# US 11,998,694 B2 · Facemask seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,694 B2 - Document ID: US11998694B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/225,239 - Filed: 2021-04-08 - Published: 2021-07-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-07 - Assignees: Sleepnet Corporation - Applicants: Sleepnet Corporation - Inventors: Thomas M. Moulton; Jerry J. Gong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998694B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0605: {Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient} - A41D 13/1161: {Means for fastening to the user's head} - A62B 18/025: {Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11)} - 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) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - 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) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to an improved sealing element for a facemask. The sealing element includes three primary faces: a facemask attachment face; a skin contact face; and a third face. The skin contact face is the longest of the three primary faces when the sealing element is viewed in cross-section. The third face extends from a plane defined by an attachment surface of a corresponding facemask. When the sealing element is viewed in cross-section, the third face has a length that is less than 90% of a length of the skin contact face. Moreover, an entirety of the third face is configured to form a portion of the corresponding facemask's chamber when the facemask is worn by a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing element of a facemask, comprising: a formed flexible material that is substantially triangular in cross-section, the formed flexible material containing a fluid or gel within an entirety of the substantially triangular cross-section, the formed flexible material having three primary faces comprising: a facemask attachment face; a skin contact face; and a third face, wherein the skin contact face is substantially planar and the third face is substantially planar, wherein the facemask attachment face is configured to contact an attachment surface of the facemask, wherein the skin contact face is a longest of the three primary faces when the sealing element is viewed in cross-section, wherein the third face extends from a plane defined by the attachment surface, wherein, when the sealing element is viewed in cross section, the third face has a length that is less than 90% of a length of the skin contact face, wherein an entirety of the third face is configured to form a portion of an interior of a facemask chamber when the facemask is worn by a user, and wherein the third face is configured to be part of an airway passage of the facemask when the facemask is worn by the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the formed flexible material is configured to fit over: a nose of the user; the nose and a mouth of the user; the nose, the mouth, and eyes of the user; or the nose, the mouth, the eyes, and a chin of the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the formed flexible material has a durometer value of 60 or less on a Type 000 Shore scale. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the formed flexible material is formed from at least one thermopolymer sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the gel is silicone gel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the length of the third face is less than 70% of the length of the skin contact face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein an angle formed between the facemask attachment face and the third face is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the formed flexible material further has a local lobe configured to create a seal around a nose of the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein: the third face occupies an inner perimeter of the sealing element; and the skin contact face occupies an outer perimeter of the sealing element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sealing element of claim 1, wherein the third face becomes un-planar and expands into the airway passage when the skin contact face is contacted with the user's face. ### Claim 11 A method for making a sealing element of a facemask, comprising: drawing a first thermopolymer sheet into a molding apparatus with heat and vacuum to form a cavity; placing a fluid or gel within the cavity; after placing the fluid or gel, overlaying a second thermopolymer sheet on the cavity; and heat-bonding edges of the first thermopolymer sheet to the second thermopolymer sheet to create a formed flexible material that is substantially triangular in cross-section, the formed flexible material containing the fluid or gel within an entirety of the substantially triangular cross-section, the formed flexible material having three primary faces comprising: a facemask attachment face; a skin contact face; and a third face, wherein the skin contact face is substantially planar and the third face is substantially planar, wherein the facemask attachment face is configured to contact an attachment surface of the facemask, wherein the skin contact face is a longest of the three primary faces when the sealing element is viewed in cross-section, wherein the third face extends from a plane defined by the attachment surface, wherein, when the sealing element is viewed in cross section, the third face has a length that is less than 90% of a length of the skin contact face, wherein an entirety of the third face is configured to form a portion of an interior of a facemask chamber when the facemask is worn by a user, and wherein the third face is configured to be part of an airway passage of the facemask when the facemask is worn by the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein placing the gel further comprises placing a silicone gel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: drawing the first thermopolymer sheet to further form at least one local lobe configured to create a seal around a nose of the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising heat-bonding the edges to create the formed flexible material to be configured to fit over: a nose of the user; the nose and a mouth of the user; the nose, the mouth, and eyes of the user; or the nose, the mouth, the eyes, and a chin of the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the formed flexible material has a durometer value of 60 or less on a Type 000 Shore scale. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the length of the third face is less than 70% of the length of the skin contact face. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein an angle formed between the facemask attachment face and the third face is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the third face occupies an inner perimeter of the sealing element; and the skin contact face occupies an outer perimeter of the sealing element.