Patent Application
20230285780
Currently, it is increasingly important for individuals to utilize personal protection equipment (PPE). For example, in a lumber processing setting, PPE might include a mask utilized to filter a user's breathable air from wood dust. Masks filtration characteristics may be selected depending on the specific environment in which the user is present. However, since masks are becoming more ubiquitous for use in personal, nonwork-related environments, additional functionality may be desirable. For example, a user having a respiratory illness may require supplemental oxygen. Presently, solutions for providing supplemental oxygen as well as protective air filtering are non-existent. Likewise for medicinal and recreational vapor use in combination with protective air filter and/or supplemental oxygen.
As such multi-function masks are presented herein.
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.
As such, multi-function masks are presented including: a mask body forming a chamber, where the mask body includes an inner surface, an outer surface, an edge portion, a first intake portion, a second intake portion, a third intake portion, and an exhaust outlet portion, where the first intake portion passes filtered ambient air, where the second intake portion passes filtered and vaporized air, and where the third intake portion passes any of a fluid or a pressurized gas; a flexible contact portion positioned along the edge portion of the mask body for tightly contacting the mask body to a face when worn; a filter unit positioned along the outer surface of the mask body for providing filtered ambient air to the first and second intake portions and for filtering exhaust air from the exhaust outlet portion; and a user activated switch for closing the first intake such that intake air is switched to the second intake. In some embodiments, the first intake portion includes: an intake check valve for allowing passage of filtered ambient air toward the user and for preventing backflow of filtered ambient air. In some embodiments, the second intake portion includes: a vaporizer unit for providing vaporized air; and a one-way valve coupled with the vaporizer unit for allowing passage of vaporized air toward the user and for preventing backflow of vaporized air, where the user activated switch provides power to the vaporizer unit. In some embodiments, the second intake portion further includes: an indicator for indicating to the user that the second intake portion is engaged. In some embodiments, the indicator is selected from the group consisting of: a haptic motor indicator, an LED light indicator, and a sonic indicator. In some embodiments, the third intake portion includes: a through body fitting positioned along the outer surface, where the through body fitting is configured to receive any of at least a cap, an air-line, and a liquid line. In some embodiments, the air-line includes a check valve and an air-line tubing fitting each positioned outside the chamber. In some embodiments, the liquid line includes a liquid dry break check valve positioned outside the chamber and a bite valve positioned inside the chamber. In some embodiments, the exhaust outlet portion includes: an exhaust check valve for allowing passage of exhaust air through the mask body to the filter unit and for preventing backflow of exhaust air. In some embodiments, the user activated switch is configured to provide power to the vaporizer unit and to the indicator. In some embodiments, multi-function masks further include: an outer shell forming a protective cover over the filter unit, where the user activated switch is positioned along the outer shell. In some embodiments, the vaporizer unit is configured to deliver a substance selected from the group consisting of: herbal substances, pharmaceutical substances, vitamin substances, aromatherapy substances non-prescription substances, and therapeutic substances. In some embodiments, the outer shell further includes a removable shell cover, the removable shell cover providing an identifying indica of the user, where the removable shell cover is manufactured from a flexible fabric. In some embodiments, the filter unit includes: a filter support structure; and a filter, where the filter includes a single layer of air filtering media.
The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing.
A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals/per se/, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
In still other instances, specific numeric references such as “first material,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first material” is different than a “second material.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.
Molecular mask embodiments include at least several operations as follows:
Ambient Air Filtration: In this operation, ambient intake 102 passes through filter 120 as filtered ambient air 122. The ambient air flows through intake check valve 124 into mask chamber 110 where the user inhales the filtered ambient air. Intake check valve embodiments serve to keep air moving in one direction thus preventing backflow. When air is expelled by the user, expelled air based through exhaust check valve 150 through filter 120 to exhaust 160.
Vaporizer: In this operation, ambient intake 102 passes through filter 120. A user activated switch on the front of mask simultaneously turns ON electronic vaporizer cartridge or vaporizer unit 126 by connecting the power with a momentary switch and closes the intake check valve 124 to redirect the incoming filtered air through the electronic vaporizer before passing through electronic vaporizer cartridge 126 input flow path. Vaporized air then passes though one-way valve 128 on the electronic vaporizer cartridge to mask chamber 110. The one-way valve prevents back flow of vaporized air. Vaporized air is then inhaled by the user. When the user activated switch is released, the electronic vaporizer cartridge turns OFF (i.e., the momentary switch releases and de-powers the electronic vaporizer cartridge) and the intake check valve is returned to the open position. In embodiments, the electronic vaporizer cartridge is a modular interchangeable electronic vaporizer that allows users to inhale vaporized substances while wearing a mask that also filters the incoming air. In embodiments, vaporized substances may include herbal substances, pharmaceutical substances, vitamin substances, aromatherapy substances, non-prescription substances, and therapeutic substances without limitation and without departing from embodiments provided herein.
Fluid Intake: In this operation, fluid intake 104 passes via through body fitting 130. Fluid may be provided via any container or vessel without limitation. In embodiments, the through body fitting is a multi-use port through which a variety of fluids or gases may be provided to a user. Through body fitting embodiments include a liquid dry break check valve that does not allow fluid or air to pass through when the liquid intake line disconnected. Fluid 132 delivery is controlled by bite valve 134, which is controlled by the user and is positioned in mask chamber 110. Bite valves are well-known in the art and may be provided in any configuration without departing from embodiments herein.
Gas Intake: In this operation gas intake 106 passes through thorough body fitting 130. Gases may be provided via any container or vessel without limitation. In embodiments, the through body fitting is a multi-use port through which a variety of fluids or gases may be provided to a user. Pressurized gas 136 passes through one-way valve 138 into mask chamber 110 whereupon the gas is inhaled by the user. In embodiments, this one-way valve is provided to prevent back pressure that allows the user to add the pressured gas to the normal filtered air. In this manner, multi-function mask systems provide an integrated “Direct Gas Delivery” feature inside of the mask where gaseous compounds flow through a mouthpiece, nasal cannulas, or nasal pillows directly to the user. Exhaled gas will pass through exhaust check valve 150 and through filter 120 as exhaust 160. In some embodiments, through body fitting may be closed with cap 140. In other embodiments, through body fitting may be closed in any manner known in the art without limitation.
The terms “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean one or more (but not all) embodiments unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. Furthermore, unless explicitly stated, any method embodiments described herein are not constrained to a particular order or sequence. Further, the Abstract is provided herein for convenience and should not be employed to construe or limit the overall invention, which is expressed in the claims. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
