3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Vaughn B Grannis

Daniel A Japuntich

Harold J Seppala

Anthony B Ferguson

Gerald M Brostrom

David P Knivsland

Joseph G Reischel

David C Byram

Ronald Carl Johansson

David L Braun

James E Steffen

Thomas W Holmquist-Brown

Peter O Rekow

Frank S Schroder

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 respirator,includes a compressible filter element,, a filter element retainer,, and a face piece,. The respirator is unique in that the filter element,compresses when installed in the retainer,, allowing a friction fit to be maintained between the filter element,and retainer,. The friction fit enables the filter element,to be readily replaced when its service life has expired.

Respirator having a compressible press fir filter element

Full-face respirator lens

A full face respirator mask (10) includes a face shield portion (12) with the seal (20) surrounding a lens portion (14). Inhalation ports (16) and an exhalation port (18) are formed at the lower portion of the lens (14). A center adapter (30) includes a nose cup (40) and an exhalation valve (38) in the center orifice (18). The inhalation ports (16,116) are placed at each side of the exhalation port (18) and include connector portions (50,150) formed with the lens (14) or ultrasonically welded to the lens (14). The connector portions (50) include male connectors (58) in a first embodiment and female connectors (150) in a second embodiment receiving complementary formed connectors of a breathable air source.

Full face respirator mask having integral connectors disposed in lens

Full face respirator lens

Buckle

Full face respirator

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.

Growing community of inventors

Inver Grove Heights, MN, United States of America

Vaughn B Grannis