Back to results
US 6,604,524 B1Granted
Manner of attaching component elements to filtration material such as may be utilized in respiratory masks
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDesmond T. Curran, Elfed I. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A component is attached to filtration material by providing the component with a deformable extension member that is preferably integral with the component and that extends from a base portion of the component. The extension member is inserted through an opening provided through the filtration material and is then deformed to provide a mechanical clamp that is utilized in attaching the component in position. In certain embodiments, the component is an attachment such as an exhalation valve of a respiratory mask.
Claims11
A filtering face mask that comprises:
- a) a fluid-permeable multi-layered mask body that comprises a structural supporting layer and a filtration layer, the multi-layered mask body being configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and also having an aperture disposed therein;
- and
- b) an exhalation valve that comprises a base portion and an extension member that extends from the base portion through the aperture, the exhalation valve being mounted to the mask body at least in part by a deformed portion of the extension member that secures the multi-layered mask body between the base portion and a portion of the extension member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.