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.

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.

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.