The present invention relates to respiratory filtration nose mask with electronic air filtration system for human breath, and more particularly, a filtration device for both inhalation and exhalation breaths.
Nose mask has been widely used in all kinds of industries from medical to industrial; from field works to home cleaning; and also in many different occasions whenever filtration of inhaling air is necessary. Usually the filter materials are of paper or fiber properties. The basic mechanism is using the human inhalation action as air suction driving force to suck the air through the filter media and stop all particles which is larger than the pores of the filtration media. It becomes very uncomfortable when someone has to wear the nose mask for an extended period of time and it is even worse if the user is kind of weak or having asthma or breathing difficulties.
Secondly, the filtration function is usually less efficient during the exhalation because the exhaust air tends to leak through the edges along the users' face rather than through the filter media.
Thirdly, the air passage resistance of the better filtration media is always higher and tougher to inhale through it.
Thus there is a need for a good inhalation and exhalation filtration system that does not exert breathing resistance to users during the normal breathing process. This filtration system shall be able to remove most of the contaminant in the air including airborne particles, bacteria and virus. The whole system shall be light enough for users to feel comfortable if wearing for extended time. It has to be very efficient in power consumption such that small consumer electronic type battery pack can support operation of the system for over a period of at least 8 hours. Easiness to clean and cost effective are also critical.
Furthermore, the filtration process shall be as efficient during both inhalation and exhalation such that if a patient is the user; the bacteria or viruses from the user breath will not get to outside ambient environment.
The present invention provides such an inhalation and exhalation filtration system nose mask.
An electronic human breath filtration device is a human wearable light weight nose mask equipped with an absolute miniature electronic filtration system.
The unique feature of this invention is to provide a highly efficient filtration device to the user such that the air inhaled is purely clean and the exhaled air is also bacteria and virus free. The user can breathe through this filtration device without requiring extra effort as compare to sucking/breathing heavily through convention paper filter mask.
It is an object of this present invention to provide a very compact dual stages element filtration system mounted on a nose mask and utilizing small consumer electronic size battery as power source to operate this ultra high voltage ionic filtration system as well as electrostatic filtration system. It relies on the human breath as the air flow source to move the air stream through the dual stages filtration system during the inhalation and exhalation processes.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The filtration system 11 includes the mask housing 26, a dual stages filter element module 3, a front louver cover 4 and a rear louver cover 55. This filtration system 11 is shown in cross section view and is further detailed in
The mask housing 26 provides a rigid contoured shape cover the nose 10 and mouth 20 of the user 1; and a chamber to accommodate the front louver cover 4, the dual stages filter element module 3 and the rear louver cover 55. The mask housing 26, front louver cover 4 and the rear louver cover 55 can be made of metal, plastic, paper product, fiberglass or carbon fiber material. The best choice and most cost effective method of producing this mask housing 26 is by plastic molding to achieve the shape and rigidity supporting the function of the mask housing 26.
The contoured mask mounting system 6 is consisted of an elastic face-contoured seal 5, a mounting strap 7, a under ear strap 21 on each ear of the user 1. The elastic face-contoured seal 5 is assembled to the mask housing 26 by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means. It is made of elastic material such as rubber, silicon rubber, foam pad, nylon or any other material which can facilitate a soft, flexible and sealing function of the contoured seal 5. It can be made of one single piece part or an assembled piece part to facilitate the functions of the contoured seal 5. The mounting strap 7 is with both ends assembled to the contoured seal 5 or the mask housing 26. The mounting strap 7 is to be worn the way that it rests on the ears 9 of the user 1 and wraps around the back of the head of user 1. The under ear strap 21 is with one end assembled to the contoured seal 5 or the mask housing 26, and the other end assembled to the mounting strap 7 surrounding the ear of the user 1. In result, the filtration system 11 is firmly mounted to cover the mouth and nose of the user 1 with the contoured seal 5 resting on the nose and cheek of the user 1. The elastic contoured seal 5 separates the mask chamber 23 from the ambient 22 by forming a seal along the contour of the face and chin of the user 1. The dual stages element filter module 3 becomes the only air passage between the air in the mask chamber 23 and the ambient 22. The driving mechanism for the air exchange is the breathing process of user 1 with air movement from ambient 22 to mask chamber 23 caused by inhalation and air movement from mask chamber 23 to ambient 22 caused by exhalation of user 1.
The control system 12 consists of a control unit 31 which is equipped with the main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 with connection to the battery 33 and a multi-level power selector on/off switch 34. The main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 is equipped with electronic components and with the multi-level power selector on/off switch 34 set at “ON” position; the main PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 35 will generate high negative voltage functions to activate the dual stages element filter module 3 via the connector cable 28. The connector cable 28 has a cable strain relief 24 at the connecting joint with the mask housing 26 and a cable strain relief 29 at the connecting joint with the control unit 31. The control unit 31 is also equipped with a status indicator 36 showing the status of the battery 33 supply and the level of the power setting of the switch 34. The control unit 31 is also equipped with a power adaptor input connector 32 allowing external power supply to be used or to recharge the battery 33 if rechargeable battery is being used.
An utility clip 25 is attached to the connector cable 28 and is to be used to clip onto the collar 30 or shirt of the user 1. This feature provides a section of the connector cable 28 as the service loop 27 such that only the service loop 27 portion of the connector cable 28 will move with the user 1 as the user 1 rotates or tilts his/her head while the remaining portion of the connector cable 28 will stay still. The control unit 31 is also equipped with a belt mounting clip 13 to allow the user 1 to carry the control unit 31 with a belt.
The dual stages element filter module 3 is in the middle of the mask housing 26 behind the rear louver cover 55. It is assembled to the mask housing 26. The assembly can be by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means. The dual stages element filter module 3 is comprised of two filtration system namely the ionic filtration system 93 and the electrostatic filtration system 94 enclosed in the filter housing 44. The ionic filtration system 93 consists of a highly charged negative (−) electrode 42 with sharp metallic needles 50 connected to it and the needle points of the needle 50 locating in the center portion of the ionic filtration system 93. The positively charged (+) conductive collector electrode 45 surrounds the negative electrode 42 and lines along the internal wall of the filter housing 44. The negative electrode 42 is insulated from the positive electrode conductive collector 45 by the insulator 41. The positive electrode conductive grill 49 is located at the front of the opening of the ionic filtration system 93. It is connected to the positive electrode conductive collector 45 with perforated holes over the whole surface to allow generous air passages for the user 1 to breathe through without restriction or resistance. It also serves as the positive electrode collective conductor for the negatively charged particles to adhere to. The negatively (−) charged electrode 42 is assembled to the filter housing 44 by fastener 43, which can be screw, rivet or any other mechanical fastener which can facilitate the assembly function.
The electrostatic filtration system 94 consists of parallel sets of negatively charged electrode fins 53 sandwiching with positively charged electrode fins 67. An electrostatic field is formed between a negatively charged electrode fin 53 and positively charged electrode fin 67. The strength of the electrostatic field is determined by the gap width 54 between the two oppositely charged electrodes and the potential difference between them. Further detail explanation of the filtration processes are illustrated in
The negative (−) electrode 42 of the ionic filtration system 93 is connected to the control system 12 through the cable 28 via the conductor lead 60 and the wire conductor 62 of the cable 28. The negatively charged electrode fins 53 of the electrostatic filtration system 94 are connected to the control system 12 through the cable 28 via the conductor lead 59 and the wire conductor 62 of the cable 28. The positively charged electrode fins 67 of the electrostatic filtration system 94 are connected to the control system 12 through the cable 28 via the conductor lead 58 and the wire conductor 62 of the cable 28. The electrical connection joint between the conductor lead 59, 58, 60 and the wire conductors 62 can be by contact, soldering or fastener whichever can facilitate the electrical conduction.
The cable strain relief 24 is present at the joint between the cable 28 and the mask housing 26 providing support to the cable 28 and the conductor wires 62 inside from breaking due to extensive bending and flexing action under normal usage of the breath filtration device 2.
The front louver cover 4 is placed at the outside entrance of the dual stages element filter module 3. The louvers 47 is set at an angle such that it will block off direct blow of large objects and rain from entering into the dual stages element filter module 3 while leaving generous air passages 51 for the user to breathe through without restriction or resistance. This front louver cover 4 can be made of plastic or metallic material. It is assembled to the mask housing 26. The assembly can be done by snap on, press-fitting, or by fastener which can facilitate the assembly means.
Small amount of ozone molecules and hydroxide molecules may also be generated in the ionic chamber 64 under very high voltage input potential. These ozone molecules and hydroxide molecules can help to fight bacteria in the air stream. The excessive ozone molecules and hydroxide molecules will be neutralized by the electrostatic filtration system 94 and will not harm the user 1.
In the electrostatic filtration system 94, a high negative voltage is induced to the negative fin 53 and the positive fin 67 is connected to the electrically positive. It results that the surface of the negative fin 53 will be highly negatively charged 66 and the causing an electrostatic field to form between the negative fin 53 and the positive fin 67, which becomes equally highly positively charged 65. This electrostatic field is an uniform electric field of force and causes an uniform distribution of electrons (negative charge 66) on the surface of negative fin 53, and an equal and uniformly distributed deficiency of electrons (positive charge 65) on the positive fin 67. The voltage graduation is uniform throughout this field, except at its edges and near sharp corners of the plates/fins.
