3m Innovative Properties Company

Dwayne D Daugaard

Yonas Gebrewold

Lance E Behymer

Daniel J Stepan

Michael K Domroese

Philip G Martin

Thomas G Skulley

Erik J Johnson

Buckle and respirators having such buckles. The buckle has a movable cinch bar allowing a strap to be inserted into and be secured by the buckle by opening the cinch bar and inserting the strap. The cinch bar then returns to a closed position and supports the strap over the cinch bar. The cinch bar may be deformable through the use of a living hinge connecting the cinch bar to the body of the buckle. The cinch bar may be split into two members, each being deformably coupled to the buckle body, perhaps with living hinges.

Buckle and respirator using such buckle, having a deformable cinch bar, and method

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat comprises a harnessand a mask body. The mask bodyincludes a filtering structureand a support structure. The support structurehas first and second opposing side portionsthat each include a living hinge. The use of living hinges allows the mask body to respond dynamically to wearer jaw movement.

Filtering face-piece respirator support structure that has living hinges

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat comprises a mask bodyand a harness. The mask bodyincludes (i) a filtering structure, (ii) a plastic support structure, and (iii) a nose clipthat is secured to the plastic support structureby being molded therein. The inventive filtering face-piece respirator is beneficial in that it eliminates the need for an adhesive or welding step to secure the nose clip to the mask body.

Filtering face-piece respirator having nose clip molded into the mask body

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Dwayne D Daugaard