Protective mask and method of manufacture

Abstract

A protective mask of simple structure, to be worn easily at the scene of fires, catches and retains poisonous gas contained in smoke generated by fire. The protective mask comprises a pulp fiber structure (1) having a first fiber layer (2) wherein fibers are layered without twining and mixed with gas absorbent pellets (5), which is placed on a second fiber layer (3) having a skin crust (6) formed by hydrating, pressing and drying the surface of one side of the layer of pulp fibers that are not twined. This pulp fiber structure (1) is wrapped in wrapping material (7) and included in a mask body (8) formed with pleats (9) and provided with an aluminum strip piece (11). The first pulp fiber layer (2) is made by causing pulp fibers, obtained by crashing a pulp sheet (30) in a hammer mill, to temporarily stay in a dead air space (C) within the hammer mill; gas absorbent pellets (5), together with air, are supplied by a jet device to the dead air space (C). Both the pulp fibers (4) and gas absorbent pellets (5) fall down and form a layer on tissue paper on a moving belt (38). The second pulp fiber layer (3) is made by causing only pulp fibers to fall on the tissue paper on the moving belt, and then the surface of one side thereof is hydrated, pressed and dried to form the skin crust (6).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.