WO2022150876A1

WO2022150876A1 - Personal protective apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022150876A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/050009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohit Sharma
Original assignee: Vbreathe Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-12
Filing date: 2022-01-12
Publication date: 2022-07-21

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a personal protective apparatus (10) in the form of a mask (12), the mask (12) including a material (16) adapted to at least one of receive, carry and disperse an applied composition (18) in a controlled manner such that a vapour associated with the composition (18) is at least one of breathable and emitted from the material (16) to the environment surrounding the mask (12).

Description

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE APPARATUS

FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a personal protection apparatus and, in particular, the invention relates to a personal protection apparatus in the form of a face mask including a composition adapted to suppress allergens, particulate matter, smoke, volatile organic compounds, and/or microbes such as viruses and bacteria.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Personal protection apparatuses are used by persons to suppress exposure to microbes such as viruses and bacteria. In particular, at present, personal protection apparatuses in the form of face masks are being widely used by persons to suppress transmission and exposure to viruses such as, but not limited to, COVID-19.

[0003] Face masks typically include some form of material such as a plastic or cotton cloth that is arranged to cover the mouth and nose, and straps to attach the mask to the face. Some face masks, such as dust masks, include more specialised filters adapted to filter out particular particle sizes. Such masks therefore function to capture and filter particles that may include microbes such as viruses and bacteria, which become captured either internally or externally of the mask. The microbes such as viruses and bacteria may therefore become trapped by and carried by the mask. Such masks do not function to actively suppress microbes such as viruses and bacteria, or any particulate matter or the like, either internally, externally or in the environmental surrounding the mask.

SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages of existing arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing arrangements.

[0005] There is disclosed herein a personal protective apparatus in the form of a mask, the mask including a material adapted to at least one of receive, carry and disperse an applied composition in a controlled manner such that a vapour associated with the composition is at least one of breathable and emitted from the material to the environment surrounding the mask.

[0006] The material may include one or more layers of woven and non-woven textiles or natural materials adapted to absorb the composition and allow for slow evaporation of volatiles associated with the composition.

[0007] The material may include an outer absorption layer to draw the composition thereto and an inner wicking layer to draw the composition from the outer absorption layer to the inner wicking layer.

[0008] The outer absorption layer may be formed from one or more of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, Modal Fabric, linen, cotton, Rayon, or wool, and the inner wicking layer is formed from one or more of Polyester, Polypropylene, Merino Wool, wool, nylon, Micromodal, or Bamboo.

[0009] The composition may be an evaporable substance that emits a volatile or vapour adapted to affect, reduce, or kill airborne pathological biological material, or act as a barrier against said airborne pathological biological material.

[00010] The composition may be a fluid including one or more essential oils.

[00011] There is also disclosed herein a mask system including the mask described above and an applicator, the applicator being adapted deliver the composition to the material.

[00012] The applicator may include a spray or roll-on applicator.

[00013] There is also disclosed herein a mask including an air treatment arrangement, the air treatment arrangement including a replaceable insert carrying a composition and adapted to provide controlled release of vapour associated with the composition in response to air flow associated with the breathing of a user wearing the mask.

[00014] The air treatment arrangement may further include a filter arrangement. [00015] The mask may further include a housing adapted to receive and hold the air treatment arrangement.

[00016] The replaceable insert may include a container or structure provided with the composition in the form of a gel, paste, or other material.

[00017] The replaceable insert may include pores or apertures adapted to control the release of the vapour associated with the composition.

[00018] The pores or apertures may include flaps or valves, or may be shaped to allow air flow only in one direction therethrough.

[00019] There is also disclosed herein a mask with an air treatment arrangement received by a housing or pocket of the mask, the air treatment arrangement including a material impregnated with a composition and a covering that is at least one of removeable, able to be pierced or otherwise adapted, to allow a vapour associated with the composition to be released from the composition.

[00020] The covering may include openable ports or apertures to allow controlled release of the vapour.

[00021] The opening of the covering may activate the composition to commence an active period of controlled release of the vapour.

[00022] The air treatment arrangement may be adapted to control the release of the vapour over a period of time.

[00023] There is disclosed herein a personal protective apparatus in the form of a mask, the mask including a material adapted to at least one of receive, carry and disperse an applied composition in a controlled manner such that a vapour associated with the composition is at least one of breathable and emitted from the material to the environment surrounding the mask.

