Lightweight protective gas mask and hood

A protective mask comprising:

• a hood having a face piece, a head piece and a bib formed from an elastic impervious material, wherein a spacer means is fixed to the inside surface of said face piece for forming a nose cup, and wherein said bib has two shoulder pieces and front and back portions;
• a seal mounted on the inside surface of said hood located on the periphery of said face piece;
• optical means mounted on said face piece for permitting exterior vision from inside said hood wherein said optical means includes an eye piece having a semi-flexible frame with a fixed lens and at least one removable lens;
• filter means, including a flexible filter mounted on said bib and an air duct extending from said face piece, for permitting filtered air to be drawn into said face piece via said filter and said duct;
• said filter means further including an air reservoir means in communication with said filter and said air duct for containing a volume of filtered air, said reservoir means including a flexible member attached to said bib to form a chamber that is in communication with said filter and said duct;
• said filter including a plurality of cells mounted on said bib, each said cell having an air output opening in communication with said chamber;
• a one-way valve means mounted on said face piece for permitting air to be exhausted from inside said face piece, said valve including a perforated valve cover mounted on said face piece;
• and
• a blower means removably mounted on said bib and including a fan positioned in said chamber to force air into said duct.