Patent Application
20230320439
This disclosure relates to facemasks. In particular, but without limitation, this disclosure relates to an insert for positioning beneath a conventional facemask having exhaust channels for diverting exhaled air.
When a person speaks, sneezes or coughs, saliva and mucous droplets are projected to the surrounding atmosphere, which are easily inhaled by those nearby. Therefore, a person with a contagious disease can infect a multitude of people during routine interaction.
During an airborne disease pandemic or epidemic, the risk of disease transmission is particularly high whenever a person is in public. For example, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, most jurisdictions mandated the use of facemasks in public locations to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants. Even in the absence of epidemics, healthcare workers typically wear medical masks and similar face coverings during certain medical procedures to minimize disease transmission. Masks are also worn in certain construction and industrial applications to minimize exposure to dust, debris, and similar airborne contaminants.
However, many resist wearing facemasks because they significantly hinder breathing. Though conventional masks allow a tolerable amount of ambient air intake, they significantly restrict exhaling, thereby exposing the wearer to potentially dangerous levels of carbon dioxide. Overexposure to carbon dioxide can cause hypercapnia and similar medical complications, which can endanger vital organs. A wearer is particularly vulnerable to carbon dioxide overexposure when a mask is worn during vigorous exercise. The inability to adequately expel exhaust air also causes other nuisances, such as fogging eyewear and extreme discomfort.
Accordingly, there is currently a need for a device that facilitates breathing through a protective facemask. The disclosure addresses this need by providing an insert for a medical facemask having exhaust channels for diverting exhaled air away from a wearer’s breathing zone.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
In an aspect of the disclosure, an insert for positioning beneath a facemask includes a front panel having a front surface, a rear surface, two opposing ends and a central aperture. A rear panel is spaced from and attached to the front panel and includes a central aperture aligned with the aperture on the front panel. The space between the front and rear panels defines an exhaust chamber for collecting air exhaled by the wearer. A flap extends angularly from each end of the front panel and also extends along the side of a wearer’s breathing zone.
Extending from each end of the rear flap is an air channel that is in fluid communication with the exhaust chamber. As the wearer exhales, expelled air is collected in the exhaust chamber and flows through the air channels, away from the wearer’s breathing zone.
In an aspect of the disclosure, an insert may enhance respiration when a user is wearing a facemask.
In another aspect of the disclosure, an insert may divert exhaust gases away from a mask wearer’s breathing zone.
In an aspect of the disclosure, an insert for a medical facemask may be recyclable and biodegradable.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims
The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Angularly extending from each end of the front panel is a flap 111 that extends along the side of a wearer’s breathing zone. Extending from each end of the flap 111 is an air channel 112 that is in fluid communication with the exhaust chamber 110.
Accordingly, to use the above-described device, the insert is positioned behind a facemask with the vent apertures aligned with the wearer’s mouth. The aligned apertures allow the wearer to easily inhale air passing through an overlying facemask and to freely exhale without restriction. As the wearer exhales, expelled air is collected in the exhaust chamber and flows through the air channels, away from the wearer’s breathing zone. The insert 100 may be used in a medical facemask, industrial-use facemask or other applications where exhaustion of air is required for a wearer of a mask.
The insert is preferably constructed with a biodegradable, compostable, recyclable material, such as polylactic acid, that allows the insert to be used multiple times before discarding. The flaps are easily foldable relative to the panels, allowing the insert to be flattened for transport or storage.
While various aspects of the disclosure have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more aspects and implementations are possible within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
This application claims benefit to the provisional application US 63/324,039 filed Mar. 26, 2022 and is incorporated here in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63324039 | Mar 2022 | US |