[00024] There is also disclosed herein a mask system including a mask and an applicator, the applicator being adapted to allow the application of the composition to the mask, and the mask including a material adapted to at least one of receive, carry and disperse the composition in a controlled manner such that a vapour associated with the composition is at least one of breathable and emitted from the material to the environment surrounding the mask.

[00025] There is also disclosed herein a mask including a filter arrangement, the filter arrangement including a filter material and a replaceable insert carrying a composition adapted to release vapour associated with the composition so as to be at least one of breathable and emitted from the mask to the environment surrounding the mask.

[00026] There is also disclosed herein a mask including an air treatment arrangement, the air treatment arrangement including a replaceable insert carrying a composition adapted to release vapour associated with the composition so as to be at least one of breathable and emitted from the mask to the environment surrounding the mask, the composition being adapted to suppress at least some microbes.

[00027] There is also disclosed herein a mask including an air treatment arrangement, the air treatment arrangement including a replaceable insert carrying a composition adapted to provide controlled release vapour associated with the composition in response to air flow associated with the breathing of a user wearing the mask.

[00028] There is also disclosed herein a mask including an air treatment arrangement, the air treatment arrangement including a replaceable insert carrying a composition adapted to provide controlled release vapour associated with the composition in response to air flow associated with the breathing of a user wearing the mask.

[00029] There is also disclosed herein a mask system including an insert carrying a composition and a mask, the mask including a housing adapted to receive and hold the insert to provide controlled release vapour associated with the composition in response to air flow associated with the breathing of a user wearing the mask.

[00030] There is also disclosed herein a mask with an air treatment arrangement received by a housing or pocket of the mask, the air treatment arrangement including a material impregnated with a composition and a covering that is at least one of removeable, able to be pierced or otherwise adapted, to allow a vapour associated with the composition to be released from the composition.

[00031] There is also disclosed herein a method of manufacture of a mask, the method including: providing a mask adapted to at least one of hold, receive and fit with an air treatment arrangement; applying a composition to a material of the air treatment arrangement; covering or containing the material so in an initial state the release of vapour associated with the composition is inhibited; adapting the air treatment arrangement such that in an in-use state, the air treatment arrangement is able to be activated such that vapour associated with the composition is releasable therefrom.

[00032] There is also disclosed herein a method of use of a mask, the method including: providing a mask adapted to at least one of hold, receive and fit with an air treatment arrangement; and, at least one of applying a composition to a material of the air treatment arrangement, or activating the air treatment arrangement having its material pre-applied with the composition, such that a vapour associated with the composition is releasable therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00033] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[00034] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first example of a personal protective apparatus in the form of a mask and an applicator to apply a composition to the mask;

[00035] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the first example of the personal proactive apparatus in the form of the mask and another example of an applicator to apply the composition to the mask;

[00036] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the first example of the personal proactive apparatus in the form of the mask and yet another example of an applicator to apply the composition to the mask; [00037] Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the first example of the personal proactive apparatus in the form of the mask in which the mask is pre-applied with the composition and packaged within a bag or the like;

[00038] Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second example of the mask with an air treatment arrangement;

[00039] Figure 6 is an exploded parts perspective view illustrating the second example of the mask with parts of the air treatment arrangement shown;

[00040] Figure 7 is a side in use view illustrating the second example of the mask with the air treatment arrangement during an inward breath;

[00041] Figure 8 is a side in use view illustrating the second example of the mask with the air treatment arrangement during an outward breath;

[00042] Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating a third example of the mask with an air treatment arrangement;

[00043] Figure 10 is an exploded parts perspective view illustrating the third example of the mask with parts of the air treatment arrangement shown;

[00044] Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of inserts for a fourth example of a mask as shown in Figures 12 and 13;

[00045] Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the fourth example of the mask having a pouch to receive one of the inserts as shown in Figure 11 ; and

[00046] Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the fourth example of the mask in use with the insert being fitted to the pouch of the mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00047] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a first example of a personal protective apparatus 10 in the form of a mask 12. The mask 12 is adapted to fit with or on the face and/or head of a user (not shown), and may include a mask body 14 and a strap 15 or the like to retain the mask 12 to the face and/or head of the user.

