3M Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown

Neal A Rakow

Peter O Rekow

William A Mittelstadt

Kiran S Kanukurthy

Gary E Dwyer

John M Pilgrim

Richard J Poirier

David M Blomberg

David M Castiglione

Michael J Cowell

Adam J Cernohous

Gregory Yuschak

Duane Douglas Fansler

Paul A Martinson

David L Braun

Thomas G Skulley

Brian L Linzie

Vivek Bharti

James R Betz

John C Hulteen

Vaughn B Grannis

Sean M Burke

Alan J Solyntjes

Jason L Aveldson

Jeffrey A Eyberg

A respiratory protection device that includes a valve assembly operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In some exemplary embodiments, the respiratory protection device includes an elastomeric seal, and a valve assembly and a breathing air source component are in sealing engagement with the elastomeric seal when the valve assembly is in the closed configuration.

Respirator fit check sealing devices and methods

A respiratory protection device that includes a valve assembly operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In some exemplary embodiments, the respiratory protection device includes an elastomeric seal, and a valve assembly and a breathing air source component that are in sealing engagement with the elastomeric seal when the valve assembly is in a closed configuration.

A filter system includes a housing, a filter medium disposed within the housing, an optical analyte sensor, and an optical reader. The optical analyte sensor is characterized by a first region that exhibit a first response to an analyte of interest and a second region that exhibit a second, different, response to an analyte of interest. The optical analyte sensor includes a detection medium and is disposed within the housing such that the detection medium is in fluid communication with the filter medium. The optical reader includes at least one light source and at least one detector.

Filter systems including patterned optical analyte sensors and optical readers

A sensorthat detects a chemical such as an organic vapor. The sensorincludes a film that has a film bodythat includes a detection layerand that is responsive to the presence of a chemical by providing a color change. The film also includes an occluding layerthat has a first major surfaceand that is bound to the film bodybut is inert to the detection layerto preclude the occluding layerand the chemical from causing a color change in the film bodyin an areanormal to the first major surfaceof the occluding layer. A sensor having this construction can provide a distinctly visible image on the sensor, which may be helpful in evaluating the remaining life of a filter cartridge.

Patterned chemical sensor having inert occluding layer

A respiratorthat includes a harnessand a mask body. The harnesshas one or more strapsand a head cradlethat is joined to the one or more strapsand that includes first and second laterally-extending membersand a latch. The latchis able to secure the laterally-extending membersin a spaced apart first open position to allow for placement on a person's head and is able to disengage so that the memberscan move to a second collapsed position to allow for off-the-face storage. The harness is beneficial in that it can be quickly removed from the wearer's head and can be conveniently disposed behind the wearer's neck when the wearer wants to temporarily displace the mask body from their face.

Respirator harness having collapsible head cradle

A filter system includes a housing, a filter medium disposed within the housing and a optical analyte sensor also disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the filter medium. The optical analyte sensor includes a detection medium that changes at least one of its optical characteristics in response to an analyte. The filter system further includes an optical reader having at least one light source and at least one detector. The optical reader is attached to the housing such that at least a portion of light emitted by at least one light source is reflected from the optical analyte sensor and captured by at least one detector.

Filter systems including optical analyte sensors and optical readers

A filter cartridgethat includes a filter material, an end-of-service-life-indicator, a cartridge housing, and a window. The filter materialand ESLIare disposed in the housing, and the ESLImay be viewed through the window. The windowis configured such that the ESLIcan only be seen within a cone defined by an angle &#x3b8; of 20 to 70 degrees. The limited viewing range precludes reader error when examining the ESLI for color change.

Filter cartridge having cone of visibility for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)

A filter cartridgethat includes a sorbent filter material, an end-of-service-life (ESLI) indicator, a housing, and a housing cover. The housinghas a sidewallthat has a window pane that allows the ESLIto be viewed through it. The coveris secured to a first perimeterof the housing sidewalland has an air throughput surfaceand an opaque extension. The opaque extensionis positioned on the coversuch that the extension is juxtapositioned against an outer surface of the housing sidewall. The cover extensionalso has a window pane located in it so that the ESLImay be viewed through it too. The provision of an opaque extensionon the coverand a windowin the extensionallows the ESLIto be appropriately masked such that the sensor registration position is consistently achieved during manufacture of the filter cartridge

Filter cartridge having cover for masking service life indicator

A filter cartridgethat includes a filter material, an end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI), a housing, a cover, and a window. The filter materialhas first and second major surfacesand is disposed in the housing such that the second major surfaceof the filter material is located downstream to the first major surface. The housing has a sidewallthrough which the ESLIcan be seen. The coveris secured to the housingand has an opaque extensionthat masks at least a portion of the housing sidewall. The windowis positioned on the extensionat a registration position where the ESLIcan be seen through the windowsuch that a change in a certain color of the ESLIindicates that the cartridgeneeds to be replaced. The use of the cartridge cover to provide the ESLI registration position allows the filter cartridges to be mass assembled without risk of error in achieving proper window registration.

Filter cartridge having location-registered view window for end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI)

Filter housing

Respirator mask body

Strap carriers on a respirator

Filter cartridge inlet grill pattern

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

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown