WO2022097019A1

WO2022097019A1 - Face mask with control of the position thereof on the face

Info

Publication number: WO2022097019A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/060122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberta Frulla; Filippo Trascinelli; Luca QUERZE'
Original assignee: Gvs S.P.A.
Priority date: 2020-11-09
Filing date: 2021-11-02
Publication date: 2022-05-12
Also published as: IT202000026684A1

Abstract

A face mask (1) comprises a filter body (2) suitable to be worn on the face (3) of a user (4) and linked to at least one support element (7) attachable to the user's head, there being provided a connecting member (10) attached to the filter body (2) and to at least one end (7A, 7B) of said support element (7) and suitable to permit connection of said support element (7) to the filter body (2). Said connecting member (10) is pivotably integral with the filter body (2) of the mask (1), the relative movement of said connecting member (10) with regard to the filter body (2) making it possible to adapt the position of the mask on the face.

Description

FACE MASK WITH CONTROL OF THE POSITION THEREOF ON THE FACE

The subject matter of the present invention is a face mask according to the precharacterising clause of the main claim .

It is known that face masks, whether of the "surgical" and thus substantially planar type, or of the three- dimensional type, comprise a filter body suitable to be arranged on the user's face in such a manner as to cover the mouth and nose. Said body is integral with one or two support elements attachable to the head of the user wearing the mask. For example, the support elements are at least one elastic element having its ends directly connected to the filter body and suitable to be arranged around the user's head, or are two elastic elements, each attached to a corresponding side end of the filter body and suitable to be arranged around the user's ears.

Masks of the above-mentioned type generally have the problem of not adhering correctly to the user's face by adapting to the conformation of the face itself and consequently also the problem of having the support element or elements correctly tensioned to enable said adhesion and adaptation to the face.

Various methods are known for tensioning the support elements. For example, KR101962073 describes a mask with side support elements, one of which has one end linked to a winding (and unwinding) member attached to the filter body. Thanks to said member, it is possible to tension the support element during use and loosen it to remove (or don) the mask.

This solution makes it possible to achieve the proposed results, but by using a complex winding member comprising a plurality of components which make assembly difficult and expensive. Furthermore, the winding member is directly linked to the filter body and making continuous use of it to adjust the tension of the support element may generate localised stres ses on said body and pos sibly result in tearing it . This known solution furthermore makes it pos sible to tighten the filter body on the face , causing it to adhere thereto to the greatest pos sible extent ; the solution does not , however, make it pos sible to adapt the position of the filter body on the face by it s being positioned at dif ferent height s thereon, as a function of the natural dif ferences which exist between dif ferent faces : the masks are made in such a way as to be able to adapt , in a general way, to any facial conformation, but precisely for this reason they do not have a filter body capable of adhering completely to all the faces of pos sible users . The solution of the above-stated prior text does not permit extensive adaptability for a large number of pos sible user faces .

WO201 9/ 1 99810 describes a face mask according to the precharacterising clause of Claim 1 . The mask comprises a body suitable to be arranged on a user ' s face linked to support element s attachable to the head of the person wearing the mask . Various embodiment s of the text in question describe and show support element s connected to the body of the mask by means of coupling buttons defined by male and female element s integral with said support element s and mask body .

In particular, Figures 2A-4B show male buttons which are directly fixed to said body, while female buttons are integral with ends of the support element s . Attachment buttons together makes it pos sible to couple the support element s to the mask body so as to permit relative rotation between them .

The text in question thus describes the pos sibility of relative movement ( rotation ) between said body and the support element s around the coupled male-female buttons , with the consequent pos sibility of obtaining an adaptation of the position of the mask on the user ' s face .

However, since the male buttons are fixed to the mask body, there is a real pos sibility that the search for a correct position on the face with continuous relative movement between the male and female buttons could lead to cracking of the mask body at the level of the as sociated male buttons . Thi s is because of the transverse stres ses to which said male studs are sub j ected during said movement and which are trans ferred directly to said body . However, since the thicknes s of the latter is limited, these stres ses can result in localised tearing around the male buttons of the above-stated body with obvious consequences .

