US 5,918,598 A · Strapless respiratory facial mask for customizing to the wearer's face

Abstract

A strapless respiratory facial mask for attachment to the wearer's face including a mask having a central section and three edges forming a generally triangular configuration for covering and surrounding the nose of the wearer; wherein the first and second edges of the mask extend along the opposite sides of the nose of the wearer, and the third edge extends across the upper lip area of the wearer. The central section of the mask is formed of a thermoplastic material and has a first central opening formed therein for making an external connection to the mask, and having a second central opening below the first central opening and an external tubular section connected to the second central opening for making a connection to a gas supply. The mask further includes an elastic and moldable cushioning material connected to the first, second and third edges of the mask to form a peripheral sealing section for engaging the facial contours and skin of the wearer's face. The peripheral sealing section includes first, second and third sealing section edges. In addition, the mask also includes a plurality of sealing strips formed of the cushioning material for attachment to one or more of the first, second or third sealing section edges for providing an increased sealing area for the mask.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A strapless respiratory facial mask for attachment to wearer's face, comprising:

a) a mask having a central section and three edges forming a generally triangular configuration for covering and surrounding the nose of the wearer;
b) said first and second edges extending along the opposite sides of the nose of the wearer, and said third edge extending across the upper lip area of the wearer;
c) the central section of said mask being formed of a thermoplastic material and having a first opening formed therein for making an external connection to said mask, and having a second opening below said first opening and an external tubular section connected to said second opening for making a connection to a gas supply;
d) moldable cushioning material connected to said first, second and third edges of said mask to form a peripheral sealing section for engaging the facial contours and skin of the wearer's face, and said peripheral sealing section having first, second and third sealing sections;
e) sealing means including a plurality of sealing strips formed of said cushioning material for attachment to one or more of said first, second or third sealing sections for providing an increased sealing area for said mask;
and
f) means for attaching said sealing strips to one or more of said first, second or third sealing sections of said peripheral sealing section, and for attaching said sealing strips and said peripheral sealing section of said mask to the facial contours and skin of the wearer to provide a customized mask for tightly sealing said mask and for preventing the leakage of gas therefrom.

4 more elements

A method for assembling and applying a strapless respiratory face mask to a person's facial contours and skin using a kit, said kit including a mask having a central section, a peripheral sealing section including first, second and third sealing sections, a pair of lateral cheek flaps, a lip section flap, an upper metal strip, a lower metal strip, and a triangular-shaped adhesive tape, comprising the steps of:

a) trimming one or more of said first, second and third sealing sections of said peripheral sealing section to match the person's facial contours;
b) adhering said first and second lateral cheek flaps to said first and second sealing sections, respectively;
c) adhering said lip section flap to said third sealing section of said peripheral sealing section;
d) applying said mask to a person's facial contours and conforming said upper metal strip on said mask to the bridge area of the person's nose and conforming said lower metal strip on said mask to the upper lip area of the person's face to obtain a tight fit between said mask and the person's face;
e) removing said mask from the person's face and adhering said triangular shaped adhesive tape to the person's face about the nose area;
and
f) reapplying said mask with said peripheral sealing section to the person's face and adhering said peripheral sealing section to said triangular shaped adhesive tape to obtain and air-tight seal between the periphery of said mask and the persons' face.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Strapless respiratory facial mask for customizing to the wearer's face

Life of this patent

Strapless respiratory facial mask for customizing to the wearer's face

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19