WO2022049318A1

WO2022049318A1 - Face mask

Info

Publication number: WO2022049318A1
Application number: PCT/ES2021/070635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jesús MURUA PICCHI
Original assignee: Texcon Y Calidad, S.L.
Priority date: 2020-09-04
Filing date: 2021-09-02
Publication date: 2022-03-10
Also published as: ES1256076Y; ES1256076U

Abstract

Disclosed is a face mask comprising a central fabric area (1), an upper edge (3), a lower edge (4) and straps (5) for fastening the face mask to a user's ears and/or head, wherein the central fabric area (1) is made of a fabric selected from one or more of the following types: organdy, organza, gauze, voile and muslin, the central fabric area (1) being surface treated with a biocide or antibacterial product.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Face mask

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is a hygienic mask that allows breathing while ensuring a high degree of filtration against particles, thus protecting the airways against bacteria and viruses, as well as against the inhalation of particles that can cause irritation and discomfort in the airways.

The mask object of the present invention offers great translucency that allows observing the facial expressions of the person who wears them, thereby facilitating communication between people who wear the mask.

The mask object of the present invention also offers a low degree of differential pressure, which facilitates breathing, increasing the feeling of comfort for the user wearing the mask.

The mask object of the present invention has application in the field of industry related to the design, manufacture and marketing of hygienic masks and, more specifically, hygienic masks capable of filtering small particles, protecting the respiratory airways against the intrusion of bacteria and viruses such as the SARS COV-2 coronavirus.

Background of the invention and technical problem to be solved

The emergence of the so-called SARS COV-2 coronavirus in our society has led to the widespread use of individual protection masks in all areas, not only at the hospital or healthcare level, but in any human activity. In many territories, the use of such masks has been imposed, which are intended to protect users from infection by said virus and, therefore, prevent its social spread.

There is a wide variety of masks, from homemade masks that each user can make with fabrics available at home, such as hygienic masks, surgical masks, as well as FFP2, KN95 (PPE) masks, etc. Each of these masks offer different degrees of protection against the inhalation of particles.

There are also standards and specifications designed to define the characteristics that hygienic masks must meet so that they can be approved and labeled as masks that offer a sufficient level of protection against the inhalation of particles that may contain the SARS COV-2 virus. One of these documents, recently published in Spain, is the UNE 0065:2020 Specification. It has been observed that the use of masks entails different problems and/or inconveniences for the users who wear them.

One of these problems is the impossibility of observing the entire face of the user, in particular the mouth, which prevents both reading the lips of the user of the mask and observing gestures, smiles, grimaces. All this greatly impoverishes the quality of communication. This difficulty can become extremely important in deaf people, who need to be able to read the lips of the person with whom they are speaking for their communication.

Another problem observed is the difficulty that many of the currently existing masks offer to breathe comfortably. The masks that offer the most protection to users against inhaling particles that may contain bacteria or viruses usually generate a high differential pressure between the inside and outside of the mask when it is being worn by a user. During a conversation, or to perform certain physical exercises, the differential pressure generated can make the use of the mask very uncomfortable for the user, which can ultimately encourage the user to remove the mask, thereby generating a possible risk against possible inhalation of particles contaminated with bacteria or viruses.

Description of the invention

In order to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention relates to a mask.

The mask object of the present invention comprises a central area of fabric, an upper edge, a lower edge and some straps or straps for hooking the mask to the ears and/or head of a user.

By "central area of fabric" is meant all the fabric of the mask surrounded by the upper edge and the lower edge.

In a novel way, in the mask object of the present invention, the central area of fabric is made of a fabric selected from one or more of the following fabric forms: organdy, organza, chiffon, voile, and muslin.

Preferably, the central fabric area is made of an organdy fabric.

This feature makes it possible to provide translucency to the central area of the fabric, thus allowing the expressions of the user wearing the mask to be observed, thus facilitating communication between people wearing the mask.

Additionally, the fabric of the central area of fabric incorporates a surface treatment with a biocide or antibacterial product.

This characteristic allows avoiding the filtration of particles, preventing the formation of bacterial cultures. This characteristic allows a good bacterial filtration efficiency to be achieved, making any possible bacteria or virus that could come into contact with the fabric of the central area of fabric becomes unusable, since the biocidal product causes the death of the bacteria or the disintegration of the virus.

According to a possible embodiment, the biocidal product is a fluoropolymer.

Preferably, the central area of fabric is made of polyester. This feature helps to promote translucency, facilitating the observation of the expressions of the user wearing the mask.

Preferably, the central weave area has a warp thread density of approximately 31 threads/cm and a weft thread density of approximately 28 threads/cm.