W0200 9/ 022250 describes a system for fixing support element s to a mask body that facilitates donning and comfort when the mask is worn by a user .

This is achieved by means of the use of straps with buckles which attach the support element s to said body and enable said body to tightly adhere to the user ' s face .

W0200 9/ 02224 9 describes a mask fixing system which comprises adjustable or elastic support element s to facilitate donning of a mask . The presence of members linked to said element s for releasable attachment to fixed coupling members linked to the mask is described .

The ob j ect of the present invention is that of providing a mask which is improved with regard to known masks .

In particular, the ob j ect of the invention is that of providing a mask of the stated type with a filter body and at least one support element which is adaptable to a large number of facial conformations of pos sible users , in which such adaptability can be easily and quickly achieved for any user, whether adult or child, without causing any damage to the mask body.

A further object is that of providing a mask of the stated type which also permits effective maintenance of its position on the face by means of appropriate adjustment of the tension of the support element or elements of the filter body itself.

Another object is that of providing a mask of the stated type which makes it possible to achieve the above-stated adaptability or adjustment without destroying the integrity of the filter body even on exposure to a plurality of adjustments of each support element with regard to said body.

These and other objects, which will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, are achieved by a mask according to the appended claims .

To enhance understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are appended in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a user's head wearing a mask obtained according to one embodiment which does not fall within the scope of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the head with mask of Figure 1;

Figures 3-5 respectively show a side view, a perspective view and a front view of the mask of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows an exploded front view of a part of the mask of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a cross-section along line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show perspective exploded views, respectively from above, below and the side, of a detail of the mask of Figure 1;

Figures 11 and 12 respectively show a perspective view and a plan view of the mask part of Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a perspective view from above of a variant of the mask part of Figure 6 which does not fall within the scope of the invention;

Figure 14 is a perspective view from below of the variant of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an exploded view of the variant of Figure 13;

Figure 16 shows a cross-section along line 16-16 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an exploded view from above of the variant of Figure 13;

Figure 18 shows a first embodiment of a mask part according to the present invention;

Figure 19 shows a cross-section along line 19-19 of Figure 18;

Figure 20 shows an exploded perspective view of a variant of the mask part of Figure 18 according to the present invention;

Figure 21 shows a side view of the part of Figure 20;

Figure 22 shows a cross-section along line 22-22 of Figure 21.

With reference to Figures 1-5, these show a mask 1 comprising a filter body 2 suitable to be worn in conventional manner on the face 3 of a user (whose head 5 is shown schematically) . The filter body 2 has side portions 6 (with reference to the user's face 3) to which support elements 7 of the mask 1 on the face 3 are connected. The figures show said (preferably elastic) support elements as being two in number and being such as to be arranged around the nape and neck of the user 5; obviously, it is also possible to provide just one support element 7 of the same type as those shown in the figures or two support elements capable of cooperating with the user's ears in per se known manner. In such a case, each of these support elements 7 arranged around the ears is connected to the same side portion 6 of the filter body 2.

The support elements 7 of the figures have opposite ends 7A and 7B connected to different side portions 6 of the filter body 2 by means of a connecting member 10 capable of permitting attachment of said elements to said filter body. In the embodiment of the figures in question, said connecting member 10 permits not only said attachment, but also adjustment of the length and thus the tension of each support element (elastic or otherwise) around the user's head 5. In particular, each connecting (and, in this case, adjusting) member 10 is conformed such that a first end 7A of a first support element 7 is fixed to said connecting and adjusting member while the second end 7B of the other, second support element 7, is adjustably connected to the same member 10. In other words, each support element has just one end (7B) connected adjustably by a connecting and adjusting member 10, while the other end (7A) is fixed to another member 10. This permits asymmetric adjustment of the tension of said support elements 7 so as to permit proper adhesion of the mask to the user's face 3. This is because it is possible to adjust the tension of just one of said support elements by acting on just one of the connecting and adjusting members 10.

