# US 11,305,136 B2 · Respiratory face mask for improved communications

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- Number: US 11,305,136 B2
- Document ID: US11305136B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/478,367
- Filed: 2021-09-17
- Published: 2022-03-17
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-17
- Assignees: ZVerse, Inc.
- Applicants: ZVerse, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael J. Piatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305136B2

## CPC

- A62B 18/08: Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices (eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00)
- A62B 23/02: for respirators
- A41D 13/1107: {characterised by their shape}
- A62B 18/006: {with pumps for forced ventilation (A62B18/045 takes precedence)}
- A62B 18/025: {Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- A62B 18/084: {Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets}
- B01D 46/0028: {provided with antibacterial or antifungal means}
- B01D 46/0041: {for feeding}
- B01D 46/4245: {Means for power supply or devices using electrical power in filters or filter elements}
- B01D 46/44: controlling filtration
- B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material}
- B01D 46/12: in multiple arrangements
- B01D 2279/65: for the sterilisation of air
- A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00)
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

The present disclosure delineates both active as well as passive respiratory filtration systems. The respiratory filtration systems are configured to be worn by a user, providing the user protection from the ambient environment, possibly containing microorganisms, pathogens, particulate matter, and the like. The respiratory filtration system is also designed to protect others by filtering the exhalation air released into the environment by the user. The disclosed respiratory filtration system(s) includes one or more hygienic materials. The hygienic materials are carefully selected and disposed at predetermined locations within the respiratory filtration system, so to optimize user to the observer(s) communications, especially the oronasal cover. Optimized communications include the transmission of distortion-free speech and/or unobstructed view of the user's oronasal area, especially the mouth.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An active respiratory filtration system for providing a hygienic barrier between a user and the user's proximate surroundings, said active respiratory filtration system comprising a harness system adapted to engage with the user's head; said active respiratory filtration system, said active respiratory filtration system comprising:
an oronasal cover having a right and a left portion, wherein said oronasal cover provides an engagement seal about the perimeter of the user's nose and mouth, thereby delineating the disposition of a breathing chamber; and a right chamber assembly fluidly attached to said right portion of said oronasal cover, and a left chamber assembly fluidly attached to said left portion of said oronasal cover, both said right and left chamber assemblies each comprising an inner wall, a vented outer wall, and an air portal for fluidly communicating with said breathing chamber, wherein said air portal is disposed on said inner wall, and said right and left chamber assemblies configured to engage the user's corresponding right and left cheek areas so to not visually obstruct the nose and mouth areas of the user, said right and left chamber assemblies each further comprising:
an air filter, said air filter having a filter inner face and a filter outer face, wherein said filter outer face is secured against said vented outer wall such that a void is produced between said filter inner face and said inner wall, wherein said void functions as an elongated air filter dispersion cavity; and
a forced air module, for delivering a volume of air, having a module air input and a module air output, wherein said module air input engages a portion of said filter inner face, said module air output is fluidly connected to said elongated air filter dispersion cavity, thereby supplying the user with a supply of supplemental filtered air, wherein said oronasal cover is fabricated from a substantially continuous hygienic material; and
a control system functionally connected to said forced air module for controlling said volume of air, said control system further comprising a power source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein at least the portion of said oronasal cover that covers the user's mouth is positioned at least about 1 inch away from the user's mouth, whereby speech reflective distortions are minimized allowing an observer to receive clear unambiguous acoustic speech communications from the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein said oronasal cover is substantially fabricated from a continuous transparent material such that an observer has a clear unambiguous optical view of the user's nose and mouth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 3, wherein said continuous transparent material comprising a substantially planar, lower expression window, having an angle of inclination from about 150 degrees to about 170 degrees, whereby observer glare is substantially diminished.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein said oronasal cover is substantially fabricated from a hygienic, non-transparent, porous material configured such that the transmission of sound passes through said material substantially unaltered, thereby allowing an observer to receive clear unambiguous acoustic speech communications from the user; said hygienic, porous, non-transparent material is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a pathogenic filtering material, a particulate contaminant filtering material, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) certified material and any combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein said oronasal cover comprising an oronasal circumferential edge configured to produce a sealing engagement with the perimeter about the user's nose and mouth, said oronasal circumferential edge further comprising a conforming seal disposed about said oronasal circumferential edge so to strengthen said sealing engagement.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein each said air filter is replaceable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein each said control system is electrically and mechanically integrated within each said forced air module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 8, wherein each said forced air module is removeably fastened onto corresponding said right and left chamber assemblies.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein said oronasal cover is removeably fastened onto said active respiratory filtration system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The active respiratory filtration system of claim 1, wherein each said air filter is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a pathogenic filtering material, a particulate contaminant filtering material, a HEPA certified material and any combination thereof.