Seal for full face mask
AssigneeDiving Unlimited International, Inc.
InventorRobert T. Stinton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The outer periphery of a face mask has a first ribbed seal member located on an outward facing surface of the mask and configured to mate with a second ribbed seal member located on an inward facing surface of a periphery of a face opening in a hood that fits over the user's head during use. The ribbed seal members mate to form fluid tight seal. A skirt is connected to the mask and extends around the outer periphery and along a portion of the inside surface of the mask in order to form a contact seal with the user's head during use.
Claims29
A face mask assembly, the facemask having a body portion with an outer periphery shaped to abut and conform to a user's head or a hood covering that head, the body portion having a viewing visor and during use a head harness to hold the mask against the user's head or hood, the assembly comprising:
- a first ribbed seal member connected to and extending completely around the outer periphery of the mask and located on an outward facing surface of the mask;
- a first skirt connected to the mask and extending completely around the outer periphery of the mask, the first skirt extending along a portion of the inside surface of the mask during use and configured to form a contact seal with the user's head or hood when the harness is sufficiently tightened during use of the mask;
- at least two connectors on the mask configured to connect the mask to the harness during use of the mask.
An assembly for use with a facemask having a body portion with an outer periphery shaped to abut and conform to the shape of a hood covering a user's head during use, the body portion having a viewing visor and during use a head harness to hold the mask against the user's head, the assembly comprising:
- a flexible hood configured to conform to and fit over the user's head during use, the hood having a face opening with a periphery and a first ribbed seal member connected to the hood and extending completely around that periphery, the first seal member being on an inward facing surface of the hood.
A method for sealing a full facemask to a hood sized to fit over a user's head, the hood having an open viewing port located at the user's eyes with a first ribbed hood seal encircling the port, the full facemask having a periphery with a second, ribbed mask seal encircling the periphery adjacent to the periphery, the method comprising:
- engaging the ribs on the ribbed mask seal with the ribbed hood seal to form a fluid tight seal between the facemask and the hood;
- and
- fastening the facemask to a harness encircling a portion of the user's head so that the harness holds a portion of the facemask against the user's head or hood.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.