Flat-fold respirator having flanges disposed on the mask body

A method of using a respirator comprising:

• providing a respirator comprising:
• (a) a harness;
• (b) a mask body that has a perimeter including a periphery that is adapted to contact a face of a wearer when the flat-fold filtering face-piece respirator is in use, wherein the mask body is capable of being folded flat into a folded condition for storage and opened into a cup-shaped configuration for use, and that comprises a filtering structure;
• and
• (c) first and second flanges that are disposed on first and second sides of the mask body and that project both laterally and frontally from the mask body and joined the mask body at first and second lines of demarcation located on the first and second sides of the mask body, wherein each of the first and second flanges project both laterally and frontally from the mask body when the mask body is in the folded condition, wherein the first and second flanges are adapted to fold inward towards the mask body during the use of the flat-fold filtering face-piece respirator by being rotated about an axis parallel to the first and second lines of demarcation;
• unfolding the respirator from a flat folded condition to a cup-shaped use condition;
• and
• donning the respirator onto a wearer's face.

A respirator comprising:

• a harness;
• a mask body comprising a filtering structure, wherein the mask body is capable of being folded flat for storage and opened into a cup-shaped configuration for use;
• first and second flanges that are disposed on first and second opposing sides of the mask body, and that project both laterally and frontally from the mask body,
• wherein the harness includes a strap that has first and second ends that are attached to first and second tabs that are integral to the first and second flanges, respectively, and
• wherein tension in the harness strap upwardly exerts a force directed along the length of the first and second flanges so as to cause the mask body to be pulled in a downward direction.

A respirator comprising:

• a harness;
• a mask body comprising a filtering structure, wherein the mask body is capable of being folded flat for storage and opened into a cup-shaped configuration for use;
• and
• first and second flanges that are disposed on first and second opposing sides of the mask body, wherein both first and second flanges project both laterally and frontally from the mask body when opened in the cup-shaped configuration for use,
• wherein the first and second flanges assist in keeping the mask body projecting outwardly in a cup-shaped configuration during a use condition,
• wherein the first and second flanges may be used to properly position the respirator on a wearer during donning, subsequent adjustments, and doffing, and
• wherein tension in the harness upwardly causes the mask body to be pulled downwardly over a wearer's nose and beneath the wearer's eyes and in a region beneath the wearer's chin.