WO2023166601A1

WO2023166601A1 - Mask assistive equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2023166601A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/008819
Authority: WO
Inventors: 和典酒井
Original assignee: 和典酒井
Priority date: 2022-03-02
Filing date: 2022-03-02
Publication date: 2023-09-07
Also published as: JP2023129208A; JP7121877B1; JPWO2023166601A1

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing mask assistive equipment with which it is possible to improve comfort during wearing of a mask while maintaining a function for suppressing entry and exit of foreign matter into and from a mask body, irrespective of the type of mask and without requiring a special operation.　Mask assistive equipment 2 disposed between a face 4 and a mask 6, the mask assistive equipment 2 having a container-form nasal-exhalation-receiving part 12 that receives exhalations blown out from the nostrils 10a in a nose 10, a nozzle member 20 that communicates with the bottom surface of the nasal-exhalation-receiving part 12, a soft cylindrical exhalation-guiding part 14 that is air-tightly fixed to the bottom surface of the nasal-exhalation-receiving part 12 at an upper-end section so as to cover the nozzle member 20, and a filter part 16 that communicates with the lower-end section of the exhalation-guiding part 14 and is exposed to the exterior. The nozzle 20 is provided with a check valve 18 that opens and closes at the flow rate of the exhalations from the nose 10. The exhalations are accelerated within the nozzle member 20 before being discharged, and are pushed into the filter part 16 by fluid pressure before being blown out to the exterior.

Description

Mask aid

The present invention relates to a mask aid that is placed inside the mask to improve the atmosphere inside the mask.

In everyday life, masks are used to prevent foreign substances such as pollen, dust, fine particles, and viruses from entering the body. When wearing a mask, outside air (inhaled air) entering through the mask and exhaled air exhaled from the nose and mouth are mixed and retained in the substantially closed space between the face and the mask. Breath has a high temperature and contains water, carbon dioxide, and odor, so it is unavoidable that the oxygen concentration decreases and the mask clogs as the time of use increases, causing discomfort due to suffocation and odor. Due to these factors, the atmosphere (environment) inside the mask deteriorated, resulting in an increase in dermatitis and respiratory diseases.

On the other hand, in the situation where measures against infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus are being called for, the effectiveness of masks is supported by various medical data and supercomputer simulations. It is said that it is highly effective in suppressing the virus from being discharged to the outside. For this reason, it is strongly desired to reduce discomfort during use (improve comfort) while maintaining the original function of the mask to prevent entry and exit of foreign matter.

In order to meet such a demand, Patent Document 1 proposes a nostril mask configured to filter (filter) the exhaled air from the nose to the outside of the mask while blocking it from the space inside the mask. This nostril mask has a tubular nostril header integrally provided with a nostril insertion tube inside the mask, and an intake filter for filtering outside air flowing into the mask is provided on both sides of the nostril header. The central portion of the nostril header on the mask-facing side is provided with an exhalation relief arrangement with a check valve that utilizes a portion of the mask as a filter. The check valve is located in a cylindrical exhalation flange that communicates with the nostril header and protrudes outward from the face. The mask portion corresponding to functions as an exhalation filter.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-184781

The nostril mask described in Patent Document 1 is configured to prevent exhaled air from flowing back into the mask due to the sealability of the mask being in close contact with the tip of the exhalation flange. The pressing force of the mask) alone does not necessarily guarantee the sealing performance. For example, in a pleated mask, there is a step due to folds, so that a gap is likely to occur between the mask and the tip of the exhalation flange. Assuming such fears, Patent Document 1 describes that the mask is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the exhalation flange with a fixing ring to improve the sealing performance. However, not only is the special operation to improve the sealing performance every time the mask is replaced become cumbersome, but the mask protrudes into a cylindrical shape, giving it the appearance of a gas mask. can't deny the concern of hesitating to use it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to maintain the original function of preventing foreign substances from entering and exiting the mask, without requiring any special operation, regardless of the type of mask, during use. To provide a mask aid capable of improving comfort.

In order to achieve the above object, the mask assisting tool (2) of the present invention is a mask assisting tool which is placed between the face (4) and the mask (6) and which exhales (10) from the nose (10). an exhalation guide part (14) communicating with the nasal exhalation receiver part (12) and guiding exhalation (22) from the nose (10); and an exhalation guide part (14) ), at least a part of which is exposed to the outside from between the face (4) and the mask (6); and a valve mechanism (18) that opens and closes at the flow rate of exhaled air (22) from (10) to block backflow.