[00048] The mask 12 may include a material 16 adapted to at least one of receive, carry, or disperse an applied composition 18 in a controlled manner such that a vapour (not shown) associated with the composition 18 is at least one of breathable or emitted from the material 16 to the environment surrounding the mask 12.

[00049] The mask 12 may be provided as part of a mask system 20 including an applicator 22 to deliver the composition 18 to the material 16. The applicator 22 may include spray or roll-on applicators such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[00050] The mask 22 may be subject to the composition 18 at the point of use, or alternatively, the composition 18 may be applied prior to use, such as at the point of manufacture. As shown in Figure 4, the mask 12 may be sealed within a container 24 such as a plastic bag or the like, and removed from the container 24 prior to use. The material 16 may be formed as an air treatment portion or section 19 of the mask 12. The material 16 may alternatively provide part of the air treatment portion or section 19 of the mask 12.

[00051] The material 16 may include one or more layers of woven and/or non-woven textiles, or natural materials adapted to absorb the composition 18, and which may allow for slow evaporation or release of vapours or volatiles associated with the composition. 18 In some examples, a multi-layered material 16 may be used, and in some examples, the material 16 may include a wicking material. It will be appreciated that a wicking material may allow the composition 18 to be wicked toward an outer layer or an inner layer of the mask 12 as desired.

[00052] An example of a layered material may include an absorption layer which draws the composition thereto, which may be an outer layer, and an inner wicking layer that draws the composition from the absorption layer to the wicking layer closer to the mouth and nose. Examples of materials for the absorption layer may include, but are not limited to, Hydrophilic non-woven fabric, Modal Fabric, Linen, Cotton, Rayon and Wool, and examples of a wicking material include, but are not limited to, Polyester, Polypropylene, Merino Wool, Wool, Nylon, Micromodal and Bamboo. It is envisaged that the selected fabrics will be breathable or at least partially breathable. [00053] Turning now to the composition 18, the composition 18 is preferably an evaporable substance (or combination of substances) that may emit a volatile or vapour adapted to affect, reduce, and/or kill airborne pathological biological material, allergens, particulate matter, smoke, volatile organic compounds, and/or microbes such as viruses and bacteria, or act as a barrier against these. An example of the composition 18 may be a fluid including one or more essential oils. In one example, the essential oils that have been found to affect, reduce, or kill microbes such as bacteria and viruses may include, but not limited to, clove oil, cinnamon, peppermint, rosemary, eucalypt oils. The oils may be selected such that vapours associated with such oils may also be breathable.

[00054] Turning now to Figures 5 to 8, and Figures 9 and 10, there are shown second and third examples of the mask, respectively, in which like sequences of numerals denote like parts (i.e. 12, 112, 212). In the second example as shown in Figures 5 to 8, the mask 112 includes, or is fitted with, an air treatment or filtering arrangement 130 that includes a housing 132 and one or both of a filter 138 and a treatment insert 140. It is envisaged that the mask 112 and/or the air treatment or filtering arrangement 130 may alternatively include multiple filters 138 and multiple treatment inserts 140, depending on the design requirements of the mask.

[00055] As best shown in Figure 6, the housing 132 may include a cover 134 with apertures 136 and a base 142 that is attached to the mask body 114. The filter 138 and treatment insert 140 may be releasably mounted in the housing 132. In the example shown, the filter 138 and treatment insert 140 are disposed between the cover 134 and the base 142, with the filter 138 being disposed adjacent to the cover 134 and the treatment insert 140 being disposed adjacent to the base 142. In this arrangement, air from the environment surrounding the mask 112 that is inhaled by the user would firstly be filtered by the filter 138, and subsequently treated by the treatment insert 140. It will be appreciated that in other arrangements, the filter 138 may be disposed adjacent to the base 142 and the treatment insert 140 may be disposed adjacent to the cover 134, depending on the design requirements of the mask.

[00056] The filter 138 may be a replaceable or disposable HEPA filter, carbon filter, particulate matter filter, or the like. It will be appreciated that a carbon filter, for example, may be included to collect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or smoke from cigarettes, bushfires, or other fires. It is also envisaged that the filter 138 may be formed from, or otherwise include material 116, such as that described above in relation to the first example, adapted to be impregnated with the composition 118. The filter 138 itself may also include the composition 118 incorporated within the material of the filter 138. It is envisaged that the air treatment or filtering arrangement 130 may include one or more of the filters 138 in varying combinations of the HEPA filter (which may or may not include the composition 111), the carbon filter, the particulate matter filter, or other suitable filters for treating and/or filtering air.

