Patent Application
20240416156
The present invention relates generally to connectors and, more particularly, to a connector for a gas mask fit test adapter.
Military members are required to wear Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) equipment while deployed in an environment where attacks of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) nature are likely. Military members, law enforcement, and first responders may wear an M50 series protective (gas) mask such as that manufactured by Avon Protection Systems, Inc. of Cadillac, Michigan.
Avon Protection Systems manufactures a sampling fit test adapter for drinking tubes used with its M50 masks. This fit test adapter has a clip that connects a drinking tube to the fit test adapter. These clips, however, frequently break or come loose during fit testing, which causes the M50 masks to fail the fit test.
Therefore, a need exists for improved connector to use with the current gas mask fit test adapter when the adapter has a broken clip.
The present invention relates generally to connectors and, more particularly, to a connector for a gas mask fit test adapter.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a first outer component and a second inner component that is sized and configured for fitting into one end of the first component.
The first outer component has a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, a length and side walls extending between the first end and the second end. The side walls have an inside surface and an outside surface. The first end of the first component comprises an end wall that has an opening therein. The second end of the first component is at least partially open, and the inside surface of the side walls has a shelf thereon adjacent the second end.
The second inner component is sized and configured for fitting into the second end of the first component. The second component has a first (or “inner”) end, a second (or “outer”) end, a top surface at the inner end and shorter side walls (or “legs”) extending between said the inner end and the outer end. The shorter side walls terminate at the outer end and are sized and configured for resting on the shelf adjacent the second end of the first component.
A method of temporarily fastening a drinking tube to one end of a fit test adapter for a gas mask is also provided. The fit test adapter has a drinking tube end for attaching a drinking tube of a gas mask, an opposing end for inserting another tube, and a wider portion that defines a waist between the drinking tube end and the opposing end. The method may comprise the steps of:
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the sequence of operations as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes of various illustrated components, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity of illustration.
The present invention relates generally to connectors and, more particularly, to a connector for a gas mask fit test adapter.
The first (or “outer”) component 22 has a longitudinal axis L, a first end 28A, a second end 28B, a length, and side walls 30 extending between the first end 28A and the second end 28B. The side walls 30 have an inside surface 30A and an outside surface 30B. The first end 28A of the first component 22 comprises an end wall 32 that has an opening 34 therein for accommodating the gas mask drinking water tube 36 shown in
The first component 22 can be of any size and configuration that is suitable for fitting around the gas mask fit test adapter 10.
The second (or “inner”) component 24 is sized and configured for fitting into the second end 28B of the first component 22. The second component 24 has a first (or “inner” or “top”) end 48A, a second (or “outer” or “bottom”) end 48B, a top surface 50 at the top end 48A and shorter side walls (or “legs”) 52 extending between the top end 48A and the bottom end 48B. The shorter side walls 52 terminate at the bottom end 48B and are sized and configured for resting on the shelf 40 adjacent the second end 28B of the first component 22.
It should be understood that the terms “first” and “second” are used herein only to distinguish one element, component, or portion thereof from another, and do not necessarily imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. The terms “top” and “bottom”, “left”, and “right” used herein are only made in conjunction with the drawing figures, and the connector and the components thereof may be oriented differently in use.
The second component 24 can be of any size and configuration that is suitable for fitting inside the second end 28B of the first component 22 and for holding the connector 20 in place around the gas mask fit test adapter 10.
The components of the connector 20 can be made out of any suitable material(s) and by any suitable process. Typically, the components of the connector 20 will be made of plastic. The components of the connector 20 can be made by processes such as injection molding or 3D printing.
A method of temporarily fastening a drinking tube to one end of a fit test adapter for a gas mask is also provided in which the fit test adapter has a drinking tube end for attaching a drinking tube of a gas mask, an opposing end for inserting another tube, and a wider portion that defines a waist between the drinking tube end and the opposing end. The method may comprise the steps of:
In some cases, one or more of the steps described above may be optional. The steps described above may be performed in any suitable order.
The connector 20 described herein can provide a number of advantages. It should be understood, however, that these advantages need not be required unless they are set forth in the appended claims. The connector is used to seal the connection between the current gas mask drinking water tube and the fit test adapter in order to reduce or prevent negative fit tests. The connector does not interfere with the fit test since it does not modify any part of the fit test instrumentation.
The term “joined”, as used herein, encompasses configurations in which an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; configurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which one element is integral with another element, i.e., one element is essentially part of the other element. The term “joined” includes both those configurations in which an element is temporarily joined to another element, or in which an element is permanently joined to another element.
The disclosure of all patents, patent applications (and any patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications), and publications mentioned throughout this description are hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents incorporated by reference herein teach or disclose the present invention.
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of one or more embodiments thereof and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for all governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty.