According to the mask assisting tool of the present invention, regardless of the difference in the type and shape of the mask, without requiring any corresponding configuration on the mask side, and without requiring any special operation, the original foreign matter of the mask can be removed. It is possible to improve the deterioration of the atmosphere inside the mask while maintaining the entry and exit control function, and to improve the comfort when using the mask.

In addition, the mask auxiliary tool (2) is characterized in that the exhalation guide part (14) is formed in a cylindrical shape from a soft material that can be deformed by the wearing force of the mask (6). According to this, exhaled air can be filtered through the filter portion and discharged to the outside while the airtightness between the face and the mask is the same as when wearing a normal mask.

Further, in the above mask aid (2), the nasal exhalation receiving part (12) is made of a material having rigidity and is formed in the shape of a container having a bottom surface (12a) with a hole (12b). A nozzle member (20) extending toward the filter portion (16) is arranged in communication with the hole (12b), and a valve mechanism (18) is provided in the nozzle member (20). According to this, the exhalation from the nose can be accelerated by the nozzle member and discharged from the filter section at the timing of nasal breathing.

In addition, the mask aid (2) is characterized in that the nasal breath receiving part (12) has a shape that covers the nose (10). According to this, the exhaled air from the nose can be efficiently discharged to the outside through the filter part, and the deterioration of the atmosphere inside the mask can be improved quickly.

Further, the mask auxiliary tool (2) is characterized in that the nozzle member (20) has a shape in which the inner diameter gradually decreases toward the filter part (16) side. According to this, the exhaled air from the nose can be efficiently accelerated by the nozzle member and discharged from the filter portion at the timing of nasal breathing.

In addition, the mask auxiliary tool (2) is characterized in that two holes (12b) and two nozzle members (20) are provided individually corresponding to the nostrils (10a). According to this, the exhaled air from each nostril can be efficiently and quickly moved to the exhalation guide section.

Further, the mask auxiliary tool (2) is characterized in that the filter part (16) is configured to be exposed to the outside from the lower side of the face (4). According to this, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the appearance related to wearing the mask due to the filter portion being exposed to the outside.

Further, the mask auxiliary tool (2) is characterized in that the filter part (16) is made of the same material as the mask (6). According to this, it is possible to obtain a foreign matter entry/exit suppression function that is the same as when a normal mask is worn.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the comfort during use while maintaining the original function of preventing foreign matter from entering and exiting the mask without requiring any special operation and regardless of the type of mask.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a usage state of the mask aid according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mask aid shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view that also serves as an explanation of the operation of the part indicated by the dashed-dotted line circle in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 1; It is a figure which shows the principal part of the mask assistance tool in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main part of a mask assisting tool according to a third embodiment;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows how a mask aid 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used. The mask aid 2 is arranged between the face 4 and the mask 6 and is held so as not to fall off due to the wearing force of the mask 6. - 特許庁The wearing force of the mask 6 means the pressing force of the mask main body 6a against the face 4 in normal use when the ear straps 6b are hooked on the ears 8 and the mask main body 6a is brought into close contact with the face 4 in a curved state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mask aid 2 includes a nasal exhalation receiving portion 12 that receives exhaled air from the nose 10, an exhalation guide portion 14 that communicates with the nasal exhalation receiving portion 12 and guides the exhaled air from the nose 10, A filter portion 16 communicating with the tip end side (lower end side in the figure) of the exhalation guide portion 14 and at least partially exposed to the outside from between the face 4 and the mask 6; 12 side), and has a check valve 18 or the like as a valve mechanism that opens and closes at the flow rate of exhaled air from the nose 10 to block backflow.

The nasal breath receiving part 12 is made of a rigid material and formed into a rectangular container shape. Two holes 12b are formed corresponding to , and nozzle members 20 are fixed to the lower surfaces of these holes 12b. The rigidity of the nasal breath receiving part 12 is such that it is not deformed by the wearing force of the mask 6, and is made of thin plastic in this embodiment. The inner side surface 12c of the nasal breath receiving part 12 is curved in a concave shape so as to be in close contact with the lower part of the nose 10. As shown in FIG. Each nozzle member 20 has a tapered shape in which the inner diameter gradually decreases toward the filter portion 16 side, that is, downward, and a check valve 18 is provided in each nozzle member 20 .

The expiratory guide part 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a soft material (here, a thin vinyl sheet) that can be easily deformed by the wearing force of the mask 6 . As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the exhalation guide part 14 is airtightly fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the lower end of the nasal exhalation receiving part 12, and the volume of the lower part of the exhalation guide part 14 is narrowed so that the upper end of the filter part 16 is closed. It is airtightly fixed to the outer periphery. The filter part 16 is made of the same material as the mask 6 (here, non-woven fabric) and is formed in a bag shape with an open upper end side. The inside of the exhalation guide part 14 is a static pressure space 23 isolated from the space inside the mask 6 between the nasal exhalation receiving part 12 and the filter part 16 . In other words, when the check valve 18 is closed, the inside of the exhalation guide portion 14 can be ventilated with the outside only through the filter portion 16 .

