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US 6,718,981 B2Granted
Dental mask
OwnerVenanzio Cardarelliinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dental mask which has two separate chambers, one for inhalation and the other for exhalation. The two separate chambers being separated by an elasticized strip across the philtrum area. The mask is designed to be disposable, yet also have the ability to accept, for increased protection, filter insertable pads which can be placed in the inner surface of the mask. An embodiment of the mask would allow the main frame to be reusable, by having means for snapping a disposable filter onto the frame.
Claims16
A dental mask comprising:
- an upper filtration portion having an upper inhalation chamber defined therein for covering a nose area;
- a lower filtration portion having a lower exhalation chamber defined therein for covering a mouth area;
- an elasticized philtrum band extending between and integrally connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, the band adapted to form an impervious gas tight seal between the two chambers;
- a frame integrally encasing the upper portion, the lower portion and the philtrum band;
- the upper filtration portion of the frame formed of semi-rigid porous fibrous material being spaced away from wearer's face and including an elongated nose ridge contoured to conform to the wearer's nose, an elongated malleable moldable strip longitudinally disposed within the nose ridge for supporting the mask and adapted to create a seal between the mask and the wearer's face;
- and
- the lower filtration portion comprising:
- a front surface,
- a semi-rigid primary section having a porous fibrous material disposed approximately in the center of the lower filtration portion,
- a topography of peaks and valleys on the front surface of the primary section to effectively increase the surface area, wherein large fluid particles are filtered in the peak areas and relatively smaller particles such as viruses, bacteria and gases are filtered in the valley areas,
- a mantle projection extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper lower portion, the mantle operative as a protective barrier for breathing area, the mantle cooperating with the nasal breathing area to define a nasal canal, a reservoir concavity formed in the nasal canal section of the mantle for increasing the air supply directly beneath the nasal breathing area, and
- means for retaining particles to the front surface, the retaining means further comprising an adhesive band section covering the mantle projection and extending to the frame;
- means for indicating when material is saturated with contaminated particles, and indicating means further comprising a color changing chemical immersed in the adhesive band section,
- wherein the wearer, by breathing through the upper filtration portion and exhaling through the lower filtration portion, will substantially eliminate rebreathing of wearer's own exhaled breath.
11 more elements
A dental mask comprising:
- an upper filtration portion having an upper inhalation chamber defined therein for covering a nose area;
- a lower filtration portion having a lower exhalation chamber defined therein for covering a mouth area;
- an elasticized philtrum band extending between and integrally connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, the band adapted to form an impervious gas tight seal between the two chambers;
- a frame integrally encasing the upper portion, the lower portion and the philtrum band;
- wherein the frame further includes:
- a top surface;
- a plurality of attachment buttons disposed on the top surface;
- and
- a fluid impervious transparent shield having friction-fit means for removably snap-fitting the shield to the corresponding attachment buttons of the frame, the shield adapted to be at an angle generally about 60 degrees from a horizontal plane,
- whereby the shield will afford protection for the wearer's entire face against airborne contaminated fluids without being uncomfortably close to the face area.
7 more elements
A dental mask having a removable filtration pad, the mask comprising:
- (A) a frame encasing the filtration pad, the frame including:
- a top surface,
- an inner periphery clip about the inner perimeter of the frame,
- an outer periphery clip about the outer perimeter of the frame,
- the clips defining an attachment means for the filtration pad;
- (B) the removable filtration pad comprising:
- an upper filtration portion having an upper inhalation chamber defined therein for covering nose area;
- a lower filtration portion having a lower exhalation chamber defined therein for covering mouth area;
- an elasticized philtrum band extending between and integrally connecting the upper portion to the lower portion, the band being adapted to form an impervious gas tight seal between the two chambers, an insertion section about the perimeter comprising a projection for snap-fitting into the clips of the frame,
- whereby the wearer can periodically replace the filtration pad when the need arises and yet still be able to continue to use the original frame, and whereby the wearer, by breathing in air through the upper portion and exhaling through the lower portion, can substantially eliminate rebreathing his/her exhaled breath.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.