3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Harold J Seppala

Daniel A Japuntich

Vaughn B Grannis

Anthony B Ferguson

Desmond T Curran

Christopher P Henderson

James F Dyrud

John W Bryant

Elfed I Williams

James Stephen Mrozinski

Alex A Wawiluk

Dennis L Krueger

Arthur L Fry

Michael R Berringan

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is attached to the mask body and includes a valve seat that comprises a seal surface, an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface, a flap-retaining surface, and a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end is associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap is positioned on the valve seat such that the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice. A valve cover is disposed over the valve seat and comprises a surface that mechanically holds the flexible flap against the flap-retaining surface.

Fibrous filtration face mask having a new unidirectional fluid valve

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is positioned on the mask body substantially opposite to a wearer's mouth. The exhalation valve comprises a valve seat that has a seal surface, an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface, and cross members that extend across the orifice to create a plurality of openings within the orifice. The valve also includes a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end being associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap would normally assume a flat configuration when no forces are applied to it, but the flexible flap has a curved profile when viewed from a side elevation and is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.

A method of making a filtering face mask, which method includes the steps of: (a) providing (i) a valve seat that comprises an orifice and a seal surface, wherein the orifice allows air to pass therethrough and is surrounded by the seal surface, and (ii) a single flexible flap; (b) supporting the single flexible flap non-centrally and operatively relative to the orifice of the valve seat to form an exhalation valve, the single flexible flap being supported such that there is an imposed curved profile that extends from a first point where a stationary portion of the flap is supported on the valve seat to a second point where a free portion of the flap contacts a seal surface; and (c) attaching the exhalation valve to a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person.

Method of making a filtering face mask that has an exhalation valve

A filtering face mask that has a mask body and an exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. The exhalation valve is attached to the mask body and has a valve seat that includes a seal surface and an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface. The valve also has a single flexible flap that has a fixed portion and a free portion and first and second opposing ends. The first end of the single flexible flap is associated with the fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation, and the second end is associated with the free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation. The second end also is located below the first end when the filtering face mask is worn on a person. The flexible flap is positioned on the valve seat such that the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship therewith when a fluid is not passing through the orifice. A valve cover is disposed over the valve seat and comprises: an opening that is disposed directly in the path of fluid flow when the free portion of the flexible flap is lifted from the seal surface during an exhalation; a fluid impermeable ceiling that increases in height in the direction of the flexible flap from the first end to the second end; and cross members that are disposed within the opening of the valve cover.

Filtering face maskhas a mask bodyand an exhalation valveThe mask bodyis adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person, and the exhalation valveis attached to the mask bodyThe exhalation valvehas a valve seatand a single flexible flapThe valve seatincludes a seal surfaceand an orificeThe orificeis circumscribed by the seal surfaceThe single flexible flaphas a fixed portionand one free portionThe one free portionhas a free end, and the fixed portionis located off-center of the flexible flapaway from the free end and is secured to the valve seatoutside the orificeThe one free portionis pressed toward the seal surfacewhen the wearer is neither inhaling or exhaling. The free portioncan be lifted from the seal surfaceduring an exhalation. Because the flexible flapis mounted to the valve seat off-center and outside the orificeand yet is pressed towards the valve seatwhen the wearer is not inhaling or exhaling, the face maskcan demonstrate a lower air flow resistance force during an exhalation which enables the exhalation valveto open easier, and it can remain closed under any static orientation of the valveto prevent contaminants from entering the mask interior.