[00057] The treatment insert 140 may also include material 116, such as that described above in relation to the first example, adapted to be impregnated with the composition 118. The treatment insert 140 may initially be provided sealed and then unpackaged or perforated to allow air to pass therethrough or to release vapour associated with the composition 118. In this example, the treatment insert 140 may include a tablet-shaped (or other suitably shaped) container or structure having a gel, paste, or other suitable material. The gel, paste, or other suitable material may include a blend of clove oil, rosemary and eucalyptus extracts. The gel, paste, or other suitable material may initially be provided in a quantity of about 5 to 50 grams, for example, depending on the design requirements of the mask. An example gel may include a polysaccharide gelling agent, or in other examples, a simple gelatine gelling agent. The gelling agent may be formed with a blend of evaporable oils.

[00058] Any one or more of the housing 132 (including the cover 134 and the base 142), the filter 138, or the treatment insert 140 may have pores, apertures, or other like mechanisms to allow a slow and controlled release of the vapour associated with the composition, for example, in response to airflow resulting from breathing (inhalation or exhalation) of the user. As shown in Figures 7 and 9, for example, the mask 112 and the air treatment or filtering arrangement 130 may allow airflow generally in one direction therethrough (i.e. towards the user), with filtered and treated air being available when breathing inwardly, and the exhaled breath passing elsewhere through the mask 112. The airflow direction may be controlled by flaps, valves, shape of the apertures, or the like.

[00059] The third example of the mask 212 shown in Figures 9 and 10 functions similarly to the examples described above. However, in this example, two of the air treatment or filtering arrangements 230a and 230b are provided. In this example, the air treatment or filtering arrangements 230a and 230b have housings 232a and 232b, respectively, with one of the housings 232a including a filter 238a and the other of the housings 232b including the treatment insert 240b. This may allow both air treatment or filtering arrangements 230a and 230b to be used when inhaling to improve air flow, or may allow one to be used on inhale and the other on exhale. For example, the filter 238a may be used for inhaling, and the treatment insert 240b may be used for exhaling to provide the vapour associated with the composition 118 to enter the environment proximate the mask 212. The housings 232a and 232b may each alternatively include both the filter 23a and treatment 240b as described in relation to the earlier examples, depending on the design requirements of the mask.

[00060] In other embodiments (not shown), the mask 112 may include two or more air treatment or filtering arrangements 130 to allow for airflow generally in one direction therethrough at specific areas of the mask. For example, the mask 112 may include a first air treatment or filtering arrangement located at the center of the mask 112, generally in alignment with the user’ s nose and mouth, and a second air treatment or filtering arrangement located at one or both of sides of the mask 112. The first air treatment or filtering arrangement may be adapted to only allow inflow of air from the environment towards the user in response to inhalation from the user, and the second air treatment or filtering arrangement(s) may be adapted to only allow outflow of air from the user towards the environment in response to exhalation from the user. By positioning the second air treatment or filtering arrangement(s) at the side(s) of the mask 112, it will be appreciated that any exhaled air from the user, which may be contaminated, is not released directly in front of the user (e.g. towards another person that the user is interacting with, or towards a physical surface that is directly in front of the user). This arrangement may provide additional hygienic benefits compared to typical mask arrangements.

[00061] Referring now Figures 11 to 13, there is shown a fourth example of a mask 312 with an air treatment arrangement 330 received by a housing or pocket 352 of the mask 312. The air treatment arrangement 330 includes an insert 350 that may be initially contained within packaging or a covering 348 as shown in Figure 11.

[00062] The insert 350 may include one or layers of material 314 impregnated with a composition 318 in a similar manner to that described above in relation to the other examples. However, in this example, the insert 350 is larger and may come with the composition 318 pre-applied to the material 314 thereof. The covering 348 may initially seal in the vapour associated with the composition 318. The covering 348 may be at least one of removeable, able to be pierced or otherwise adapted, to allow a vapour associated with the composition to be released from the composition once the insert 350 is fitted into the housing or pocket 352 of the mask 312. The manufacture of the insert 350 initially within the covering 348 may allow the material 314 to be simply soaked or sprayed with the composition 118 and then sealed “wet” in, for example, plastic without the use of further specialised materials.