Furthermore, adjustment on both sides of the user's face by means of the two support elements 7 permits corresponding fine, optimum and precise adjustment of the pressure exerted on the face by the filter body 2.

The connecting member 10 can pivot around the attachment zone to the corresponding portion 6 of the filter body 2, such that, with the above-stated asymmetric adjustment, it ensures that the mask can adapt well to the conformation of the user's face. The connecting member 10 of Figures 6-12, which also has the above-stated adjustment function, comprises a support body 12 of the elongate support elements 7 attached to the mask; the body 12 has a first central attachment part 13 from which two arms 14 and 15 project, the whole assuming a substantially V shape. Obviously, each arm may also have a different conformation and be defined by a different portion of the body 12 which is, however, different from the attachment part 13 and does not necessarily protrude from this part 13 as in the figures.

The central attachment part 13 has a through-hole 16 into which penetrates an attachment element 17 to the filter body 2 (in the present case for direct attachment) ; said attachment element 17, in the embodiment of the figures, comprises a widened terminal portion with a flange 18 centrally perforated at 19 and two arms, semi-cylindrical in the example, 20 and 21, which are spaced from and bound a cavity 22 coaxial with the hole 19. The arms 20 and 21 can be brought closer together elastically and have a free end 24 with a protruding flange 25. The attachment element 17 has a substantially inverted T shape in longitudinal section; an expansion pin 29 is suitable to cooperate with the attachment element 17, said expansion pin being suitable to be inserted within the hole 19 and the cavity 22 so as to move the arms 20 and 21 apart when the latter are inserted into the hole 16 of the central part 13 of the support body 12. Said pin has a stem 29A and a widened end 29B, with an enlarged portion or head 29C at the opposite end.

A first arm 14 of the support body 12 has a pass-through

30 rising from the arm and suitable to slidingly accommodate the second end 7B of a support element which is in turn suitable to cooperate with a winding member or simply winder

31 which will be described below. The second arm 15, on the other hand, has two through- slots 33 and 34 suitable to accommodate the first end 7A of the other support element 7; said end is folded into said through-slots and optionally folded back on itself and fixed to itself in per se known manner (adhesively bonded, stapled, welded in any known manner) . Alternatively, the free end part of the first end 7A may be enlarged (for example by having a knot tied in it) after insertion within the slots 33 and 34 such that it can no longer come away from them.

In Figures 6-12, the winder 31, as indicated above, is linked to the support body 12. The winder comprises a cylindrical element 40, hollow at 40A, fixed to the support body 12 and having a wall 41 with free end 42.

A winding control element 48 having a knurled edge 49 to effect rotation thereof above the element 40 is positioned above the free end 42 of the element 40. The control element 48 comprises a flat terminal portion 50 connected to said knurled edge 49 from which there projects a hollow cylindrical body 51 (suitable to be inserted into the cavity 40A of the element 40) which has a wall 52 in which a slot 53 is provided. Said slot is suitable to permit the second end 7B of a support element 7, which differs from that connected to the through-slots 33 and 34, within the cylindrical body 51, said end passing through a slot 47 of the cylindrical element 40 and the pass-through 30 mentioned above. Said end 7B is secured in any known manner within the cylindrical body 51.

The cylindrical body 51 has a free end 60 open at 61 suitable to accommodate the free end 24 of the arms 20 and 21 of the attachment element 17. Said ends 24 have a free surface inclined so as to be able to slide within the hole 16 of the central part 13 of the body 12 and, thanks to the elasticity of the arms 20 and 21, they can come closer together, penetrate within a cavity 64 of the cylindrical body 51 and (moving apart ) snap into place with their protruding flange 25 on the central part 13 of the body 12 inside the winder 31 .

A snap connection between the attachment element 17 and the body 12 is thus obtained .

Said attachment element 17 is thus connected to the support body 12 . The filter body 2 is present between the terminal portion 18 of the attachment element 17 and said body 12 , said element 17 penetrating into a hole 80 of said body 2 .