A single positively-charged particle entering this electrostatic field is acted upon by a force equaling the sum of all attracting and repelling forces. These forces are due to the charge on the particle interacting with the field produced by the negative fin 53 and the positive fin 67. These forces accelerate the positively-charged particles towards the negatively-charged fin 53. In the same manner, a negatively charged particle is forced towards the positive fin 67. The amount of force acting on the particle depends on the particle's charge, the voltage applied to the collecting fins and the space between the fins.
The uniformity of the field causes a particle to be acted upon by an equal force regardless of whether the particle is close to a negative fin 53, to a positive fin 67, or somewhere between. If no other force is acting on the particle, it moves with a constant acceleration toward the negative fin 53.
The particles that are collected and are in physical contact with the charged collector fins lose their “opposite charge” and take on the charge of the respective collector fins. They remain attached to the collector fins because of molecular adhesion and due to cohesion to other particles already collected. As a result, contaminants are removed form the air stream of breath induced by the user 1's inhalation and exhalation efforts. In practice, the filtration system 11 will charge floating particles as small as 0.01 micron and drive them to adhere to the collector plates where they will stay for good.
An alternative method of providing the service loop 27 is also illustrated. A mechanical clip 100 is attached to the connecting cable 28. This mechanical clip 100 is also attached to a string 102, which loops around the user 1's neck. This string 102 can be made of fabric, cloth, nylon, leather or any other material that can facilitate the function of hanging around the neck of the user 1. The mechanical clip 100 can be made of metal, plastic or any other material that can facilitate the function of mounting the control cable 28 to the string 102. The string 102 may also be used to tight directly to the connector cable 28 in the absence of the mechanical clip 100 to facilitate the mounting function of the control cable 28 and hanging around the neck of the user 1.
In the assembly the dual stages filter element module 3 will be assembled into the center cavity 106. The assembly can be performed by fastener, snap on, press-fitting or any other means that can facilitate the assembly function. In the assembly the conductor leads 58, 59 and 60 will be connected to connector 37 and receive the electrical power to operate the dual stages filter element module 3. The front louver cover 4 is to be assembled into the front cover well 105 and the rear louver cover 55 is to be assembled into the rear cover well 107 respectively.
In this alternative arrangement, the PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 110 is a voltage multiplier which works on the input voltage to produce a very high output voltage directly to the electronic dual stages element filter module 3 and minimizes the potential drop; resulting that the cable 28 is only required to carry much lower voltage than original arrangement as in
In the assembly the dual stages filter element module 3 will be assembled into the center cavity 106. The assembly can be performed by fastener, snap on, press-fitting or any other means that can facilitate the assembly function. In the assembly the conductor leads 82 and 83 will be connected to connector 37 and receive the input electrical power for the voltage multiplier PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 110 to generate high voltage to operate the dual stages filter element module 3. The front louver cover 4 is to be assembled into the front cover well 105 and the rear louver cover 55 is to be assembled into the rear cover well 107 respectively.
It will be appreciated that the sizes, quantities, shapes and dispositions of various components like needlepoint ionization pins, electrode fins, electro-collectors, louver covers, conductor leads, wires, cable length, material use, filter size, filter gap clearance, size of the mask and size of the seal can be varied, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Similarly, the sizes and contour of the nose mask, face mask and hood with reference to adult, children, male and female, and the like may be varied. While the methods of connecting the service loop of the cable are illustrated, other methods may instead be used to facilitate the concept of service loop. While the methods of mounting the mask-filter system with straps concept is illustrated, other methods may instead be used to facilitate the concept of mounting to the user's face. While this electronic inhalation and exhalation breath filtration device system has been described with respect to application to nose mask, face mask and hood, the described system may also apply to other human wearing electronic filtration systems and may have more than one air inlet or air outlet.
Modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the subject and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2381455 | Jacob | Aug 1945 | A |
3702526 | Eichmeier | Nov 1972 | A |
3724174 | Walkenhorst | Apr 1973 | A |
3973927 | Furchner et al. | Aug 1976 | A |
4077784 | Vayrynen | Mar 1978 | A |
4518401 | Pontius et al. | May 1985 | A |
4573464 | Yo | Mar 1986 | A |
5010777 | Yehl et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5038775 | Maruscak et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5133788 | Backus | Jul 1992 | A |
5376168 | Inculet | Dec 1994 | A |
5647890 | Yamamoto | Jul 1997 | A |
5666949 | Debe et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5749359 | Hansen | May 1998 | A |
6042637 | Weinberg | Mar 2000 | A |
6118645 | Partridge | Sep 2000 | A |
6623544 | Kaura | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6901930 | Henley | Jun 2005 | B2 |
20030136408 | Henley | Jul 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040216745 A1 | Nov 2004 | US |