The compressible portion 14a between the nozzle member 20 and the filter portion 16 in the exhalation guide portion 14 is brought into contact with the lower edge 6c (see FIG. 1) of the mask main body portion 6a so that the compressible portion 14a is between the face 4 and the mask 6. It is compressed to a thin-walled state with almost no gaps. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the filter section 16 can be exposed to the outside while maintaining the airtight state of the mask 6 normally worn.

As shown in FIG. 4, each check valve 18 includes a base 24 fixed within the nozzle member 20 and a disk fixed to the lower surface of the base 24 at one end (here, the right end in the drawing). It has a shaped valve 26 . The base 24 has a circular hole 24a through which exhaled air 22 passes in the center, and a valve 26 is arranged to block the hole 24a. The valve 26 is made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. It returns to the position that closes the hole 24a. The material and thickness of the valve 26 can be appropriately set within a range in which the valve 26 can be reliably opened and closed at the flow velocity of the exhaled air 22 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaled air 22 emitted from the two nostrils 10a of the nose 10 enters the nasal exhalation receiver 12 and enters each nozzle member 20 mainly through the corresponding bottom holes 12b. The exhaled air 22 then opens the valve 26 against its elastic force at its flow rate and passes through the check valve 18 . The inner diameter of the nozzle member 20 narrows toward the filter section 16, and the tip (lower end) of the nozzle member 20 extends toward the filter section 16, so that the exhaled air 22 passes through the nozzle member 20. It is accelerated and ejected from the tip of the nozzle member 20 . The exhaled breath 22 is pushed into the filter part 16 by its flow pressure, filtered, and discharged to the outside at the timing of breathing of the nose 10 .

Part of the exhaled air 22 exhaled from the tip of the nozzle member 20 stays in the static pressure space 23 without being pushed into the filter part 16 by the flow pressure. The pressure in the static pressure space 23 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure, and exhaled breath 22 is discharged from the filter portion 16 to the outside. Since the filter portion 16 is made of the same material as the mask 6 , there is no difference from the filtering process of discharging through the mask 6 . In other words, a virus spread suppression function equivalent to that of a person infected with the new coronavirus infectious disease or the like wearing the mask 6 normally can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 5 , when the mask 6 is worn, the nasal breath receiving portion 12 of the mask aid 2 is pressed against the face 4 by the wearing force, and as a result, the inner surface 12 c of the nasal breath receiving portion 12 is placed against the nose 10 of the face 4 . The outer surface 12d contacts the inner surface of the mask main body 6a. The mask auxiliary tool 2 is held without being displaced by the friction caused by these contacts. In order to further ensure the misalignment of the mask auxiliary tool 2, the outer surface 12d of the nasal exhalation receiving part 12 is roughened by providing protrusions, or the mask 6 is provided with a planar fastener that is entwined with the fabric of the mask main body part 6a. It is good also as a structure which improves close_contact|adherence with.

When the mask 6 is worn, the compressible portion 14a of the exhalation guide portion 14 is compressed between the jaw 4b and flattened by the lower edge 6c of the mask main body portion 6a, whereby the exhaled air in the mask 6 leaks to the outside. The degree is almost the same as when the mask 6 is normally worn. Even when the compressible portion 14a is flattened, if the pressure in the static pressure space 23 of the exhalation guide portion 14 increases, the exhaled air 22 is pushed away by the lower edge 6c of the mask main body portion 6a and the exhaled breath 22 flows into the filter portion 16. It moves and is discharged from the filter section 16 to the outside. The displacement of the lower edge 6c of the mask main body 6a due to the movement of the exhaled air 22 is slight, and the original airtight function of the mask 6 (the function of suppressing entry and exit of foreign matter) is hardly hindered. In this embodiment, the entire filter portion 16 is exposed to the outside. However, since the thickness of the filter portion 16 is small, at least a portion of the filter portion 16 may be exposed to the outside from between the face 4 and the mask 6. .

Exhaled air 22 from the nose 10 containing moisture, carbon dioxide, and odor and warmed by body temperature is intermittently filtered and discharged to the outside, so that the amount of clean air taken into the mask 6 from the outside by inhalation increases. , and deterioration of the atmosphere inside the mask 6 is suppressed. That is, the difficulty in breathing due to a decrease in the oxygen concentration and the clogging of the mask 6 and the unpleasant feeling due to the odor are reduced. In other words, it is possible to improve comfort when using the mask. Suppressing the deterioration of the atmosphere inside the mask 6 also contributes to suppressing an increase in dermatitis and respiratory diseases.