Said connection permit s rotation of the support body 12 (and thus of the connecting member 10 ) around the attachment element 17 and so permit said support body ( i . e . the member 10 ) to pivot (understood as rotating in opposing directions , see arrows W and X of Figure 11 ) around said element 17 on the filter body 2 . Said movement makes it pos sible to adapt the position of the mask to the conformation of the user ' s face while still allowing the mask to be ef fectively attached to the user ' s head . In other words , the user can adapt the position of the filter body 2 on his or her own face without moving the support element s 7 which have the correct tension for ef fective and comfortable support of the mask on the user ' s head . This is achieved by simply moving or angling the support body 12 with regard to the filter body 2 once the mask has been put on . The cylindrical element 40 comprises two opposing portions 80 and 81 separated by the wall 41 (but embodied so as to provide continuity with said wall ) by slot s 82 and the slot 47 for pas sage of the second end 7B of the support element 7 . Said embodiment enables said opposing portions 80 and 81 to deform elastically with regard to the remaining part 41 and to enter within the cavity 40A of the element 40 when sub j ected to opposing forces directed towards the inside of the cavity 40 ( arrows

F of Figure 10 ) .

The portions 80 and 81 provide a protruding tongue 84 and, at the top, a tooth 43 , which rest s on a side flange 85 provided around the cylindrical element 40 ( interrupted by the slot s 47 and 82 ) , at a short distance from the free end 42 of said cylindrical element .

Thanks to said teeth, it is suitable to cooperate with a toothed ring 87 having right-angled triangular teeth 88 provided within the control element 48 , i . e . on an inner side 90 of a collar 8 9 of said element , protruding from the flat portion 50 , having the knurled edge 4 9 on the out side . Said collar 8 9 has a folded over edge 8 9A which couples to the flange 85 and attaches the control element 48 to the cylindrical element 40 .

During use , the control element 48 may be rotated unidirectionally on the cylindrical element 40 by causing the teeth 88 to slide over the inclined flanks 44 of the teeth 43 of the cylindrical element 40 ( arrow M of Figure 9 ) , said rotation al so being facilitated by the elasticity of the portions 80 and 81 . Rotation in the reverse direction is prevented by the coupling of the teeth 88 with the orthogonal flank 4 6 of the teeth 43 .

It is thus pos sible to tension the support element 7 connected to the cylindrical body 51 by winding it s end 7B around this body by rotating the control element 48 .

In order to loosen said support element , portions 80 and 81 are pres sed towards the inside of the cavity 40A of the cylindrical element 40 ( arrows F of Figure 10 ) . In this way, the teeth 88 are separated from the teeth 43 and the control element 48 can be rotated in the opposite direction to that described above by unwinding the end 7B of the support element on the cylindrical body 51 . Figures 13-16 show a different embodiment of the connecting member 10 which again enables adjustment of the support elements 7. In these figures, parts corresponding to those described in relation to the preceding figures are denoted with the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment in question, the connecting and adjusting member 10 is not provided with the winder 31, but still permits adjustment of the length of each support element 7 (and hence of the tension thereof, especially if this element is elastic) .

To this end, each arm 14 and 15 of the support body 12 comprises openings 93 in which are located elastic tabs 94 which restrict slots 95 through which can pass the ends of two support elements 7 of the type shown in Figures 1-5 or also the ends of just one support element of the type suitable to be fixed to the user's ears. Each slot 95 is bounded by an edge 96 of the associated opening 93 and by a free end 97 of the tab 94. The other end 98 of the tab is elastically linked to the associated arm 14 or 15 by means of a weakening line 110.

The edge 96 has a set of toothing 99 facing towards the inside of the opening 93, while, close to the free end 97, a set of toothing 101 projects out from a surface 100 of the tab facing towards the filter body 2. Thanks to presence of the sets of toothing 99 and 101, the end of the support element 7 which passes through the slot 95 may be secured therein .

