4). In addition, the first body (2) and the second body (3) comprise means for interchangeably attaching respective mouth and nose filters.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Oral-nasal hygienic mask

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally belongs to the field of personal protective equipment used in different fields to prevent the inhalation of harmful particles or gases.

The object of the present invention is a new oral-nasal hygienic mask equipped with independent and interchangeable nasal and oral filters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An important route of transmission of the CoVid-19 disease occurs through the inhalation of contaminated particles from body fluids that are released involuntarily when talking, coughing or sneezing. Due to their very small size, these particles remain suspended in the air for long periods of time, being able to later be inhaled by other people who, in this way, are infected with the disease.

To solve this problem, the use of so-called hygienic masks is known. Current hygienic masks are made up of a single piece that covers the user's mouth and nose. Naturally, being a single piece, these masks also cover a large part of the user's face around the mouth and nose. The filtering material of this type of mask is the very textile material from which they are made, usually a fabric provided with a plurality of parallel folds.

Various types of filter hygienic masks equipped with an interchangeable particle filter are also known, such as, for example, the FFP2 or FFP3 masks. These masks are also made up of a single mask body that covers the user's mouth and nose, and have a common interchangeable filter for mouth and nose.

However, humans normally use their mouth and nose to breathe simultaneously, for example inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. In view of this situation, there is currently in this field of the art a need for hygienic masks that more precisely match human respiratory characteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a new oral-nasal hygienic mask that solves the above problems thanks to the fact that it has separate and independent interchangeable filters for the mouth and nose. This configuration allows the mouth filter and the nose filter to be replaced independently. In addition, it allows the use of filters with different characteristics depending on the respiratory characteristics of the user.

The oral-nasal hygienic mask of the present invention comprises a first body to cover the mouth of a user and a second body to cover the nose of the user, where the first body and the second body have a size adjusted to the size of the mouth respectively. and nose of the user. Thus, normally the first body has an essentially rectangular shape with a size sufficient to cover the user's mouth, for example between 6 cm and 10 cm in width and between 4 cm and 8 cm in height. For its part, the second body can have an essentially elliptical or oval shape of a size sufficient to completely cover the user's nostrils, for example 4 cm and 8 cm in length of the major axis and between 3 cm and 6 cm in length. length of the minor axis. The first body and the second body are also joined by means of a connecting strip, so that the mask of the invention constitutes a single piece. Furthermore, the first body and the second body comprise means for fixing respective buccal and nasal filters interchangeably.

This configuration provides several advantages over conventional hygienic masks. In the first place, the mask of the present invention being made up of two different bodies for mouth and nose, the size of the whole can be significantly smaller. This new mask thus reduces the covered area of the wearer's face. Furthermore, by having interchangeable fixing means of independent filters for mouth and nose, it is possible to replace said filters separately depending on the specific needs of each case. Furthermore, this allows the use of different filters for the user's mouth and nose if the user's respiratory characteristics so advise.

In principle, the second body can have characteristics similar to those of conventional hygienic masks, covering the user's nostrils to force for the air inspired or exhaled through them to pass through the nasal filter. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second body comprises two flexible conduits that have a first end connected next to the position of the nasal filter and a second end designed for introduction into the nostrils of the user. These flexible conduits can be made, for example, of silicone or other similar material.

On the other hand, the means for fixing the buccal and nasal filters can be configured in different ways, although according to a preferred embodiment of the invention they comprise a first grid and a second grid respectively fixed to the first body and second body. The first grid and the second grid have a first side permanently attached to the respective first and second bodies and a second side opposite the first removably attached to the respective first and second bodies. For example, the detachable attachment may comprise respective lugs attached to the body that engage complementary holes in the grill. Thus, to open the grill, it is enough to disconnect the second side of it from the lugs, and then pull said second side. The used filter, which was sandwiched between the outer surface of the body and the screen, is thus exposed and can be replaced with a new filter. The second side of the grid is then reattached to the studs.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mask further comprises elastic bands attached to the sides of the first body for attachment to the wearer's head. Two closed elastic bands designed to hook behind the wearer's ears can be used, or a single closed elastic band that passes behind the patient's neck. In any case, these elastic bands securely fix the mask of the invention to the patient's face, preventing the first or second body from moving out of position.

Preferably, the first body and the second body constituting the mask are made of a padded material, for example a textile material comprising a plurality of accordion-like folds. Furthermore, the mask of the invention is preferably washable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a hygienic mask according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a user wearing the hygienic mask of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An example of a mask (1) according to the present invention is described below with reference to the attached figures. As can be seen, the mask (1) is made up of a first body (2) and a second body (3) that are joined together by means of a joining strip (4).

The first body (2) is configured to completely cover the user's mouth, and for this it has a rectangular shape with dimensions approximately 10 cm wide by 4 cm high. The second body (3) is configured to cover the nostrils of the user, and for this it has an essentially elliptical shape arranged essentially horizontally with a width of approximately 5 cm and a height of approximately 3 cm. Both bodies (2, 3) are made of a textile material shaped accordion-like by a plurality of horizontal folds. This textile material is hypoallergenic and washable. Elastic bands (10) fixed to the sides of the first body (2) allow the mask (1) to be fixed behind the patient's ears. The elastic bands (10) could be attached to other points of the mask (1), such as the second body (3), one end to the first body (2) and one end to the second body (3), or even bands independent elastic bands (10) fixed respectively to the first body (2) and to the second body (3).

The second body (5) also has a pair of flexible conduits (5) that have a first end designed to be inserted into the user's nostrils and a second end attached to the second body (3) in an area adjacent to the position. of the nasal filter described below. The flexible ducts (5) improve the tightness of the mask (1), since they ensure that all the inspired / expired air through the user's nostrils passes through the nasal filter.

The first and second bodies (2, 3) have means for fixing respective buccal and nasal filters interchangeably. Each of these fixing means comprises a respective grid (6, 7) designed to compress or sandwich a nasal or buccal filter between the body (2, 3) and the grid (6, 7) itself. The grids (6, 7) can be made of a flexible material but whose rigidity is substantially greater than that of the fabric that makes up the body (2, 3) of the mask (1). For example, the grids (6, 7) can be made of plastic or similar materials. Each grid has a first side connected to the body, for example by suturing, adhesives, or the like, and an opposite side removably attached to said body (2, 3). For example, in the figures shown the upper side of each grid (6, 7) is sewn to the respective first or second body (2, 3). The opposite side, that is, the lower side of each grid (6, 7), is fixed to the respective body by inserting lugs (8, 9) in holes or hooks (not shown in the figures) arranged in the detachable side of the respective grid (6, 7). Thus, the user can unhook the lower side of the filter to be replaced, and pull it perpendicular to the respective body (2, 3) to make it rotate around the fixed upper side. The filter in question is exposed, and the user can remove it and replace it with a new filter. Next, the user brings the lower side of the grid (6, 7) closer to the body (2, 3) until the filter is completely sandwiched between the body (2, 3) and the grid (6, 7), and finally returns to fix the lower side of the grid (6, 7) to the respective lugs (8, 9). This simple system allows you to quickly and easily replace the mouth filter or the nasal filter independently of each other.

Thus, to use the mask (1) of the present invention, the user first opens both grids (6, 7), separating them from the respective fixing lugs (8, 9). Next, insert a mouth filter under the first grid (6) and a nasal filter under the second grid (7). Then close both grids (6, 7), fixing their respective lower side to the corresponding lugs (8, 9). Then, the mask (1) is placed by placing the first body (2) over the mouth and the second body (3) over the nose, introducing the conduits (5) into their nostrils. Finally, the user uses both hands to place the elastic bands (10) behind their ears, thus leaving the mask (1) perfectly positioned.

Claims

1. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) comprising a first body (2) to cover the mouth of a user and a second body (3) to cover the user's nose, the first body (2) and the second body having (3) a size adjusted to the size respectively of the mouth and nose of the user, and the first body (2) and the second body (3) being joined by means of a joining strip (4), where the first body (2 ) and the second body (3) comprise means for fixing respective buccal and nasal filters interchangeably.

2. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second body (3) comprises two flexible conduits (5) that have a first end connected next to the position of the nasal filter and a second end designed for its introduction into the nostrils of the user.

3. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible conduits (5) are made of silicone.

4. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for fixing the buccal and nasal filters comprise a first grid (6) and a second grid (7) respectively fixed to the first body ( 2) and second body (3), where the first grid (6) and the second grid (7) have a first side permanently fixed to the respective first and second bodies (2, 3) and a second side opposite to the first fixed removably to the respective first and second bodies (2, 3).

5. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to claim 4, wherein the detachable fixation respectively between the first grid (6) and the first body (2) and between the second grid (7) and the second body (3 ) comprises respective lugs (8, 9) fixed to the body (2, 3) that are coupled to complementary holes in the grid (6, 7).

6. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first body (2) has an essentially rectangular shape of a size sufficient to completely cover the user's mouth.

7. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second body (3) has an essentially elliptical or oval shape of a size sufficient to completely cover the user's nostrils.

8. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising elastic bands (10) attached to the sides of the first body () for attachment to the user's head.

Oral and nasal hygiene mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first body (2) and the second body (3) are made of a padded material.

10. Oral-nasal hygienic mask (1) according to claim 9, wherein the padding material comprises a textile material comprising a plurality of accordion-like folds.

11. Oral-nasal hygiene mask (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is washable.