# US 12,005,277 B2 · Respirator having optically active exhalation valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,277 B2 - Document ID: US12005277B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/136,737 - Filed: 2020-12-29 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-15 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Philip G. Martin; Caroline M. Ylitalo; Gina M. Buccellato; James M. Jonza; William W. Merrill; Douglas S. Dunn; David T. Yust - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005277B2 ## CPC - A62B 9/006: {Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination} - 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} - A62B 18/10: Valves - A62B 23/025: {the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11)} - A41D 13/1138: {with a cup configuration} - 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 ## Abstract Various embodiments of a respirator that includes a harness, a mask body, and an exhalation valve are disclosed. The exhalation valve can include a valve seat and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A respirator, comprising: a harness; a mask body; and an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body, wherein the exhalation valve comprises: a valve seat; a valve cover; and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat, the flexible flap comprising at least a specularly reflecting film that causes the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa, and wherein the valve cover is sufficiently transparent to enable the flexible flap to be seen through a solid portion of the valve cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The respirator of claim 1, wherein the flexible flap exhibits band shifting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The respirator of claim 1, wherein the flexible flap comprises a band shifting film. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The respirator of claim 3, wherein the band shifting film is attached to an outer surface of the flexible flap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The respirator of claim 3, wherein the band shifting film comprises a multilayer polymeric film. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The respirator of claim 5, wherein the multilayer polymeric film comprises a colored mirror. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The respirator of claim 5, wherein the multilayer polymeric film comprises a polarizer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The respirator of claim 1, wherein the flexible flap comprises a diffusely reflective optical film. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The respirator of claim 1, wherein when the flap is in the closed position, exhaled air may not pass through the valve cover, and wherein when the flap is in the open position, exhaled air may pass through the valve cover. ### Claim 10 A respirator, comprising: a mask body; a harness attached to the mask body; and an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body, wherein the exhalation valve comprises a valve seat, a valve cover, and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat, wherein the flexible flap comprises a band shifting film that flashes when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa and the valve cover is sufficiently transparent to enable the flexible flap to be seen through a solid portion of the valve cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The respirator of claim 10, wherein the band shifting film is attached to an outer surface of the flexible flap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The respirator of claim 10, wherein the band shifting film comprises a multilayer polymeric film comprising alternating layers of first and second polymers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The respirator of claim 12, wherein the multilayer polymeric film comprises a colored mirror. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The respirator of claim 12, wherein the multilayer polymeric film comprises a polarizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The respirator of claim 10, wherein the band shifting film comprises a diffusely reflective optical film comprising a birefringent continuous phase and a disperse phase. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The respirator of claim 15, wherein the band shifting film comprises a first zone and a second zone, and wherein a birefringence in the second zone is less than a birefringence in the first zone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The respirator of claim 10, wherein when the flap is in the closed position, exhaled air may not pass through the valve cover, and wherein when the flap is in the open position, exhaled air may pass through the valve cover. ### Claim 18 A respirator, wherein the respirator is a device that is worn by a person to provide clean air for the wearer, comprising: a harness; a mask body, wherein the mask body is an air-permeable structure that can fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person and that helps define an interior gas space separated from an exterior gas space, wherein the interior gas space is the space between the mask body and the person's face and wherein the exterior gas space is the ambient atmospheric gas space into which exhaled gas enters after passing through and beyond the mask body and/or an exhalation valve; and an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body, wherein the exhalation valve comprises: a valve seat, wherein the valve seat is a solid part of the exhalation valve that has an orifice for a fluid to pass through and is disposed on and attached to the mask body; a valve cover; and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat, the flexible flap comprising at least a specularly reflecting film that causes the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa, and wherein the valve cover is sufficiently transparent to enable the flexible flap to be seen through a solid portion of the valve cover. ### Claim 19 A respirator, wherein the respirator is a device that is worn by a person to provide clean air for the wearer, comprising: a mask body, wherein the mask body is an air-permeable structure that can fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person and that helps define an interior gas space separated from an exterior gas space, wherein the interior gas space is the space between the mask body and the person's face and wherein the exterior gas space is the ambient atmospheric gas space into which exhaled gas enters after passing through and beyond the mask body and/or an exhalation valve; a harness attached to the mask body; and an exhalation valve disposed on and attached to the mask body, wherein the exhalation valve comprises a valve seat, a valve cover, and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat, wherein the valve seat is a solid part of the exhalation valve that has an orifice for a fluid to pass through and is disposed on and attached to the mask body, and wherein the flexible flap comprises a band shifting film that flashes when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa and the valve cover is sufficiently transparent to enable the flexible flap to be seen through a solid portion of the valve cover.