U.S. patent number 3,633,575 [Application Number 05/021,330] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-11 for folded lightweight mask.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army. Invention is credited to Richard S. Brumfield.
United States Patent |
3,633,575 |
Brumfield |
January 11, 1972 |
FOLDED LIGHTWEIGHT MASK
Abstract
An improved protective mask means and method of fabrication
thereof wherein old lines are formed in the facepiece along the
facepiece centerline and between each lens and each filter means;
the fold lines being formed by the lower edge of each lens
positioned at substantially at 45.degree. angle adjacent to and
parallel with the upper edge of the respective filter pocket means.
The improved mask permits the manufacture of a mask which is
lightweight and can be folded into a compact package.
Inventors: |
Brumfield; Richard S.
(Edgewood, MD) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Army (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
21803600 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/021,330 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/206.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62B
18/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A62B
18/02 (20060101); A62B 18/00 (20060101); A62b
023/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/141,142-142.3,146-146.7,142.4,205,140,142.5-142.7,145,145.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Mitchell; J. B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A compact and lightweight gas mask comprising: a facepiece of
molded rubber adapted to cover the entire facial area of a user,
harness means attached to said facepiece for holding same in a
sealed relationship to the facial area of the user, an oral nasal
mask removably attached to the interior of said facepiece, exhaust
valve means in the bottom of said facepiece in flow communication
with said oral nasal mask, a pair of outwardly extending filter
pocket means on either side of the center line of said facepiece,
inlet valve means in each of said filter pocket means, filter means
removably secured within each of said filter pocket means, a pair
of lenses on either side of said centerline above each filter
pocket means, one side edge of each lens positioned adjacent to an
parallel with said centerline, the lower edge of each lens
positioned at substantially a 45.degree. angle adjacent to and
parallel with the upper edge of the respective filter pocket means
thereby to form a fold line through the center of the mask and
divergent fold lines between the upper edges of the filter pocket
means and the lower edges of the lenses so as to permit the lenses
to be folded in juxtaposition to each other and the filter pocket
means parallel to each other.
2. The gas mask of claim 1 wherein the fold lines are molded within
the facepiece.
3. The gas mask of claim 1 wherein the fold lines are vacuum-formed
rubberized cloth.
4. The gas mask of claim 1 wherein mechanical spring means are
molded within the fold lines at predetermined distances apart to
provide quick self-opening of the mask from the folded position.
Description
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and
licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without
the payment to me of any royalty thereon.
My invention relates to an improvement in gas masks for military
and industrial use which provides a protective mask which is
lightweight and can be folded into a compact unit.
All of the prior art masks, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Ser.
Nos. 2,910,062 and 2,910,979, were bulky and necessitated a large
container means for storage when not in use. Further, the prior art
masks were heavy and tended to place a drag on the wearer's head.
Accordingly, my mask was conceived and reduced to practice to
satisfy the longfelt need for a lightweight, low-bulk mask which
can be folded into a compact storage package. My mask, when folded,
can be carried in a trouser or jacket pocket of the wearer.
A principal object of my invention is to provide a protective mask
which can be folded into a compact package.
Another object of my invention is to provide a protective mask
which can be folded into a compact package and which is lightweight
and can be economically manufactured.
Other objects will be obvious from or will appear in the
specification hereinafter set forth.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing my mask being worn.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing my mask being worn.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the fold lines of the facepiece of my
mask.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the facepiece of FIG. 3 in a partially
folded state.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the mask shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the
folded state for storage.
FIG. 6 is a view through 6--6 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a view of the nosecup for my mask.
FIG. 8 is a view of the inside of my mask showing the nosecup shown
in FIG. 7 in position within the facepiece.
FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 show a sequence of folding stages for my
mask.
My invention and FIGS. 1 to 12 will now be described in detail as
follows.
All components except the nosecup are conventional mask components
such as described in the aforementioned prior art patents, but the
components are reduced in size and weight. The nosecup has been
modified to a structure as will be subsequently described. My
improvement resides in providing a fold structure which is formed
in the mask facepiece by either conventional molding technique or
by conventional vacuum forming rubberized cloth or equivalent
material which will withstand distortion caused by folding. While
the aforementioned molding or vacuum forming produces a mask which
adequately springs open by itself from the folded position, it is
well within the skill of the art to optionally mold conventional
small mechanical springs 15 at predetermined distances apart within
the fold line structure of my mask to provide for quicker self
opening of my mask. The fold lines are formed along the vertical
center line of the facepiece and between each lens and each filter
means; the fold lines between the lenses and filter means
intersecting at the center of the facepiece at approximately a
right angle and the center line fold line bisecting the approximate
right angle and the fold lines are formed by the lower edge of each
lens being positioned at substantially a 45.degree. angle adjacent
to and parallel with the upper edge of the respective filter pocket
means.
My mask includes a facepiece shown at 1 which is formed of an
impermeable material such as molded rubber, lenses 2 mounted and
cemented within the facepiece, a head harness formed of straps 3 to
hold the inner mask in sealing relationship with the face of the
wearer, pocket means 4 molded within the facepiece to contain
filter units 5, air inlet means 6 fixedly connected to filter units
5 are inserted through hole means provided in the pocket means and
held therein by friction fit, outlet valve means 7 molded within
the facepiece, nosecup 8 shown in FIG. 7 is utilized to prevent
contact between the moist exhaled air and the lenses and is held
within the facepiece by fasteners 9 molded in the facepiece which
are inserted through holes in the nosecup, chin strap means 10 is
held within the facepiece by the same means as nosecup 8 and the
chin strap provides a sealing relationship with the face of the
wearer at the chin area, recess 11 is formed in nosecup 8 to
provide a sealing relationship with the face of the wearer at the
nose bridge area, one-way inlet valves 12 are inserted through hole
means in the nosecup and held therein by friction fit, and fold
line structures 13 are molded or vacuum formed as described above
within areas 14 of the facepiece to permit the mask to be folded
into a compact package.
It is well within the skill of the art to manufacture the mask
described herein in any convenient size for any given
application.
I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to
the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *