Heat deformable material for face seal
AssigneeScott Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael Lee Parham, Ethan Voss, Alyssa Whitney Sabolis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermally deformable face seals and respirators including such face seals. The thermally deformable face seal structures comprise composite phase change materials that mold to the face of a user to provide a personalized but one-size-fits-all facial fit having excellent shape retention after use and long term durability. The phase change material is applied onto a base component to cover all or substantially all of the surface area of the base component and adapts to the face of the user to provide a secure, leak-free seal.
Claims16
A respirator comprising a face seal member configured to surround at least the nasal and oral regions of a facial surface of a wearer, the face seal member including:
- a base component having an interior surface area;
- and
- a seal component, a first portion of the seal component at least partially covering a first portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the first portion of the seal component being configured to be positioned in contact with the facial surface of the wearer and a second portion of the seal component at least partially covering a second portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the second portion of the seal component being configured not to be in contact with the facial surface of the wearer, each of the first portion and the second portion of the seal component consisting essentially of a phase change material, the base component comprising a non-phase change material, and the base component having a greater thickness than each of the first and second portions of the seal component.
A respirator comprising:
- a) a frame;
- and
- b) a face seal member mounted to the frame, the face seal member configured to surround at least the nasal and oral regions of a facial surface of a wearer, the face seal member including a base component having an interior surface area, and a seal component, a first portion of the seal component at least partially covering a first portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the first portion of the seal component being configured to be positioned in contact with the facial surface of the wearer and a second portion of the seal component at least partially covering a second portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the second portion of the seal component being configured not to be in contact with the facial surface of the wearer, each of the first portion and the second portion of the seal component consisting essentially of a phase change material, the base component comprising a non-phase change material, and a ratio of the thickness of the base component to the thickness of the each of the first portion and the second portion of the seal component being at least about 2:1.
A respirator comprising:
- a) a frame having an exposed outer side and an enclosed inner side, the frame defining an opening therethrough;
- b) a filter layer mounted to the frame and covering the opening of the frame, the filter layer configured to prohibit permeation of aerosol contaminants therethrough;
- and
- c) a face seal member configured to surround at least the nasal and oral regions of a face of a wearer, the face seal member including a base component having an interior surface area and a seal component, a first portion of the seal component at least partially covering a first portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the first portion of the seal component being configured to be positioned in contact with the face of the wearer and a second portion of the seal component at least partially covering a second portion of the interior surface area of the base component, the second portion of the seal component being configured not to be in contact with the face of the wearer, each of the first portion and the second portion of the seal component consisting essentially of a phase change material configured to provide thermoregulation within the enclosed inner side by absorbing heat, the base component comprising a non-phase change material, and a ratio of the thickness of the base component to the thickness of the each of the first portion and the second portion of the seal component being at least about 2:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.