This density of threads ensures that the filtration efficiency of the mask is optimal. It also guarantees that the differential pressure generated between the inner face and the outer face of the mask, when it is worn by a user, will not reach values that could become a nuisance for the user, making it difficult for them to breathe. A high differential pressure can produce, apart from respiratory difficulty, also the well-known effect of fogging of glasses, if the user of the mask wears glasses. Therefore, managing to reduce the differential pressure also makes it possible to avoid this adverse effect, which is so uncomfortable and annoying for many mask users.

According to a possible embodiment, the central area of fabric is made of two superimposed layers of fabric.

This feature makes it possible to increase the filtration efficiency of the mask.

Preferably, the central area of fabric has a grammage between 40 and 100 g/m2.

This characteristic helps to achieve good translucency of the tissue in the central tissue area. This feature also contributes to achieving a good "breathability" of the mask, making sure that the differential pressure generated between the inner face and the outer face of the mask, when it is worn by a user, does not reach values that make it difficult for the user to breathe. Username.

According to a possible embodiment, the central area of fabric has a grammage of approximately 84 g/m2, made in the form of two superimposed fabric layers, each fabric layer having a grammage of 42 g/m2.

According to another possible embodiment, the central area of fabric has a grammage of approximately 49 g/m2.

Preferably, the central area of fabric is divided into a top panel and a bottom panel separated by a central stripe (the central stripe may be, for example, a trim or ribbon sewn to both panels).

This feature allows the mask to adapt optimally to the user's face, allowing the face to be covered from the upper part of the nose to the lower part of the user's chin, and all this in a natural way, without stressing the central area. of fabric, thus resulting in a protection that is comfortable for the user to wear. Preferably, the central area of fabric comprises a "V"-shaped clamp or fold, configured as a seam, to give volume to the mask in the area corresponding to the user's nose. This feature provides greater comfort and allows the mask to better adapt to the user's face.

Preferably, the fabric of the central fabric area has a water-repellent surface treatment, without latex/natural rubber. This characteristic allows liquids that come into contact with the fabric in the central area of the fabric to "bead" and repel it from slipping over it without soaking it, guaranteeing good hygiene of the mask and increasing its useful life. This treatment protects against contagion by splashes of saliva or other liquid elements, acting as a repellent.

According to a possible embodiment, for this water-repellent or water-repellent surface treatment, a chemical product is used, a chemical fluorine chain of carbon 6, which acts as a filter for the particles that come from aerosols. Technically it is said that it is a variation of the surface tension of the fabric so that the drops of water repel each other and do not pass through the fabric.

Thanks to the mask object of the present invention, differential pressure values of 22 Pa/cm2 are achieved (according to tests carried out following the UNE-EN-14683 specification), much lower than the maximum values indicated by the various regulations.

Likewise, thanks to the mask object of the present invention, bacterial filtration efficiency values of over 90% are achieved (according to tests carried out following the UNE-EN-14683 specification).

Likewise, by means of the mask object of the present invention, facial adjustment values greater than 96% are achieved (according to tests carried out following the UNE-EN-0065 specification).

The mask object of the present invention is reusable and washable, preferably with washes at 60 ° C ^, admitting more than 50 washes, as well as being susceptible to sterilization in an ozone cabin, without losing its values of bacterial filtration efficiency and differential pressure.

Brief description of the figures

As part of the explanation of at least one embodiment of the invention, the following figures have been included.

Figure 1: Shows a schematic front view of a possible embodiment of the mask object of the present invention.

Figure 2: Shows a scheme of the seams used in the dart or fold in the form of

Figure 3: Shows an outline of the seams used in the central stripe. Figure 4: Shows a schematic of the seams used on the top edge and bottom edge.

Detailed description

The present invention relates, as mentioned above, to a mask.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the mask comprises a central area of fabric (1) divided into an upper cloth (1 ') and a lower cloth (1 ") separated by a central strip (2) (this strip central (2) can be a sewing area with double stitching of both panels (1 ', 1 ”), and/or it can incorporate an additional strip of fabric). The mask comprises a top edge (3) or top trim (e.g. made of 70% polyester and 30% cotton), a bottom edge (4) or bottom trim (e.g. made of 70% polyester and 30% cotton). and 30% cotton) and some straps (5) or straps for hooking the mask on the user's ears. The lower edge (4) also comprises, according to a possible embodiment (shown in Figure 1), some sections that act as lateral edges (4') of the mask. However, said lateral edges (4') could alternatively be included in the upper edge (3), as sections of said upper edge (3).

Figure 3 shows the form of double backstitch sewing of the central strip (2).

Figure 4 shows the way of sewing the fabric from the central fabric area (1) to the upper edge (3) and/or the lower edge (4).