Again in the example of the figures, the attachment element 17 connects the adjusting member to the filter body 2 (not shown in the figure in question) in such a way that the support body 12 can rotate around the axis N of the expansion pin 29 and the element 17 (see double arrow Z of Figure 16) allowing the mask to be adapted to the user's face . Furthermore , the hole 1 6 is preferably flared towards the opening facing towards the body 2 , so as to further facilitate relat ive movement between the connect ing member 10 and the mask .

Figures 18 and 1 9 show an embodiment of a part (the connecting member 10 ) of the mask according to the invention . In these figures , part s corresponding to those of the already described figures are denoted with the same reference numerals .

In the embodiment of these figures , the connecting member 10 has the features of that of Figures 13-17 except with regard to the method of attachment to the filter body 2 .

This is because the connecting member 10 is not directly attached to said body 2 , but is pivotably linked to an ( intermediate ) support member 120 which is in turn fixed to the filter body . Fixation to the latter may proceed in any known manner such as adhesive bonding, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding or the like .

The support member 120 is located on an outer surface 2K of the filter body and no element which perforates said body 2 as in the above-described solutions ( in which the body 2 has a hole 80 to cooperate with the attachment element 17 ) is present . This ensures greater integrity of the f ilter body even on exposure to a plurality of adjustment s to the (angular ) position of the connecting member 10 on the filter body 2 .

The support member has , in one piece , the attachment element 17 with the arms 20 , 21 which are elastically movable relative to one another and suitable to cooperate with the hole 1 6 of the connecting member . The embodiment of the invention in question makes no provision for the presence of the expansion pin 2 9 , but the arms are conformed so as to fit within the hole 1 6 and be secured therein by means of the corresponding protruding flange 25 which snaps into engagement within a seat 121 provided in the connecting member 101 at one end of hole 1 6 .

The connecting member 10 , once attached to the support member 120 , can pivot , i . e . rotate around the axis N of the attachment element 17 .

Figures 20-22 show a variant of the invention in which part s corresponding to those already described are denoted with the same reference numerals . These figures include the winder 31 which is embodied similarly to that shown in Figures 6-10 , except in the conformation of the portions 80 and 81 which provide the prot ruding tongues 84 shaped formally dif ferently from those shown in the above-stated Figures 6-10 . Since , however, the function and use of the tongues of Figures 20-22 are similar to those of the tongues 84 of Figures 6-10 , the same reference numerals are used to denote them in Figures 20-22 as well .

In the embodiment in question, the connecting member 10 comprises the winder 31 connectable to the filter body 2 by means of a portion thereof acting as an attachment part 13 (and numbered accordingly) attachable to the support member 120 . The attachment element 17 is integral with the support member 120 and the winder 31 can pivot therearound .

Finally, a protruding arm 133 is f ixed to the cylindrical body 40 of the winder 31 , which arm has slot s 33 and 34 suitable to accommodate the ends (not shown ) of a corresponding support element 7 (not shown ) , the end of the other support element being linked ( as already described) to the winder 31 .

Various exemplary embodiment s of the invention which fall within the scope of the invention are defined in the appended claims .

Claims

1. Face mask (1) comprising a filter body (2) suitable to be worn on the face (3) of a user (4) and linked to at least one support element (7) attachable to the user's head, there being provided a connecting member (10) attached to the filter body (2) and to at least one end (7A, 7B) of said support element (7) and suitable to permit connection of said support element (7) to the filter body (2) , said connecting member (10) being pivotably integral with the filter body (2) of the mask (1) , the relative movement of said connecting member (10) with regard to the filter body (2) making it possible to adapt the position of the mask on the face and to facilitate donning and doffing of the mask, said connecting member (10) comprising a support body (12, 31) having an attachment part (13) by means of which said support body (12, 31) is suitable to be connected to the filter body (2) , and at least one arm (14, 15, 133) linked to said part (13) suitable to cooperate with the support element (7) , said attachment part (13) of the connecting member (10) having a hole (16) suitable to accommodate an attachment element (17) which pivotably connects said support body (12, 31) to the filter body (2) , said support body (12, 31) being pivotable and thus rotatable around a longitudinal axis (N) of said attachment element (17) , characterised in that an intermediate member (120) is provided which is fixed to said filter body (2) supporting the attachment element (17) and which connects said attachment element to the filter body (2) , the connecting member (10) being pivotable with regard to said fixed intermediate member (120) .

