Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3M Innovative Properties Company

Gregory Yuschak

Mark Kevitt Debe

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown

Richard J Poirier

Peter O Rekow

Lowell R Miller

Edward E Parsonage

A respirator () that includes a face piece () and a cartridge receiving structure () located on the face piece (). The face piece () is sized to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of a person, and the filter cartridge () is capable of being manually snapped into engagement with the cartridge receiving structure (). The snap-fit can be instantaneously obtained without rotational movement of the filter cartridge (), simply by pressing the filter cartridge () against the receiving structure ().

Respirator having snap-fit filter cartridge

An exposure indicating apparatus and indicating method includes a sensor having a property responsive to a concentration of a target species. A processing device generates a concentration signal as a function of the property and an indicator is activated as a function of the concentration signal. The indicator is activated at a signaling rate indicative of an exposure indicating apparatus operating within predefined design parameters and at an exposure signaling rate indicative of the concentration attaining a predetermined threshold concentration. The indicator may also be activated at a signaling rate indicative of an exposure indicating apparatus operating outside of the predefined design parameters, and after the predetermined threshold concentration is attained, the indicator may be activated at an exposure signaling rate which varies as a function of the concentration signal.

Exposure indicator with continuous alarm signal indicating multiple

An exposure indicating apparatus for monitoring air flowing along a flow-through path extending from the external environment through an air purifying respirator cartridge and into a face mask. A processor housing is releasably attached to the flow-through path so that it can be removed allowing ambient air to enter the flow-through path at the attachment location. A reversible sensor with at least one property responsive to a concentration of a target species within an environment is in fluid communication with the flow-through path. A processing device in the processor housing generates a concentration signal as a function of the at least one property of the reversible sensor. An indicator provides an active indication in response to the concentration signal. A flow-through housing may form a portion of the flow-through path. The flow-through housing may be interposed between the air purifying cartridge and the face mask. The reversible sensor may be located in the processor housing, the air purifying respirator cartridge or the flow-through housing. The sensor is coupled to the processing device by a coupler.

Exposure indicating apparatus

A respirator (10) that includes a face piece (14) and a cartridge receiving structure (22) located on the face piece (14). The face piece (14) is sized to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of a person, and the filter cartridge (12) is capable of being manually snapped into engagement with the cartridge receiving structure (22). The snap-fit can be instantaneously obtained without rotational movement of the filter cartridge (12), simply by pressing the filter cartridge (12) against the receiving structure (22).

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Gregory Yuschak