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US 6,332,465 B1Granted
Face masks having an elastic and polyolefin thermoplastic band attached thereto by heat and pressure
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJianxian Xue, Daniel C. Casar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filtration face mask 10 that comprises a mask body 20 and a band 30. The mask body is adapted to cover the nose and mouth of a wearer and that comprises polyolefin containing fibers. The band 30 comprises an elastic constituent and a fibrous thermoplastic constituent. The fibrous thermoplastic constituent has a melting point of about 250° C. or less and is a polyolefin or a substituted polyolefin. The band is attached to the mask body by heat and pressure at securement points 23.
Claims20
A filtration face mask that comprises:
- a mask body that is adapted to cover a mouth and nose of a wearer and that comprises polyolefin containing fibers;
- and
- a band that comprises an elastic polyisoprene constituent and a fibrous thermoplastic constituent, the fibrous thermoplastic constituent having a melting point of about 250° C. or less and being selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, substituted polyolefins, and combinations thereof, the elastic polyisoprene constituent and the thermoplastic constituent being knitted, woven, or braided together, the band being attached to the mask body by the application of heat and pressure.
A method of making a filtering face mask, which method comprises:
- (a) providing a mask body that is adapted to cover a nose and mouth of a wearer and that comprises polyolefin-containing fibers;
- (b) providing a band that comprises a combination of an elastic polyisoprene constituent and a fibrous thermoplastic constituent, the combination providing a knitted, woven, or braided band, the thermoplastic constituent having a melting point less than 250° C. and comprising a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and substituted polyolefins;
- and
- (c) welding the band to the mask body at the desired point.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.