According to a possible embodiment, the straps (5) or straps for hooking the mask to the user's ears are flat rubber bands, 1 mm thick and 5 mm wide. The straps (5) can be made, according to a possible embodiment, in 54% polyester and 46% latex.

Preferably, the straps (5) are sewn to the upper edge (3) and/or the lower edge (4), and may be sewn to the side edges (4') (as shown in Figure 1).

The mask also comprises a fork-shaped part (6) (also called "twist-band" by its English terminology), configured for coupling the mask to the user's nose. The fork-shaped part is made of a semi-rigid material (eg a plastic material), which can be molded according to the anatomy of the user's face, to fit their nose.

The fork-shaped piece (6) is located inside the upper edge (3) of the mask, sewn to said upper edge (3). According to a possible embodiment, the fork-shaped part (6) has dimensions of 3mm wide and 10cm long.

The mask also comprises a clip (7) or "V"-shaped fold, preferably configured as a seam, to give volume to the mask in the area corresponding to the user's nose.

Figure 2 shows the method of sewing the fabric of the central fabric area (1) in the area corresponding to the dart (7).

According to different embodiments, the central area of fabric (1) is made of organdie, organza, chiffon, voile, or muslin fabric.

Preferably, the central fabric area (1) is made of a polyester-based organdie fabric.

The configuration of the central area of fabric (1) in an upper panel (1 ') and a lower panel (1”) separated by a central strip (2) allows the necessary volume to be created so that the mask has a good adaptation to the user's face, being able to comfortably cover and adapt to the face from the nose to the chin.

The thread preferably used in the central area of the fabric (1) is a 100% polyester thread, with a circular section, matt or semi-matt.

The density of warp threads (longitudinal direction) in the central area of the fabric (1) is preferably 31 threads/cm.

The thread density of the weft (transversal direction) in the central area of the fabric (1) is preferably 28 threads/cm.

The grammage of the fabric of the central fabric area (1) is, according to a possible embodiment, 49 g/m2.

Preferably, the threads are in a flat weave, that is, intertwined in the fabric.

According to another possible embodiment, the fabric weight of the central fabric area (1) is 84 g/m2, made in the form of two superimposed fabric layers, each fabric layer having a weight of 42 g/m2. Preferably, the weight of the fabric of the central area of fabric (1) is between 40 and 100 g/m2.

The central area of fabric (1) can be made of two superimposed layers of fabric. In this case, the weight of the central area of fabric (1) is the sum of the weights of the two superimposed layers of fabric.

For example, two superimposed layers of fabric can be used, where the weight of one of said layers is 25 g/m2 and the weight of the other superimposed fabric layer of the central fabric area (1) is 25 g/m2. m2, thus resulting in a total grammage of the central area of fabric (1) of 50 g/m2.

Preferably, the dimensions of the mask for a medium adult size (where a head circumference of between 56 and 57 cm is considered) are: 18.5 cm wide and 14.5 cm high, the length being each strap 18 cm.

Preferably, the fabric of the central fabric area (1) has a water-repellent surface treatment.

Likewise, preferably, the fabric of the central area of fabric (1) has a surface treatment with a biocide product.

Claims

1. Mask comprising a central area of fabric (1), an upper edge (3), a lower edge (4) and straps (5) for hooking the mask to the ears and/or head of a user, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) is made of a fabric selected from one or more of the following forms: organdy, organza, chiffon, voile, and muslin, and where the fabric of the central area of fabric (1) It has a surface treatment with a biocidal or antibacterial product.

2. Mask according to claim 1, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) is made of polyester.

3. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central fabric area (1) has a warp thread density of approximately 31 threads/cm and a weft thread density of approximately 28 threads/cm.

4. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) is made of two superimposed layers of fabric.

5. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) has a grammage between 40 and 100 g/m2.

6. Mask according to claim 5, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) has a weight of approximately 84 g/m2, made in the form of two superimposed layers of fabric, each layer of fabric having a weight of 42 g/m2. m2.

7. Mask according to claim 5, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) has a grammage of approximately 49 g/m2.

8. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) is divided into an upper cloth (1 ') and a lower cloth (1 ") separated by a central strip (2).

9. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central area of fabric (1) comprises a clamp (7) or "V"-shaped fold, configured as a seam, to give volume to the mask in the area corresponding to the user's nose.

10. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric of the central fabric area (1) has a water-repellent surface treatment.

11. Mask according to claim 10, characterized in that the water-repellent surface treatment incorporates a chemical fluorine chain of carbon 6.

12. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biocidal or antibacterial product is a fluoropolymer.

13. Mask according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fork-shaped part (6) configured for coupling the mask to the user's nose.