2. Mask according to Claim 1, characterised in that the fixed intermediate member (120) is welded to the filter body (2) .

3. Mask according to Claim 2, characterised in that the fixed intermediate member (120) is connected to the filter body (2) alternatively by heat sealing or ultrasonic welding.

4. Mask according to Claim 1, characterised in that the fixed intermediate member (120) is adhesively bonded to the filter body (2 ) .

5. Mask according to Claim 3, characterised in that the attachment element (17) is in one piece with the intermediate member (120) , protrudes therefrom and comprises arms (20, 21) which can be brought closer together elastically and have a free end (24) with a protruding flange (25) , the arms (20, 21) being inserted into the hole (16) of the support body (12, 31) of the connecting member (10) and extending out from said hole with the free end (24) thereof so as to secure the attachment element (17) in the hole (16) of the support body (12, 31) by means of the protruding flange (25) thereof, said arm (20, 21) projecting directly from the intermediate member (120) fixed to said filter body (2) .

6. Mask according to Claim 1, characterised in that said connecting member (10) has attachment means (33, 34; 93, 94, 99, 101) of the ends (7A, 7B) of each support element (7) suitable to hold said support elements of the connecting member (10) fixed.

7. Mask according to Claim 1, characterised in that said connecting member (10) has attachment means (33, 34) suitable to fix a first end (7A) of the support element (7) to said member (10) and tensioning means (31) for the second end (7B) of the same support element or another support element, said tensioning means (31) acting as a support body for said support elements (7) and being connected to the intermediate member (120) , said tensioning means (31) cooperating with corresponding attachment elements (17) fixed to said intermediate member (120) . 16

8. Mask according to Claim 7, of the type comprising two support elements (7) suitable to be placed respectively around a user's nape and neck, characterised in that the tensioning means (31) are each connected to one end (7B) of a corresponding support element (7) , so allowing the length/tension of said support elements to be adjusted asymmetrically .

9. Mask according to Claims 6 or 7, characterised in that said attachment means are at least one slot (33, 34) provided in the protruding arm (14, 133) of the support body (12, 31) of the connecting member (10) .

10. Mask according to Claim 7, characterised in that said tensioning means are a winding member (31) .

11. Mask according to Claims 2 and 10, characterised in that said winding member (31) comprises a cylindrical element (40) coupled to a winding control element (48) , said control element (48) being provided with a part (53) for holding the end (7B) of the support element (7) integral with a body (51) rotating within the cylindrical element, the winding rotation of said end being unidirectional, there being provided toothed members (43, 87) associated with said cylindrical element (40) and said control element (48) which are suitable to permit unidirectional relative rotation between said elements (40, 48) , there being provided means (80, 81) for undoing the coupling between said toothed members (43, 87) suitable for permitting relative rotation between said cylindrical element (40) and said control element (48) for releasing the tension in the support element (7) .

12. Mask according to Claim 6, characterised in that said attachment means of the ends (7A, 7B) of each support element (7) comprise tensioning means for both ends (7A, 7B) of each support element (7) connected thereto, said tensioning means being linked to corresponding arms (14, 15) projecting from different sides of the attachment part (13) of the support body of said connecting member, said tensioning means comprising two openings (93) provided with elastic tabs (94) bounding slots (95) through which passes the end (7A, 7B) of a corresponding support element or of the same support element (7) , sets of toothing (99, 101) being provided at the level of said slots (95) which are suitable to secure said ends (7A, 7B) from exiting once they have penetrated into said slots (95) .