Filtering face mask that has a new exhalation valve

A filtering face mask that comprises a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer, the mask body comprising a filtration layer through which inhaled air may pass before being inhaled by a wearer of the face mask; and an exhalation valve that is attached to the mask body, the exhalation valve allowing air exhaled by a wearer to pass from an interior of the mask body to its exterior without having to pass through the filtration layer, the exhalation valve comprising: a valve seat that comprises: a seal surface; and an orifice that is circumscribed by the seal surface; and a single flexible flap that has one fixed portion and one free portion and a circumferential edge, the circumferential edge having a first segment that is associated with the one fixed portion of the flap so as to remain at rest during an exhalation and having a second segment that is associated with the one free portion of the flexible flap so as to be lifted away from the seal surface during an exhalation, the second segment of the circumferential edge also being located below the first segment when the filtering face mask is worn on a person, the flexible flap being mounted to the valve seat such that the one free portion of the flap is pressed towards the seal surface in an abutting relationship with it when a fluid is not passing through the orifice.

A multi-part headband attachable to a face mask blank and a method of attaching the same. The multi-part headband has a unit length corresponding to the distance between the attachment locations as measured along a surface of the face mask blank or along an axis intersecting the attachment locations, to facilitate material handling and attachment using high speed manufacturing equipment. The headband material is positioned along the headband path and attached at the left and right headband attachment locations. At least one longitudinal score line is formed in the headband material extending generally along the headband path, whereby the at least one longitudinal score line defines a multi-part headband. The face mask blank may comprise a molded cup-shaped face mask, a flat folded face mask or a variety of other face mask constructions.

Multi-part headband and respirator mask assembly and process for making

A composite headband attachable to a face mask and a method for attaching same. The composite headband has at least one discrete elastomeric core and at least one continuous thermoplastic skin layer secured to the elastomeric core. The composite headband has a first modulus in an unactivated state and a second, lower modulus in an activated state. The thermoplastic skin layer forms a microtextured permanently deformed skin layer when the composite headband is in the activated state. In one embodiment, the at least one elastomeric core and the at least one thermoplastic layer are in continuous contact in the activated state. The composite headband is positioned along the headband path and attached to at least one of the left and right headband attachment locations. The headband path is either an axis intersecting the left and right headband attachment locations or a path that generally follows a contour of a surface of the face mask blank.

Elastomeric composite headband

An exhalation valve 14 for a filtering face mask 10 has a flexible flap 24 that makes contact with a curved seal ridge 30 of a valve seat 26 when the valve 14 is in the closed position. The curvature of the seal ridge 30 corresponds to a deformation curve exhibited by the flexible flap 24 when secured as a cantilever at one end and exposed at its free portion to a uniform force and/or a force of at least the weight of the free portion of the flexible flap. A seal ridge curvature corresponding to a flexible flap exposed to uniform force allows the flexible flap 24 to exert a generally uniform pressure on the seal ridge to provide a good seal. A seal ridge curvature corresponding to a flexible flap exposed to a force of at least the weight of the flap's free portion allows the flexible flap 24 to be held in an abutting relationship to the seal ridge 30 under any static orientation by a minimum amount of force, thereby providing a face mask 10 with an extraordinary low pressure drop during an exhalation.

Unidirectional fluid valve

The invention discloses an oleophobic, hydrophobic, water repellent, moisture vapor and air permeable, heat sealable, microporous membrane material suitable for garment applications. The membrane material comprises a polyolefin polymer, a processing compound which is miscible with the polymer at its melt temperature but phase separates when the polymer is cooled to or below its melt temperature, and a fluorochemical composition. The membrane material is oriented in at least one direction. The membrane materials retain their repellency and moisture vapor permeable properties for extended periods of time in garment applications which expose the membrane materials to perspiration residues which are known to generally contaminate and ultimately destroy the repellency properties of conventional liquid repellent, moisture vapor permeable treatments.

Oil, water and sweat repellent microporous membrane materials

The present invention provides a liquid sorbent article comprising at least two contiguous layers formed from a single sheet, said layers being joined at a fold in said sheet and being intermittently releasably bonded together.

Article for liquid containment and recovery

A harness assembly for disposable respirators and more particularly to a respirator harness assembly having an open light-weight elastic loop with a single point connector which enables the respirator to be easily and quickly applied, and provides for temporary 'storage' of the respirator during periods of non-use is disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Harold J Seppala