The present invention relates to a respirator mask having an eyewear interface.
Respirator masks are used in environments where individuals are exposed to hazardous materials, such as gases, vapors, aerosols (e.g., dusts, mists, and/or biological agents), and/or the like. Respirator masks come in a large variety of types and sizes, ranging from cheaper, disposable masks to higher cost, reusable masks that include replaceable filtration cartridges. Some respirator masks (e.g., oronasal masks or half-masks) cover the mouth and nose of the user but do not cover the user's eyes. Accordingly, eyewear (e.g., goggles, safety glasses, sunglasses, and/or corrective eyeglasses) is often worn in combination with a respirator mask to protect the user's eyes.
But, some known respirator masks do not fit together satisfactorily with one or more types of eyewear. Such an unsatisfactory fit between the respirator mask and the eyewear, for example, may be uncomfortable (e.g., may cause the eyewear to rest on the user's face in an uncomfortable manner), may prevent the eyewear from sealing with the user's face, may impair the user's vision (e.g., may cause the eyewear to rest on the user's face in a position wherein the eyewear intrudes on the user's field of vision), and/or the like. For example, the eyewear may rest relatively high on the user's face such that the lower frame of the eyewear obstructs the user's field of vision. Accordingly, a user may choose not to wear the eyewear, which may result in injury to the user's eyes. If a user chooses to wear eyewear, an unsatisfactory fit between the eyewear and the respirator mask may impair the user's vision and/or may cause injury to the user's eyes because of the lack of an adequate seal between the eyewear and the user's face.
Some known respirator masks include a discrete spectacle frame mount that is attached to a body of the mask. But, such spectacle frame mounts may be expensive, may be difficult to attach to the mask body, may be susceptible to failure (e.g., may detach from the mask body), and/or may only be compatible with a particular type of eyewear such that the respirator mask does not accommodate other types of eyewear.
The present invention advantageously provides a respirator that can accommodate simultaneous use with eyewear. In one embodiment a respirator includes an oronasal mask. The oronasal mask has a first portion configured to cover a user's mouth and a second portion configured to cover a user's nose. The second portion includes an eyewear interface. The eyewear interface includes a first side defining a first concavity and a second side opposite the first side, the second side defining a second concavity. The first concavity and the second concavity being configured to receive a nose member of corresponding eyewear.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the eyewear interface defines a nose bridge receiving portion disposed between the first concavity and the second cavity, the nose bridge receiving portion being configured to receive a nose bridge of the corresponding eyewear.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge receiving portion is a recess.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge of the corresponding eyewear rests within the recess when corresponding eyewear is removably coupled to the oronasal mask.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the recess is arcuate in shape along its length.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity, the second concavity, and the recess cooperate to define a continuous channel.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the oronasal mask includes a removable filter.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity and the second concavity are configured to receive the nose members of safety goggles and safety glasses.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity is entirely disposed on the first side and the second concavity is entirely disposed on the second side.
In another aspect of this embodiment, when corresponding eyewear is worn by a user when wearing the respirator, the nose member of corresponding eyewear presses against the first concavity and the second cavity.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity and the second concavity extend underneath the nose member when corresponding eyewear is removably coupled to the oronasal mask.
In another embodiment, the respirator includes an oronasal mask having a first portion configured to cover a user's mouth and a second portion configured to cover and substantially contour a user's nose. The second portion includes an eyewear interface including a first side corresponding to a first side of a user's nose, a second side opposite the first side, and a nose bridge receiving portion disposed there between. The first side defines a first concavity and the second side defining a second concavity, the first concavity and the second concavity are disposed opposite from each other and are configured to receive a nose bridge and a nose member of at least one of safety goggles and safety glasses.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity is entirely disposed on the first side and the second concavity is entirely disposed on the second side.
In another aspect of this embodiment, when corresponding eyewear having a nose member is worn by the user when wearing the respirator, the nose member presses against the first concavity and the second concavity.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity and the second concavity extend underneath the nose member when corresponding eyewear is worn by the user when wearing the respirator.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge receiving portion is a recess.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge of the corresponding eyewear rests within the recess when corresponding eyewear is worn by the user when wearing the respirator.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the recess is arcuate in shape.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the oronasal mask includes a removable filter.
In yet another embodiment, the respirator includes an oronasal mask having a first portion configured to cover a user's mouth, a second portion configured to cover and substantially contour a user's nose, and a removable filter. The second portion includes an eyewear interface including a first side corresponding to a first side of a user's nose, a second side opposite the first side, and a nose bridge receiving portion disposed there between, the nose bridge receiving portion defines an arcuate recess. The first side defines a first concavity and the second side defining a second concavity, the first concavity and the second concavity being separated from each other. When safety goggles having a nose bridge and a nose member are worn by a user when wearing the respirator the nose member presses against the first concavity and the second concavity, and the first concavity and the second cavity extend underneath the nose member, and the nose bridge rests within the arcuate recess of the nose bridge receiving portion.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
The oronasal mask 12 may be fabricated from one or more materials that lend flexibility to the oronasal mask 12. In some embodiments, the oronasal mask 12 is sufficiently flexible such that the body 12 is configured to conform to the size, shape, and/or the like of the eyewear 13, as will be described below. Examples of materials that may be used to fabricate the oronasal mask 12 with at least some flexibility include, but are not limited to, thermosets, thermoplastics, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, cushioning and/or dampening materials, shape memory materials, and/or the like.