When the mask 6 is worn normally and the user does not talk, most of the exhaled air remaining in the mask 6 is the exhaled air 22 from the nose 10, but there is also exhaled air from the mouth 28 (see FIG. 5). For this reason, the mask aid 2 according to this embodiment is not configured to be limited only to exhalation 22 from the nose 10 . As described above, the nasal exhalation receiving part 12 of the mask aid 2 has an open upper surface and is arranged with a gap between it and the lower side of the nose 10 . Thereby, as shown in FIG. It is drawn into the nasal breath receiving part 12 by the negative pressure due to the flow velocity of , and follows a filtration route to be discharged from the filter part 16 to the outside.

As described above, the nasal exhalation receiving part 12 does not have a nostril insertion tube or the like, and has an open container shape that simply receives the exhaled air 22 from the nose 10. There is no feeling of pressure or restraint. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the wearing feeling (discomfort) when using the mask auxiliary tool 2 .

As described above, the mask assisting device 2 according to the present embodiment does not require any corresponding configuration on the mask 6 side, either in wearing it or in filtering the exhaled breath. Therefore, regardless of the type and shape of the mask 6, deterioration of the atmosphere due to retention of expired air in the mask 6 described above can be suppressed, and comfort during use of the mask can be improved. Also, no special operation is required for exchanging the mask 6 . As a measure against infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus and hay fever, it is possible to improve comfort while maintaining the same suppression function as when wearing a normal mask.

[Second embodiment]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only the main part will be described, omitting the description of the structure and function already given (the same applies to other embodiments below).

In the first embodiment, two nozzle members 20 are provided individually corresponding to the two nostrils 10a on the lower side of the nasal breath receiving part 12, but in the present embodiment, the nasal breath receiving part 32 has an open bottom. A single nozzle member 34 is integrally provided in communication with the bottom surface of the nozzle member 34 , and a check valve 36 having the same configuration as the check valve 18 is provided inside the nozzle member 34 . The exhaled air 22 emitted from each nostril 10 a joins at the nozzle member 34 , passes through the check valve 36 and enters the static pressure space 23 .

[Third embodiment]
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, in the above embodiments, the processing of exhaled air is not limited to the exhaled air 22 from the nose 10, but it may be configured to limit the exhaled air 22 from the nose 10. In this case, the exhaled air 22 from the nose 10 may be processed. Since the filtering process can be performed without leakage, deterioration of the atmosphere inside the mask 6 can be further improved. In this embodiment, a nose covering portion 38 covering the nose 10 is integrally or additionally provided on the upper portion of the nasal breath receiving portion 12 . The nose covering portion 38 is made of a soft synthetic resin such as silicone rubber, and is formed into a three-dimensional shape that closely surrounds the nose 10 and covers the nose 10 .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, specification and drawings. It is possible. For example, the check valve 18 may be directly provided on the bottom surface of the nasal breath receiver 12 without providing the nozzle member 20 . The material of the filter part 16 may be a material that can filter the novel coronavirus or the like with higher accuracy than general mask fabric.

Claims

A mask aid placed between the face and the mask,
a nasal exhalation receiving part for receiving exhaled air from the nose;
an exhalation guide section that communicates with the nasal exhalation receiving section and guides exhalation from the nose;
a filter part communicating with the tip side of the exhalation guide part, at least a part of which is exposed to the outside from between the face and the mask;
a valve mechanism that is provided on the upstream side of the filter unit and opens and closes at the flow rate of exhaled air from the nose to block backflow;
A mask aid characterized by having
The mask assisting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhalation guide part is formed in a cylindrical shape from a soft material that can be deformed by the wearing force of the mask.
The nasal exhalation receiving part is made of a material having rigidity and is formed in the shape of a container with a hole in the bottom, and a nozzle member extending toward the filter part is arranged in the exhalation guide part so as to communicate with the hole. 3. The mask aid according to claim 2, wherein the valve mechanism is provided inside.
The mask aid according to claim 3, wherein the nasal breath receiving part has a shape that covers the nose.
The mask aid according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the nozzle member has a shape whose inner diameter gradually decreases toward the filter part side.
The mask auxiliary tool according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that two holes and two nozzle members are provided individually corresponding to the nostrils.
The mask aid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the filter section is configured to be exposed to the outside from the lower side of the face.
The mask aid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the filter part is made of the same material as the mask.