[00063] It is noted that in some examples, the covering 348 may stay in place and include openable ports or apertures (not shown), or is able to be pierced at selected points to allow controlled release of the vapour. For example, vapour pressure may accumulate within the covering 348 and slowly released in a controller manner via the openable ports or apertures. In this case, the material 314 of the insert 350 may stay mainly within the covering 348 in use as the covering 348 is used as a controlled release housing.

[00064] In some examples, a piecing tool may be provided to allow a user to create the openable ports or apertures at a location that may be indicated on the covering 348. In this example, and as shown in Figure 13, the body 314 of the mask 312 may include an inner layer 354 and an outer layer 356 that define the pocket 352, and the material of these layers may be breathable fabrics to allow air flow to and from the insert 350. The opening of the covering 348 by various means activates the treatment composition and starts its active period of controlled release of the vapour which may last for a time period, from one day to a few days or more, depending the quality and airflow.

[00065] Advantageously, there has been described a mask and mask system that includes use of a composition to release a breathable vapour that may inhibit or supress microbes such as bacteria and viruses. The mask includes a material or an insert that is able to carry the composition and means to allow vapour associated with the composition to be released in a controlled manner in response to airflow generated by the breathing of the user wearing the mark. There are also described advantageous examples with replaceable air treatment inserts, and also an example of manufacturing a material with the composition within a covering and adapting the covering in use, such as by selective openings, to allow vapour associated with the composition to be released in a controlled manner. The mask therefore may function to actively supress microbes such as viruses and bacteria either internally, externally or in the environmental surrounding the mask. [00066] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[00067] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[00068] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[00069] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A personal protective apparatus in the form of a mask, the mask including a material adapted to at least one of receive, carry and disperse an applied composition in a controlled manner such that a vapour associated with the composition is at least one of breathable and emitted from the material to the environment surrounding the mask.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the material includes one or more layers of woven and non-woven textiles or natural materials adapted to absorb the composition and allow for slow evaporation of volatiles associated with the composition.

3. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the material includes an outer absorption layer to draw the composition thereto and an inner wicking layer to draw the composition from the outer absorption layer to the inner wicking layer.

4. The mask according to claim 3, wherein the outer absorption layer is formed from one or more of hydrophilic non-woven fabric, Modal Fabric, linen, cotton, Rayon, or wool, and the inner wicking layer is formed from one or more of Polyester, Polypropylene, Merino Wool, wool, nylon, Micromodal, or Bamboo.

5. The mask according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is an evaporable substance that emits a volatile or vapour adapted to affect, reduce, or kill airborne pathological biological material, or act as a barrier against said airborne pathological biological material.

6. The mask according to claim 5, wherein the composition is a fluid including one or more essential oils.

7. A mask system including the mask according to any one of the preceding claims and an applicator, the applicator being adapted deliver the composition to the material.

8. The mask system of claim 7, wherein the applicator includes a spray or roll-on applicator.

9. A mask including an air treatment arrangement, the air treatment arrangement including a replaceable insert carrying a composition and adapted to provide controlled release of vapour associated with the composition in response to air flow associated with the breathing of a user wearing the mask.

10. The mask according to claim 9, wherein the air treatment arrangement further includes a filter arrangement.

11. The mask according to claim 9 or 10, further including a housing adapted to receive and hold the air treatment arrangement.

12. The mask according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the replaceable insert includes a container or structure provided with the composition in the form of a gel, paste, or other material.

13. The mask according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the replaceable insert includes pores or apertures adapted to control the release of the vapour associated with the composition.

14. The mask according to claim 13, wherein the pores or apertures include flaps or valves, or are shaped to allow air flow only in one direction therethrough.

15. A mask with an air treatment arrangement received by a housing or pocket of the mask, the air treatment arrangement including a material impregnated with a composition and a covering that is at least one of removeable, able to be pierced or otherwise adapted, to allow a vapour associated with the composition to be released from the composition.

16. The mask according to claim 15, wherein the covering includes openable ports or apertures to allow controlled release of the vapour.

17. The mask according to claim 16, wherein the opening of the covering activates the composition to commence an active period of controlled release of the vapour.

18. The mask according to claim 17, wherein the air treatment arrangement is adapted to control the release of the vapour over a period of time.