The oronasal mask 12 includes a first portion 14 configured to cover a user's mouth and a second portion 16 configured to cover a user's nose. In an exemplary configuration, the first portion 14 includes at least one opening 18 sized and configured to releasably receive one or more air filters 20 (shown in
The second portion 16 is configured to contour the user's nose and further includes an eyewear interface 22 that facilitates the placement and fit of eyewear when worn when the oronasal mask 12. In particular, the second portion 16 may include a first side 24 and a second side 26 opposite the first side 24, which may cooperate to define the boundaries of the user's nose. In an exemplary configuration the second portion 16 defines a longitudinal axis “y” (shown in
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In one embodiment a respirator (10) includes an oronasal mask (12), the oronasal mask (12) having a first portion (14) configured to cover a user's mouth and a second portion (16) configured to cover a user's nose; the second portion (16) including an eyewear interface (22), the eyewear interface including: a first side (24) defining a first concavity (26); and a second side (28) opposite the first side, the second side (28) defining a second concavity (3); and the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) being configured to receive a nose member (35) of corresponding eyewear (13).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the eyewear interface (22) defines a nose bridge receiving portion (32) disposed between the first concavity (26) and the second concavity (28), the nose bridge receiving portion (32) being configured to receive a nose bridge (33) of the corresponding eyewear (13).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge receiving portion (32) is a recess.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge (33) of the corresponding eyewear (13) rests within the recess when corresponding eyewear (13) is removably coupled to the oronasal mask (12).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the recess is arcuate in shape along its length.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28), the second concavity (30), and the recess cooperate to define a continuous channel (40).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the oronasal mask (12) includes a removable filter (20).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) are configured to receive the nose member (35) of safety goggles (13b) and safety glasses (13a).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28) is entirely disposed on the first side (24) and the second concavity (30) is entirely disposed on the second side (26).
In another aspect of this embodiment, when corresponding eyewear (13) is worn by a user when wearing the respirator, the nose member (35) of corresponding eyewear (13) presses against the first concavity (28) and the second cavity (30).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) extend underneath the nose member (35) when corresponding eyewear (23) is removably coupled to the oronasal mask (12).
In another embodiment, the respirator includes a respirator (10) an oronasal mask (12), the oronasal mask (12) having a first portion (14) configured to cover a user's mouth and a second portion (16) configured to cover and substantially contour a user's nose; the second portion (16) including an eyewear interface (22), the eyewear interface (22) including a first side (24) corresponding to a first side of a user's nose, a second side (26) opposite the first side, and a nose bridge receiving portion (32) disposed there between; and the first side (24) defining a first concavity (28) and the second side (26) defining a second concavity (30), the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) are disposed opposite from each other and are configured to receive a nose bridge (33) and a nose member (35) of at least one of safety goggles (13b) and safety glasses (13a).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28) is entirely disposed on the first side (24) and the second concavity (30) is entirely disposed on the second side (26).
In another aspect of this embodiment, when corresponding eyewear (13) having a nose member (35) is worn by the user when wearing the respirator, the nose member (35) presses against the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) extend underneath the nose member (35) when corresponding eyewear (33) is worn by the user when wearing the respirator (10).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge receiving portion (32) is a recess.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the nose bridge (33) of the corresponding eyewear (13) rests within the recess when corresponding eyewear is worn by the user when wearing the respirator (10).
In another aspect of this embodiment, the recess is arcuate in shape.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the oronasal mask (12) includes a removable filter (20).
In yet another embodiment, the respirator (1) includes an oronasal mask (12), the oronasal mask (12) having a first portion (14) configured to cover a user's mouth, a second portion (16) configured to cover and substantially contour a user's nose, and a removable filter (20); the second portion (16) including an eyewear interface (22), the eyewear interface (22) including a first side (24) corresponding to a first side of a user's nose, a second side (28) opposite the first side (24), and a nose bridge receiving portion disposed (32) there between, the nose bridge receiving portion (32) defining an arcuate recess; the first side (24) defining a first concavity (28) and the second side (26) defining a second concavity (30), the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30) being separated from each other; and when safety goggles (13b) having a nose bridge (33) and a nose member (35) are worn by a user when wearing the respirator: the nose member (35) presses against the first concavity (28) and the second concavity (30), and the first concavity (28) and the second cavity (30) extend underneath the nose member (35); and the nose bridge (33) rests within the arcuate recess of the nose bridge receiving portion (32).
Other embodiments may include:
A respiratory mask comprising:
a body configured to cover a nose and a mouth of a user, the body having an interior side and an opposite exterior side, the body comprising a nose area configured to receive the nose of the user therein, the nose area comprising an eyewear interface feature that include concave segments of the exterior side that extend along opposite sides of the nose area, the concave segments defining pockets that are configured to receive corresponding nose members of eyewear that is worn by the user in combination with the respiratory mask.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the concave segments of the exterior side of the body are integrally formed with a single, unitary construction with the mask body.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the nose area of the body is configured to conform to at least one of a size or a shape of a nose recess of the eyewear.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the body is configured to conform to at least one of a size or a shape of the nose members of the eyewear at the corresponding concave segments.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the pockets defined by the concave segments of the exterior side are configured to receive nose members of at least one of goggles, safety glasses, corrective eyeglasses, or sunglasses.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the pockets defined by the concave segments of the exterior side are configured to receive nose members of at least two different types of eyewear.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the nose area of the body is configured to form a seal with a nose recess of the eyewear.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the concave segments of the exterior side of the body are configured to form a seal with the corresponding nose members of the eyewear.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the body is at least partially flexible.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the respiratory mask is a half mask.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, further comprising a harness configured to hold the body on the user's face.
The respiratory mask of Embodiment 1, wherein the body comprises an opening configured to receive at least one of a filter cartridge, a valve, or an air hose therein.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/058086 | 10/21/2016 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62244911 | Oct 2015 | US |